How to Discover Vulnerabilities on Bugcrowd and HackerOne

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Bug bounty platforms like Bugcrowd and HackerOne are essential for cybersecurity researchers to identify and report vulnerabilities. Jonas Dias Rebelo, a seasoned penetration tester, recently discovered a vulnerability in a U.S. Department of Defense program hosted on Bugcrowd—despite primarily using HackerOne. His experience highlights the importance of cross-platform research and scope management.

You Should Know:

1. Scope Mismanagement Can Lead to Discoveries

Jonas found a Bugcrowd vulnerability while filtering scopes on HackerOne. This shows that improperly configured searches can reveal hidden attack surfaces.

Example Command (Linux):

 Use grep to filter scope files across multiple platforms 
grep -r "Department of Defense" ~/bugbounty/scopes/ 

2. Cross-Platform Reconnaissance

Many programs exist on both Bugcrowd and HackerOne. Recon across both to maximize findings.

Tools & Commands:

 Use Amass for subdomain enumeration 
amass enum -d target.com -config config.ini -o subdomains.txt

Use httpx to check live hosts 
cat subdomains.txt | httpx -silent -status-code -title 

3. Automating Scope Comparison

Compare scope files between platforms to identify overlaps.

Python Script Example:

import difflib

with open('hackerone_scope.txt', 'r') as h1: 
h1_scope = h1.readlines()

with open('bugcrowd_scope.txt', 'r') as bc: 
bc_scope = bc.readlines()

diff = difflib.unified_diff(h1_scope, bc_scope) 
print(''.join(diff)) 

4. Reporting & Avoiding Duplicates

Bugcrowd programs often suffer from duplicate reports due to slow fixes. Verify if a bug is already reported before submission.

Command to Check Bug Status (Using API):

curl -X GET "https://api.bugcrowd.com/v1/bugs" -H "Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY" 
  1. Pro Tip: Use Wayback Machine for Historical Data
    waybackurls target.com | grep ".js$" | httpx -status-code -mc 200 
    

What Undercode Say:

Bug hunting requires persistence, automation, and sometimes luck. Cross-checking platforms like Bugcrowd and HackerOne increases the chances of finding unique vulnerabilities. Always document scope changes and automate reconnaissance to stay ahead.

Expected Output:

  • A list of live subdomains (subdomains.txt)
  • Diff results between HackerOne and Bugcrowd scopes
  • API-based bug status checks
  • Wayback Machine archived endpoints

Prediction:

As bug bounty programs grow, automated recon and AI-driven vulnerability detection will become standard, reducing duplicates and improving triage efficiency.

Relevant URLs:

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: Jonasdiasrebelo Bugbountylife – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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