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Introduction:
Bug bounty hunting has evolved into a highly competitive field where automation and a deep command-line arsenal separate successful hunters from the rest. Mastering a core set of tools is essential for efficiently enumerating targets, identifying vulnerabilities, and ultimately claiming those coveted rewards. This guide provides the verified technical commands to systematize your reconnaissance and exploitation process.
Learning Objectives:
- Automate the initial reconnaissance and subdomain enumeration phase for a target.
- Identify and exploit common web application vulnerabilities like SQL injection and XSS.
- Utilize advanced command-line techniques for fuzzing, probing, and validating potential security flaws.
You Should Know:
1. Mastering Subdomain Enumeration with Amass and Subfinder
Subdomain discovery is the critical first step in expanding your attack surface beyond the obvious main domain.
amass enum -passive -d target.com -o amass_output.txt subfinder -d target.com -o subfinder_output.txt assetfinder target.com | tee assetfinder_output.txt cat amass_output.txt subfinder_output.txt assetfinder_output.txt | sort -u > all_subs.txt
Step-by-step guide:
The `amass enum -passive` command performs passive reconnaissance, gathering subdomain information from various online databases without sending direct traffic to the target. `Subfinder` is another powerful passive tool. Combining their outputs with `assetfinder` and then using `sort -u` to create a unique, consolidated list ensures maximum coverage. This aggregated list (all_subs.txt) becomes your primary target list for further probing.
2. Probing for Alive Subdomains and HTTP Servers
Not all discovered subdomains are active. Filtering for live hosts and open web ports is essential.
cat all_subs.txt | httpx -silent -threads 100 -status-code -tech-detect -title -o live_subs.txt cat all_subs.txt | naabu -top-ports 1000 -o naabu_ports.txt
Step-by-step guide:
`Httpx` takes your list of subdomains and rapidly probes them to determine which respond on HTTP/HTTPS ports. The flags -status-code, -title, and `-tech-detect` provide immediate crucial information about each live web server. `Naabu` is a fast port scanner that checks the top 1000 ports on all subdomains, potentially uncovering non-web services that could be vulnerable.
3. Discovering Hidden Paths and APIs with Fuzzing
Uncovering hidden directories, files, and API endpoints is where critical vulnerabilities often lie.
ffuf -w /path/to/wordlist.txt -u https://target.com/FUZZ -mc 200,301,302,403 -t 50 gobuster dir -u https://api.target.com/ -w /path/to/api-wordlist.txt -x php,json
Step-by-step guide:
`Ffuf` is a fast web fuzzer. The `-w` flag specifies your wordlist, `-u` is the target URL with `FUZZ` acting as the placeholder, and `-mc` tells it to display responses with specific HTTP status codes. `Gobuster` performs a similar function; the `dir` mode is for directory brute-forcing, and `-x` checks for files with these extensions. Always use comprehensive wordlists tailored to your target (e.g., API-specific wordlists for API endpoints).
4. Automated Vulnerability Scanning with Nuclei
Nuclei uses a vast community-powered database of templates to scan for thousands of known vulnerabilities.
cat live_subs.txt | nuclei -t /path/to/nuclei-templates/ -o nuclei_results.txt -severity critical,high,medium nuclei -u https://target.com -t exposures/ -es info
Step-by-step guide:
The first command pipes all live subdomains into nuclei, which runs all its templates (-t) against them and outputs only findings with a medium, high, or critical severity. The second command targets a specific URL and uses a specific template directory (exposures/) to look for exposed files or directories, excluding `info` severity results (-es info). This tool is powerful for casting a wide net.
5. Identifying SQL Injection Vulnerabilities
SQL injection remains a high-impact vulnerability that can lead to massive data breaches.
sqlmap -u "https://target.com/page?id=1" --batch --level=3 --risk=3 sqlmap -u "https://target.com/page" --data="param1=value¶m2=value" --batch
Step-by-step guide:
`Sqlmap` automates the process of detecting and exploiting SQLi. The `-u` flag specifies the target URL. If the parameter is in the POST body, use the `–data` flag. `–batch` runs the tool in non-interactive mode, accepting default prompts. `–level` and `–risk` increase the depth and scope of the tests. Always ensure you have explicit permission before running this tool.
6. Testing for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute scripts in a victim’s browser, hijacking sessions or defacing sites.
python3 xsstrike.py -u "https://target.com/search?q=query" nikto -h https://target.com -Tuning 8
Step-by-step guide:
`XSStrike` is an advanced XSS detection suite that uses parsing and analysis to bypass filters. Provide it with a vulnerable URL parameter. `Nikto` is a general-purpose web scanner; the `-Tuning 8` flag specifically directs it to perform XSS-related checks. Manual verification in a browser console is always recommended after tool-based discovery.
7. Analyzing JavaScript for Hidden Secrets
Modern web apps pack functionality into client-side JavaScript, which can reveal hidden endpoints and API keys.
cat live_subs.txt | subjs | tee javascript_files.txt cat javascript_files.txt | while read url; do python3 LinkFinder.py -i $url -o cli; done
Step-by-step guide:
The `subjs` tool fetches JavaScript files from the list of live subdomains. These files are then analyzed by LinkFinder, which parses them to find hidden endpoints, API paths, and other interesting URLs that aren’t linked in the HTML source. This often reveals the internal architecture of the application and potential attack vectors.
What Undercode Say:
- Tool Mastery is Non-Negotiable: The difference between a hobbyist and a professional bug bounty hunter is the ability to chain tools together seamlessly from the command line. Automation is your force multiplier.
- Context is King: Blindly running tools is ineffective. The real skill lies in interpreting results, understanding the application’s context, and manually probing the most promising leads for logical flaws that automated tools will miss.
The provided LinkedIn post, while humorous, highlights a common culture of sharing success without the methodological substance. Our analysis indicates that consistent payouts are not the result of a single “magic” command but of a rigorous, process-oriented approach using the verified technical commands outlined above. True expertise involves customizing these commands, building automated pipelines, and developing a deep understanding of why and how vulnerabilities occur.
Prediction:
The automation of reconnaissance and initial vulnerability assessment will continue to accelerate, commoditizing the discovery of low-hanging fruit. This will push the value of bug bounty rewards towards complex, business-logic vulnerabilities and novel exploit chains that require deep manual analysis and a sophisticated understanding of application architecture. Hunters who invest in developing these advanced skills will dominate the future landscape.
🎯Let’s Practice For Free:
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Deepak Saini – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
