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Introduction:
While building a small AI tool, a security researcher accidentally discovered a critical vulnerability on the very platform they were using. After responsibly disclosing the finding through the platform’s HackerOne bug bounty program, they shared their story, highlighting the importance of practical training platforms like PentesterLab in developing the skills needed to identify and report security flaws.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the responsible disclosure process and how to submit a vulnerability through HackerOne.
- Build a practical bug bounty skillset using platforms like PentesterLab, Hacker101, and HTB Academy.
- Learn step-by-step techniques for reconnaissance, exploitation, and reporting.
You Should Know:
1. Understanding Responsible Disclosure and the HackerOne Workflow
Responsible disclosure is the ethical process of reporting security vulnerabilities to an organization before making them public, allowing them time to fix the issue. This practice is central to bug bounty programs, which incentivize researchers to find and report bugs in exchange for rewards. HackerOne, one of the largest bug bounty platforms, facilitates this process for thousands of companies.
The post describes a discovery made while trying to create an AI tool, which turned into a vulnerability submission on HackerOne. This scenario is becoming increasingly common as AI systems introduce new attack surfaces. In fact, HackerOne reported a 210% increase in valid AI-related vulnerability reports in 2025 compared to the previous year, along with a 339% jump in submissions involving AI-augmented testing.
Step-by-Step Guide: Submitting a Vulnerability via HackerOne
- Identify a vulnerability within the scope of a program. Ensure your testing does not violate any rules (e.g., accessing or modifying data not owned by you).
- Draft a detailed report including: vulnerability type, steps to reproduce, impact assessment, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code or screenshots.
- Submit the report through HackerOne’s platform. Use a clear, structured format for faster triage and validation.
- Wait for the vendor’s response. After the issue is fixed and the report is closed, you can request disclosure from the action picker at the bottom of the report.
- Once approved, HackerOne staff will approve or reject the disclosure request. Approved reports become public, adding to your reputation.
2. Building a Foundation with PentesterLab and Hacker101
The researcher specifically thanked PentesterLab for helping improve their skills. PentesterLab provides hands-on security training using real systems with real vulnerabilities, focusing on practical exploitation and understanding root causes. Similarly, Hacker101 is HackerOne’s free web security training initiative, offering video lessons, written guides, and Capture-the-Flag (CTF) challenges.
Step-by-Step Guide: Getting Started with PentesterLab
- Sign up for PentesterLab (free and PRO versions available).
- Start with the Essentials Badge, which covers core web vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, and authentication bypasses.
- Progress to the Authentication and Authorization Badge to understand access control flaws.
- Complete real-world exercises involving JWT (JSON Web Tokens) to learn both exploitation and underlying design flaws.
- Apply patterns learned in PentesterLab directly to bug bounty targets. The platform is designed to help you solve problems and discover reusable attack patterns.
Linux/Windows Command: Reconnaissance with Subdomain Enumeration
Linux - Using assetfinder and httpx for subdomain discovery echo "target.com" | assetfinder -subs-only | httpx -status-code -title -tech-detect Windows (PowerShell) - Using Resolve-DnsName for basic enumeration Resolve-DnsName -Name "target.com" -Type A | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress
- The Bug Bounty Learning Pathway: From Beginner to Pro
A structured learning path is crucial for success in bug bounty hunting. The 2026 roadmap emphasizes starting with foundational knowledge, then moving to hands-on practice, and finally targeting real programs. Key platforms mentioned in the search results include TryHackMe, Hack The Box (HTB) Academy, and PortSwigger Web Security Academy.
Step-by-Step Guide: Following a 2026 Bug Bounty Roadmap
- Phase 1: Foundations – Complete free courses like PortSwigger Web Security Academy and TryHackMe’s Bug Bounty Path.
- Phase 2: Hands-On Practice – Use platforms like Hack The Box Academy, which offers a Bug Bounty Hunter Job Role Path with 20 modules covering core web application security concepts. Also, practice with DVWA and WebGoat.
- Phase 3: Real-World Targeting – Start with public bug bounty programs on HackerOne, Bugcrowd, or Synack. Focus on programs with clear scope and simpler attack surfaces to build confidence.
- Phase 4: Automation and Recon – Build a recon pipeline using tools like Amass, Subfinder, and Nuclei. Learn to automate the discovery of low-hanging fruits.
