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Bug Bounty Hunting 101: Getting Paid to Hack (Legally!) 🎯

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cybersecuritybug-bountysecurityweb-security

Bug Bounty Hunting 101: Getting Paid to Hack (Legally!) 🎯

So you want to break into websites and get paid for it? No ski mask required! 😎

As someone passionate about security and active in communities like YAS and InitCrew, I've spent countless evenings hunting for vulnerabilities. Let me tell you - there's nothing quite like finding a critical bug in a major platform and getting paid $5,000 for an evening's work!

But here's the thing: bug bounty hunting is NOT about being a genius hacker from movies. It's about patience, methodology, and knowing where to look.

What Even Is Bug Bounty Hunting? 🤔

Simple version: Companies say "Hey, try to hack our stuff. If you find a bug, we'll pay you instead of banning you!"

The programs:

  • HackerOne - The biggest platform
  • Bugcrowd - Another major player
  • Synack - Invite-only (fancy!)
  • YesWeHack - Popular in Europe
  • Company programs - Google, Meta, Apple run their own

The rewards: Range from $50 (meh) to $100,000+ (retirement money!)

My First Bug Bounty (It Was Dumb Simple) 💰

The story: I was testing a major e-commerce site. Spent 2 hours looking for SQL injection, XSS, all the fancy stuff. Nothing.

Then I noticed their password reset page. Entered my email. Got a reset link with a token.

The token: reset_token=12345

My hacker brain: "Wait... what if I try 12346?"

Result: IT WORKED. I could reset ANY user's password by guessing tokens! 😱

The payout: $2,000 for literally incrementing a number.

Lesson: The biggest vulnerabilities are often the simplest. Don't overthink it!

The Bug Hunter's Toolkit 🛠️

You don't need fancy tools. Here's what I actually use:

Essential (Free):

# Burp Suite Community - Intercept HTTP requests
# Your best friend. Period.

# Firefox Developer Tools
# Chrome DevTools works too, but Firefox has better dev tools

# OWASP ZAP - Free vulnerability scanner
# Great for beginners, finds low-hanging fruit

# Postman - Test APIs
# Essential for modern web apps

My workflow:

  1. Browse the target normally
  2. Turn on Burp Suite to intercept traffic
  3. Look for interesting requests
  4. Modify, replay, break stuff
  5. Document everything

Pro tip: A notepad is your best tool. Document EVERYTHING as you go. You'll thank yourself later!

The OWASP Top 10 Shopping List 🎯

In my experience, 90% of bug bounties come from these categories:

1. Broken Access Control (The Easiest Money)

What to test:

  • Can you access /admin by just typing it?
  • Change user_id=123 to user_id=124 - see someone else's data?
  • API endpoints with missing auth checks

Real example I found:

GET /api/users/456/orders
Authorization: Bearer <my_token_for_user_123>

Result: Saw user 456's orders. Boom. $1,500.

The fix they needed:

// Check if authenticated user matches requested user
if (req.user.id !== req.params.userId) {
    return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Unauthorized' });
}

2. Authentication Failures (Password Reset = Gold Mine)

Where to look:

  • Password reset flows
  • 2FA implementation
  • Session management
  • Remember me functionality

Common issues I've found:

  • Tokens that never expire
  • Predictable reset tokens
  • 2FA bypass via race conditions
  • Session fixation vulnerabilities

3. Injection Flaws (The Classics)

Low-hanging fruit:

  • Try ' OR '1'='1 in every input field
  • Test <script>alert(1)</script> everywhere
  • Check if uploaded filenames get executed
  • Look for command injection in file converters

Real talk: Modern frameworks prevent most basic injection. But edge cases? Still everywhere!

4. IDOR - Insecure Direct Object Reference (My Favorite!)

What it is: Changing IDs in URLs/requests to access other users' data.

Where to find it:

/profile?user_id=123  → Try 124
/invoice/456          → Try 457
/api/files/789        → Try 790

Success rate: Surprisingly high! Developers often forget to validate ownership.

The Bug Hunter Methodology 🔍

Step 1: Reconnaissance (30 minutes)

  • Browse the site normally
  • Create an account
  • Note interesting features (file uploads, payments, admin panels)
  • Check subdomains (https://crt.sh for subdomain enumeration)

Step 2: Mapping (1 hour)

  • Use Burp Suite to capture all requests
  • Build a mental map of the application
  • Identify API endpoints
  • Note authentication mechanisms

Step 3: Testing (2-4 hours)

  • Test EVERY input field
  • Modify EVERY parameter
  • Try accessing unauthorized pages
  • Test business logic flaws

Step 4: Exploitation (if you find something)

  • Verify it's actually a vulnerability
  • Test the impact (can you actually do damage?)
  • Document steps to reproduce
  • Take screenshots/videos

Step 5: Reporting

  • Write a clear, professional report
  • Include impact assessment
  • Provide fix recommendations
  • Be respectful and helpful

Common Mistakes Beginners Make 🚫

1. Testing Without Reading Scope

DON'T:

  • Test *.example.com when scope is only app.example.com
  • Run automated scanners on third-party services
  • DoS the application (you WILL get banned)

DO:

  • Read the program rules CAREFULLY
  • Ask if unsure
  • Test in staging environments when available

2. Not Understanding Business Logic

Example: I once found you could buy items for $0.00 by:

  1. Add item to cart ($99)
  2. Apply discount code (-$99)
  3. Add another item ($149)
  4. Remove second item
  5. Checkout showed $0.00 but applied discount!

