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Introduction:
The difference between “Aam Zindagi” (ordinary life) and “Mentos Zindagi” (the exciting life) for a security researcher often comes down to one thing: a bug. While the general public sees a problem as a need for money, a researcher sees a vulnerability as an opportunity to secure the digital landscape. This story, involving a security researcher and a clothing brand called The Souled Store, highlights a crucial lesson in cybersecurity: responsible disclosure isn’t just about the payout; it’s about the partnership between researchers and organizations that take security seriously, even without a formal bug bounty program (BBP) or vulnerability disclosure policy (VDP).
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the methodology behind discovering and reporting security vulnerabilities in web applications and APIs.
- Learn how to responsibly disclose a vulnerability to an organization, even in the absence of a formal bug bounty program.
- Master practical, hands-on techniques and commands for API security testing, web reconnaissance, and vulnerability exploitation.
You Should Know:
- Reconnaissance: Mapping the Attack Surface Like a Pro
Before you can find a bug, you need to know where to look. In the context of the post, the researcher likely identified an API endpoint or a web application flaw. The first step is always thorough reconnaissance. This involves gathering information about the target, thesouledstore.com, to identify all possible entry points, subdomains, and exposed services.
Step‑by‑step guide explaining what this does and how to use it.
Start by enumerating subdomains and IP addresses. This helps you find less-protected staging servers or forgotten APIs that might be vulnerable. Use a combination of passive and active reconnaissance tools.
Linux Commands (Using Amass and Subfinder):
Install tools if not already installed sudo apt update && sudo apt install amass subfinder -y Passive subdomain enumeration subfinder -d thesouledstore.com -o subdomains.txt Active enumeration with Amass amass enum -d thesouledstore.com -o amass_output.txt Combine and sort unique subdomains cat subdomains.txt amass_output.txt | sort -u > all_subdomains.txt Use httpx to check which subdomains are alive cat all_subdomains.txt | httpx -title -status-code -tech-detect -o live_hosts.txt
Windows Commands (Using PowerShell and nslookup):
Basic DNS enumeration
nslookup -type=any thesouledstore.com
Use Resolve-DnsName for subdomain brute-forcing (concept)
You would typically use a wordlist
$subdomains = Get-Content wordlist.txt
foreach ($sub in $subdomains) {
try {
Resolve-DnsName "$sub.thesouledstore.com" -ErrorAction Stop
Write-Host "Found: $sub.thesouledstore.com" -ForegroundColor Green
} catch {}
}
2. API Endpoint Discovery and Analysis
The post mentions an API vulnerability. Modern web applications rely heavily on APIs. Finding undocumented or improperly secured API endpoints is a goldmine for security researchers. After identifying a live host, the next step is to map out its API structure. This often involves analyzing JavaScript files, browser network traffic, and using automated tools to fuzz for endpoints.
Step‑by‑step guide explaining what this does and how to use it.
You can use tools like `ffuf` (Fuzz Faster U Fool) to brute-force directories and parameters, and browser developer tools to inspect network requests made by the web application.
Linux Command (Fuzzing for API Endpoints):
Install ffuf sudo apt install ffuf -y Fuzz for common API paths on a discovered subdomain Assuming you have a wordlist for API endpoints (e.g., SecLists) ffuf -u https://api.thesouledstore.com/FUZZ -w /usr/share/wordlists/seclists/Discovery/Web-Content/api-words.txt -c -t 100 Fuzz for parameters in a POST request (common for IDOR) ffuf -u https://api.thesouledstore.com/v1/order/details -X POST -d "order_id=FUZZ" -w /usr/share/wordlists/seclists/Fuzzing/IDs.txt -c -t 50 -fs 404
Windows/Cross-Platform (Using Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP):
While command-line tools are powerful, GUI tools like Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP are excellent for API analysis.
1. Configure Proxy: Set your browser to use Burp Suite as a proxy.
2. Browse the Application: Navigate through the site (add to cart, checkout, view orders) to generate traffic.
3. Analyze History: In Burp Suite, go to the “HTTP History” tab. Look for requests with JSON bodies or Content-Type: application/json—these are likely API calls.
4. Send to Repeater: Right-click on a suspicious API request and send it to the Repeater tool. Modify parameters like user_id, order_id, or `product_id` to test for Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR). This is likely the type of vulnerability the researcher found—accessing another user’s order details by changing a numeric ID in the request.
