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Introduction:
Bug bounty programs have transformed vulnerability discovery into a competitive, high-reward discipline where skilled researchers earn thousands by finding security flaws before attackers do. In April, Muhammad Alqi Fahrezi – a security researcher from Indonesia – secured $13,800 across 13 submissions and claimed the 1 spot on his national leaderboard, demonstrating that methodical recon, precise exploitation, and consistent documentation pay off.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the complete bug bounty workflow from reconnaissance to payout negotiation
- Apply manual and automated techniques to uncover IDOR, injection, and API misconfigurations
- Use Linux/Windows command-line tools and Burp Suite for efficient vulnerability validation and reporting
You Should Know:
1. Reconnaissance: The Foundation of Every Payout
Before hunting, map the target’s digital footprint. Start with passive subdomain enumeration, then actively probe alive hosts.
Step‑by‑step guide (Linux):
Install essential tools sudo apt install amass httpx subfinder jq Passive enumeration subfinder -d target.com -o subs.txt amass enum -passive -d target.com -o amass_subs.txt Merge and sort cat subs.txt amass_subs.txt | sort -u > all_subs.txt Check live hosts (HTTP/HTTPS) cat all_subs.txt | httpx -status-code -title -tech-detect -o live_hosts.txt
Windows equivalent (using PowerShell and pre‑compiled binaries):
Download subfinder.exe and httpx.exe, then: .\subfinder.exe -d target.com -o subs.txt Get-Content subs.txt | .\httpx.exe -status-code -o live.txt
What this does: Identifies all reachable assets belonging to the target, drastically increasing attack surface. Always respect scope and robots.txt.
- Finding Injection Flaws That Lead to $1k+ Bounties
SQL and NoSQL injections remain top payout sources. Automate with `sqlmap` but learn manual detection first.
Manual test (parameter `id=1`):
- Add a single quote: `id=1’` → error or odd behavior.
- Use time‑based payload: `id=1 AND SLEEP(5)` (MySQL) or `id=1′ WAITFOR DELAY ‘0:0:5’` (MSSQL).
Automated with sqlmap (Linux):
Capture request in Burp, save as req.txt, then: sqlmap -r req.txt --batch --level 3 --risk 2 --dbs For Windows (same binary): sqlmap.exe -r req.txt --batch --dbs
Mitigation for defenders: Use parameterized queries (prepared statements) and an allow‑list of inputs. Avoid dynamic query building.
- Mastering IDOR and Broken Access Control – The Silent Killer
Insecure Direct Object References let you access other users’ data by changing an ID in a URL or JSON body. This is where Muhammad likely found multiple medium‑to‑high severity bugs.
Step‑by‑step exploitation:
- Log into two accounts (victim and attacker) using different browsers.
- In attacker account, find a resource with an ID: `https://target.com/profile?user_id=123`
- Change ID to victim’s known ID (e.g.,
124). If you see victim’s data → IDOR. - Test array/JSON objects: `{“user_id”:123}` → change to
124. - Try encoding (Base64, hashed IDs) – decode and increment.
Burp Suite automation:
- Send request to Intruder.
- Set position on the ID value.
- Payload type: Numbers (brute‑force), or custom list of decoded IDs.
- Compare response lengths – any unauthorized disclosure is a valid find.
Linux one‑liner to check for IDOR in logs:
grep -E 'user_id=[0-9]+' access.log | awk -F'user_id=' '{print $2}' | sort | uniq -c
4. Leveraging APIs for Critical Vulnerabilities
Modern web apps expose rich APIs – often overlooked during standard scans. Focus on GraphQL and REST endpoints.
Discovery:
- Use `katana` or `gospider` to crawl JavaScript files for API paths: `gospider -s https://target.com -o output`
– Look forswagger.json,openapi.json,/v2/api-docs.
Testing for API mass assignment (critical):
POST /api/user/update HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
{"email":"[email protected]","role":"admin"}
If the API accepts `role` and upgrades privileges → bounty!
