From Zero to Hero: How Mohamed Omran Found His First 4 Bugs on Bugcrowd

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Introduction

Bug bounty hunting is a critical skill in cybersecurity, allowing ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them. Mohamed Omran, a student at Sinai University, recently discovered his first four bugs in a public Bugcrowd program—an impressive milestone for any aspiring security researcher. This article explores essential techniques, tools, and commands to help you start your own bug bounty journey.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the fundamentals of bug bounty hunting.
  • Learn key Linux and Windows commands for vulnerability scanning.
  • Master web application testing techniques.
  • Discover how to submit effective bug reports.
  • Explore advanced tools for penetration testing.

You Should Know

1. Reconnaissance with Subdomain Enumeration

Before attacking a target, reconnaissance is crucial. Use subfinder and amass to discover subdomains:

subfinder -d example.com -o subdomains.txt 
amass enum -d example.com -o amass_results.txt

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install subfinder (`go install -v github.com/projectdiscovery/subfinder/v2/cmd/subfinder@latest`).

2. Run the command against your target domain.

3. Combine results with amass for broader coverage.

2. Vulnerability Scanning with Nmap

Nmap helps identify open ports and services:

nmap -sV -T4 -A -p- example.com -oN scan_results.txt

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. `-sV` detects service versions.

2. `-T4` speeds up the scan.

3. `-A` enables OS and script detection.

3. Web App Testing with Burp Suite

Intercept and modify HTTP requests:

1. Configure your browser proxy to 127.0.0.1:8080.

  1. Capture requests and test for SQLi, XSS, and CSRF.

4. Exploiting SQL Injection

Test for SQLi using sqlmap:

sqlmap -u "http://example.com/login?id=1" --dbs

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Identify a vulnerable parameter (e.g., `?id=1`).

2. Use `–dbs` to list databases.

3. Dump data with `-D database_name –tables`.

5. Automating with Nuclei

Scan for known vulnerabilities:

nuclei -u example.com -t cves/

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install Nuclei (`go install -v github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v2/cmd/nuclei@latest`).

  1. Run templates (-t) for CVEs, misconfigurations, and exposures.

6. Windows Privilege Escalation

Check for weak permissions:

whoami /priv 
accesschk.exe -uwcqv "Authenticated Users"<br />

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. `whoami /priv` lists user privileges.

2. AccessChk identifies insecure file permissions.

7. Reporting Bugs Effectively

A good report includes:

  • Clear steps to reproduce.
  • Impact assessment (CVSS score).
  • Proof of concept (screenshots, videos).

What Undercode Say

  • Key Takeaway 1: Reconnaissance is 50% of the work—spend time gathering intelligence.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Automation (Nuclei, sqlmap) speeds up testing but manual review is essential.

Bug bounty hunting requires persistence and continuous learning. Mohamed Omran’s success highlights the importance of hands-on practice and community engagement.

Prediction

As more companies adopt bug bounty programs, demand for skilled ethical hackers will surge. AI-powered tools (like ChatGPT for payload generation) will reshape testing methodologies, but human expertise will remain irreplaceable in identifying logic flaws.

Ready to start hunting? Join platforms like Bugcrowd, HackerOne, and Intigriti today!

🎯Let’s Practice For Free:

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Reported By: Mohamed Omran – Hackers Feeds
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