- The Vulnerability: Exploiting an IDOR in an API
Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) is a common and often critical vulnerability. It occurs when an application exposes a reference to an internal object (like a user ID or order number) and fails to verify that the user is authorized to access that object. This aligns perfectly with the “Need → A Bug 🐞” mentality, where a simple manipulation can lead to a significant security lapse.
Step‑by‑step guide explaining what this does and how to use it.
Let’s simulate an IDOR vulnerability on a hypothetical endpoint, similar to what might be found on an e-commerce site like The Souled Store. The goal is to view another user’s order details by changing a parameter.
Scenario: You are logged in as user_123. You navigate to your order history and see a request to:
`GET /api/v1/orders/12345`
Exploitation Steps:
- Capture the Request: Use Burp Suite to capture the `GET` request to
/api/v1/orders/12345. - Send to Repeater: Send this request to the Repeater tool.
- Modify the ID: In Repeater, change the `order_id` from `12345` to `12344` or
12346. Send the request. - Analyze Response: If the server responds with the details of another user’s order (including name, address, phone number, and purchased items) without any permission error, you have successfully discovered an IDOR vulnerability. This could be the “bug” the researcher reported.
- Check for Mass Assignment: If the API uses `PUT` or `PATCH` requests, try adding unexpected fields like `”is_admin”: true` or `”user_role”: “admin”` in a JSON body to see if you can escalate privileges.
cURL Command for Testing:
Attempt to access another user's order curl -X GET "https://api.thesouledstore.com/v1/orders/12346" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer <your_valid_jwt_token>" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -v If the response contains data for order 12346, the vulnerability exists.
4. Reporting and Responsible Disclosure: The Human Element
The core of the LinkedIn post isn’t the technical exploitation, but the human response. The researcher praised the brand for its responsible handling of the disclosure. This is a critical and often overlooked step. A vulnerability report that is poorly written can be ignored or mishandled, while a professional report can build trust, even without a formal bounty program.
Step‑by‑step guide explaining what this does and how to use it.
When you find a vulnerability in a company without a VDP/BBP, your approach is crucial. You are initiating a security partnership.
- Find the Right Contact: Look for a security contact. Check `security@` or `abuse@` email addresses. If none exist, find the CTO, CIO, or Head of IT on LinkedIn. In this case, the researcher likely found a contact point through the brand’s social channels or website.
- Draft a Professional Email: Your email should be clear, concise, and non-threatening.
– Subject: [Security Vulnerability] IDOR in Order API – The Souled Store
– Body: Introduce yourself. Briefly describe the vulnerability, its impact (e.g., “Allows viewing of any user’s order details”), and the steps to reproduce it. Provide screenshots or a video proof-of-concept. Do not include scraped data of other users in your initial email.
3. Provide a Timeline and Next Steps: Offer to work with their team to verify the issue. Suggest a reasonable timeline for a fix (e.g., 30 days) before you consider public disclosure.
4. Be Patient and Professional: If they are a brand like the one mentioned, they will likely appreciate your effort. Respond to their inquiries. If they offer a “swag” or a small gift voucher, accept it graciously. You are building a reputation for being a responsible and effective researcher.
What Undercode Say:
- Key Takeaway 1: Responsible disclosure is a partnership, not a transaction. The respect shown by The Souled Store for the researcher’s work highlights that a company’s security posture is as much about its culture of accountability as it is about its technical defenses. Building this relationship can lead to more opportunities and a stronger reputation than a single large payout.
- Key Takeaway 2: The most critical vulnerabilities often reside in business logic flaws and API misconfigurations, not just complex exploits. The researcher’s success likely came from understanding the e-commerce workflow—how orders are created, viewed, and managed—and then testing the boundaries of that logic. Mastering tools like Burp Suite and `ffuf` to manipulate API parameters is essential for uncovering these modern, high-impact flaws.
Prediction:
The trend of “informal” bug bounties and swag-based rewards will likely increase as more brands recognize the value of community-driven security. We will see a shift where companies without formal programs actively engage with security researchers on platforms like LinkedIn, treating each report as a cost-effective alternative to a full-scale penetration test. This human-centric approach will democratize security research, making it more accessible and rewarding for researchers globally, while simultaneously hardening the digital supply chain for small to medium-sized enterprises that previously ignored security outreach. The future of web application security is not just in automated scanners, but in the collaborative, community-based discovery of logical vulnerabilities that automated tools miss.
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Reported By: Iamarit Offsec – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