- Phase 5: Continuous Learning – Spend 50% of your time learning new skills on platforms like PentesterLab and 50% testing on real programs.
Linux/Windows Command: Web Vulnerability Scanning with Nuclei
Linux - Installing and running Nuclei (template-based scanner) go install -v github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v3/cmd/nuclei@latest nuclei -u https://target.com -t ~/nuclei-templates/ -severity critical,high Windows - Using curl for basic header analysis curl -I -k https://target.com
4. Vulnerability Exploitation and Mitigation: A Practical Approach
The post highlights a discovery made while “trying to create a small AI tool,” which underscores the growing intersection of AI and security. AI systems are vulnerable to unique flaws like prompt injection, insecure plugin design, and data leakage, as outlined in the OWASP AI/LLM Top 10. Major tech companies are now offering significant rewards for AI vulnerabilities; for example, Google’s AI Vulnerability Reward Program pays up to $30,000 for flaws in its Gemini platform.
Step-by-Step Guide: Testing for a Basic SQL Injection Vulnerability
1. Identify an input field (e.g., search box, login form, URL parameter).
2. Input a single quote (') to see if the application throws a database error.
3. Use a Boolean-based payload like `’ OR ‘1’=’1` to bypass authentication or retrieve data.
4. For Union-based attacks, determine the number of columns using `’ ORDER BY 1–` and increment until an error occurs.
5. Craft a Union select to extract data from the database, e.g., ' UNION SELECT username, password FROM users--.
6. Mitigation: Use parameterized queries (prepared statements) and input validation. Never concatenate user input directly into SQL queries.
Linux/Windows Command: Using sqlmap for Automated Exploitation
Linux - Basic sqlmap usage against a vulnerable URL parameter sqlmap -u "https://target.com/page?id=1" --dbs --batch Windows - Using sqlmap to enumerate tables from a specific database sqlmap -u "https://target.com/page?id=1" -D database_name --tables --batch
5. Reporting and Documentation: Writing High-Quality Vulnerability Reports
A high-quality vulnerability report is essential for getting bounties and building a reputation. Reports should be clear, reproducible, and include a proof-of-concept (PoC). The post’s mention of a “writeup” indicates that the researcher documented their findings professionally.
Step-by-Step Guide: Writing a Professional Vulnerability Report
- and Description: Clearly state the vulnerability type (e.g., “Stored XSS in Comment Section”).
- Steps to Reproduce: Provide a numbered list of actions that lead to the vulnerability.
- Proof-of-Concept (PoC): Include a screenshot, video, or code snippet that demonstrates the issue.
- Impact Assessment: Explain what an attacker could achieve (e.g., session hijacking, data theft).
- CVSS Score: Use the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) to assign a severity rating.
- Suggested Fix: Offer a remediation recommendation, such as input sanitization or output encoding.
Linux/Windows Command: Capturing Network Traffic with tcpdump (Linux) and netsh (Windows)
Linux - Capture HTTP traffic on port 80 sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -s 0 -A 'tcp port 80' Windows - Start a network trace using netsh (requires administrator) netsh trace start capture=yes report=disabled provider=Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Network level=5 netsh trace stop
What Undercode Say:
- Practical Training Matters: The researcher’s success was directly attributed to hands-on practice with PentesterLab. Theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient; real-world labs are critical for developing intuition.
- AI is a Double-Edged Sword: While AI tools can help find vulnerabilities, they also introduce new attack vectors. Bug bounty hunters must now understand AI-specific flaws like prompt injection and model theft.
- Responsible Disclosure Builds Trust: Following a structured disclosure process through platforms like HackerOne ensures that vulnerabilities are fixed without public exposure, protecting both the researcher and the organization.
Prediction:
As AI tools become more integrated into development and security workflows, we will see a surge in AI-generated vulnerability discoveries. This will lead to a new category of “AI-assisted bug bounty hunting,” where automated tools identify low-hanging fruits, allowing human researchers to focus on complex, business-logic flaws. However, this also means that AI systems themselves will become prime targets, leading to the rapid evolution of AI-specific bug bounty programs and disclosure frameworks. The researcher’s experience—discovering a bug while building an AI tool—is a sign of things to come, where the lines between creator and attacker blur, and security becomes an integral part of AI development.
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Reported By: Rahimasec Bugbounty – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