Windows tool: `Postman` with collection runner. Add authorization tokens and run fuzzing payloads for common API parameters.
5. Cloud Misconfigurations – The $10k Category
Misconfigured AWS S3 buckets, Azure blob storage, or IAM roles can expose millions of records. Use automated scanners.
Step‑by‑step S3 bucket enumeration (Linux):
Install awscli and bucket_finder sudo apt install awscli git clone https://github.com/AWSBucketDump/BucketDump.git Enumerate using common names cat s3_names.txt | while read name; do aws s3 ls s3://$name --no-sign-request 2>/dev/null && echo "Open bucket: $name" done
Test for privilege escalation (AWS IAM):
List attached policies aws iam list-attached-user-policies --user-name targetuser Check if you can assume a role aws sts assume-role --role-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/AdminRole --role-session-name test
Windows: Use `scoutsuite` (Python) – `python scout.py aws` – for full compliance reporting.
6. Reporting and Payout Maximization
A well‑written report earns higher bounties and faster triage. Muhammad’s 13 submissions in one month suggest efficient documentation.
Professional report template:
- Short and impact‑driven (e.g., “IDOR on /api/v1/invoice reveals all user invoices”)
- Description: Steps to reproduce (copy‑paste exact HTTP requests)
- Impact: What data/actions an attacker can compromise
- Proof of Concept: Screenshots + curl command (Linux:
curl -X GET "https://target.com/endpoint" -H "Cookie: session=...") - Suggested fix: Specific code or configuration change
Negotiation tip: If a duplicate is claimed, politely ask for the original submission ID and compare timing. Use platforms like HackerOne or Bugcrowd’s dispute process.
- Staying 1 on Leaderboards – Consistency Over Luck
Muhammad reached 1 in Indonesia by hunting daily – even on holidays. Build a routine:
- Morning (2h): Run automated recon (subdomain, screenshot, technology detection) using tools like `nuclei` templates.
- Afternoon (3h): Manual testing – focus on one vulnerability class per day (IDOR Monday, XSS Tuesday, SSRF Wednesday).
- Evening (1h): Write reports / retest fixes.
Automation with cron (Linux):
0 6 cd /home/hunter/recon && ./daily_scan.sh target.com 30 18 cd /home/hunter/reports && git add . && git commit -m "Daily findings"
What Undercode Say:
- Key Takeaway 1: Passive recon and persistent manual testing generate consistently higher bounties than relying solely on automated scanners. Muhammad’s $13,800 from 13 submissions (average $1,061 per bug) indicates medium‑severity finds, not lottery‑type RCEs – proof that volume and discipline win.
- Key Takeaway 2: The bug bounty field is global and meritocratic – topping a national leaderboard demands not just technical skill but also efficient reporting and time management. Tools like Burp Suite, sqlmap, and cloud enumeration scripts, when used with a daily hunting schedule, turn random online hours into predictable monthly income.
- Analysis: The post’s 49 profile viewers and 12 post impressions (from Tony Moukbel’s view) suggest that showcasing real payout figures attracts professional attention. For aspiring hunters, transparency about earnings and leaderboard rankings builds credibility and networking opportunities – a soft skill as valuable as command‑line proficiency.
Prediction:
As AI‑assisted code generation (Copilot, ChatGPT) proliferates, bug bounty programs will see a surge in identical, automated low‑severity reports, driving platforms to prioritize business‑logic flaws and API chain vulnerabilities. Researchers who master manual testing for IDOR, SSRF, and race conditions – exactly the skills showcased by top hunters like Muhammad – will command higher payouts, while AI‑only hunters compete for scraps. Expect leaderboards to shift from volume‑based counting to impact‑weighted scoring by 2027, and cloud misconfiguration bounties to overtake traditional injection bugs as the highest average payout category.
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Reported By: Mohammedalqi Alhamdulillah – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
