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Bug bounty programs are a great way for security researchers to earn rewards by finding vulnerabilities in organizations’ systems. Many companies host their own bug bounty programs instead of using platforms like HackerOne or Bugcrowd. Google Dorking can help you discover these self-hosted programs efficiently.
Key Indicators of Self-Hosted Bug Bounty Programs
- Responsible Disclosure NL – Look for “Responsible Disclosure” or “Security Disclosure” policies, especially from Netherlands-based organizations.
- Bounty Amount Unknown – Some programs mention rewards but don’t specify amounts.
- Any Type of Reward – Programs may offer monetary rewards, swag, or acknowledgments.
- Security Policy Copied from “Floor Terra” – Many companies reuse templates from well-known security policies.
- Reward May or May Not Exist – Some programs are vague about compensation.
- Triage Response Time + Reward Mentioned Clearly – Professional programs often detail their response times.
- Security Researcher Keyword + Reward – Search for terms like “security researcher,” “vulnerability disclosure,” and “bounty.”
Custom Google Dorks for Finding Bug Bounty Programs
Use these Google Dorks to uncover self-hosted bug bounty programs:
inurl:/security "responsible disclosure" inurl:/security "bug bounty" intext:"security researcher" + "reward" inurl:/security.txt "bounty" site:*.nl "responsible disclosure" intext:"vulnerability disclosure" + "reward" filetype:pdf "bug bounty program"
Advanced Dorking Techniques
To refine your search, combine operators:
site:*.com inurl:security "report a vulnerability" intitle:"security policy" "reward" intext:"thank you for your report" + "bounty"
# You Should Know:
Essential Tools for Bug Hunters
- Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) – Find historical versions of security pages.
- GitHub (github.com) – Search for `security.md` or `bug-bounty.md` in repositories.
3. Shodan (shodan.io) – Discover exposed security.txt files.
Useful Linux Commands for Bug Bounty Hunters
<h1>Extract security.txt files from a domain</h1> curl -s https://example.com/security.txt | grep -i "bounty" <h1>Find subdomains with security policies</h1> subfinder -d example.com | httpx -path /security -status-code <h1>Waybackurls + Grep for bug bounty keywords</h1> waybackurls example.com | grep -i "responsible disclosure" <h1>Automate security.txt discovery</h1> ffuf -u "https://FUZZ.example.com/security.txt" -w wordlist.txt -mc 200
Windows Commands for Security Researchers
<h1>Check if a URL exists (PowerShell)</h1>
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com/security" | Select-String "bounty"
<h1>Extract security policies from multiple URLs</h1>
Get-Content urls.txt | ForEach-Object { Invoke-WebRequest $_ } | Where-Object { $_ -match "vulnerability" }
# What Undercode Say
Google Dorking remains a powerful method for uncovering hidden bug bounty programs. Combining automated tools (curl, httpx, ffuf) with manual verification ensures accuracy. Always respect program scope and rules—unauthorized testing can lead to legal consequences.
For deeper reconnaissance, use:
<h1>Use Amass for subdomain enumeration</h1> amass enum -d example.com -config config.ini <h1>Check for exposed .git directories</h1> gobuster dir -u https://example.com -w git.txt
Remember: Ethical hacking requires permission. Happy hunting!
# Expected Output:
inurl:/security "responsible disclosure" inurl:/security "bug bounty" intext:"security researcher" + "reward"
For more techniques, visit:
References:
Reported By: Abhirup Konwar – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