This wasn't a code bug - it was a business logic flaw. Worth $3,000!

3. Submitting Duplicates

Check if your bug was already reported! Nothing worse than spending hours on a duplicate.

How to avoid:

  • Read disclosed reports on the program
  • Search HackerOne/Bugcrowd for similar issues
  • Ask in the program comments if unsure

Realistic Expectations 💭

Starting out:

  • First bug might take 20-40 hours of hunting
  • Expect $50-$500 for your first few bugs
  • You'll submit bugs that get closed as "not applicable"
  • You'll feel dumb sometimes (we all do!)

After 6 months:

  • You'll spot patterns faster
  • $1,000-$5,000 bugs become findable
  • You develop your own methodology
  • You know which programs are worth your time

Hard truth: Most hunters don't make money for months. This isn't quick money - it's a skill you build!

My Bug Hunting Routine 🎮

Friday evening (my favorite hunting time):

7:00 PM  - Pick a program (high payouts, decent scope)
7:15 PM  - Recon phase (subdomains, tech stack, features)
8:00 PM  - Create test accounts, browse normally
9:00 PM  - Start testing (Burp Suite intercept on)
11:00 PM - Found something interesting? Deep dive
12:00 AM - Either reporting a bug or learning why it's not a bug

Success rate: Maybe 1 in 5 sessions results in a valid bug. But that 1? Worth it! 💰

Resources That Actually Helped Me 📚

Learning:

  • PortSwigger Web Security Academy - FREE and amazing
  • PentesterLab - Hands-on practice ($20/month)
  • HackerOne Hacktivity - Read disclosed reports (free!)
  • YouTube: STÖK, NahamSec, LiveOverflow - Actual bug hunters

Practice (legally):

  • HackTheBox - Vulnerable VMs
  • TryHackMe - Beginner-friendly challenges
  • OWASP Juice Shop - Intentionally vulnerable web app
  • Google Gruyere - Learn common web vulnerabilities

When To Give Up (And When To Keep Digging) 🤔

Give up if:

  • You've tested for 4+ hours and found nothing
  • The program has poor/no payouts
  • You're not learning anything new
  • It's affecting your mental health

Keep digging if:

  • You found something weird but can't exploit it yet
  • The program has good payouts
  • You're learning and enjoying it
  • You have a hunch about a specific feature

Real talk: Some days you'll find nothing. That's normal. The bug is out there - sometimes you just need fresh eyes!

The Bug Bounty Mindset 🧠

What separates good hunters from great ones?

Curiosity: "What happens if I do THIS?" Patience: Not giving up after 2 hours Documentation: Writing down EVERYTHING Respect: Treating programs professionally Continuous learning: Every bug is a lesson

Think like an attacker: How would you abuse this feature if you were malicious?

My Top 5 Tips For Beginners 🌟

1. Start with programs that have "low-hanging fruit"

  • New programs have less competition
  • Look for recently launched features
  • Mobile apps often have overlooked APIs

2. Focus on one vulnerability type

  • Master IDOR before moving to XSS
  • Become the "IDOR guy"
  • Deep knowledge beats shallow breadth

3. Automate the boring stuff

  • Use Burp Suite Intruder for parameter fuzzing
  • Write scripts for repetitive tests
  • But don't rely only on automation!

4. Join the community

  • Twitter security folks are super helpful
  • HackerOne Discord is active
  • Ask questions (stupid questions don't exist!)

5. Celebrate small wins

  • First valid bug? Celebrate!
  • $50 bounty? That's $50 you didn't have!
  • Build momentum with small successes

The Bottom Line 🎯

Bug bounty hunting is:

  • ✅ Exciting and rewarding
  • ✅ Great way to learn security
  • ✅ Potentially lucrative
  • ✅ Legal way to hack

But it's NOT:

  • ❌ Quick money
  • ❌ Easy
  • ❌ Guaranteed income
  • ❌ For everyone

Start small. Pick one program. Spend 4 hours. Find one bug. Even if it's low severity - you're now a bug bounty hunter! 🎉

In my experience building production systems for 7+ years, understanding how things break is JUST as important as building them. Bug bounty hunting teaches you both!

Your First Hunt Checklist 📋

Ready to start? Here's your action plan:

  • Create accounts on HackerOne and Bugcrowd
  • Complete PortSwigger Web Security Academy (at least basics)
  • Install Burp Suite Community Edition
  • Pick ONE program with "good for new hunters" tag
  • Spend 4 hours testing
  • Submit your first bug (even if it gets rejected!)

Remember: Every expert hunter was once a beginner who found their first bug. The only difference? They kept hunting! 🎯

Want to talk bug bounties or security? Connect with me on LinkedIn! As someone from YAS and InitCrew, I love discussing security research!

Check out my other security posts on GitHub - more tutorials and real-world examples!

Now go forth and hunt some bugs (legally)! 🐛💰✨

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