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Beyond the Basics: Practical Bug Bounty Hunting

A Beginner's Guide to Becoming a Bug Bounty Hunter (Web Security)

morioka12

This book is designed for individuals who have already learned the basics of web security.

It provides a systematic guide to acquiring the "practical bug hunting skills" necessary to achieve your first valid report (First Blood), earn your first bounty, and consistently deliver results in real-world bug bounty programs.

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About

About

About the Book

This book is a systematic and practical guide designed for those ready to move beyond the beginner stage. It aims to elevate your bug hunting skills in bug bounty programs from an introductory level to a practical, real-world standard.

While most general learning resources are helpful for acquiring foundational knowledge, mastering the basics alone is rarely enough to discover actual vulnerabilities and earn rewards in real-world bug bounty programs. To succeed, you need the specialized know-how of a practicing bug hunter.

Focusing specifically on web applications within bug bounty platforms, this book systematizes the technical perspectives required to find real-world vulnerabilities, as well as the essential non-technical skills for investigation, all based on the author's personal experience.

The goal of this book is to provide the practical insights necessary to step out of the novice phase and become a "junior bug hunter" capable of discovering unknown vulnerabilities on your own. I hope this book serves as the catalyst for you to earn your very first bounty.

This book is recommended for:

  • Those who want to take on the challenge of Bug Bounty programs.
  • Those with high motivation and enthusiasm.
  • Those interested in web security, web hacking, and bug hunting.

Three Key Features of This Book

  1. Practical and Strategic Research Approaches
  2. Threat Materialization through "Gadgets" and "Chains"
  3. Reporting Techniques and Key Points for Re-validation


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Computer Security

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Author

About the Author

morioka12

Security Engineer & Bug Bounty Hunter (since 2020)

I work as a penetration tester at cybersecurity company in Japan.

Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

  1. Objectives of This Book
  2. 3 Key Features of This Book
  3. Testimonials from Pre-release Readers
  4. Invitation to the Bug Bounty Industry
  5. Message from the Author

Chapter 1: Bug Bounty Fundamentals and Strategies

  1. Section Overview

1.1. Bug Bounty Overview and Process

  1. Bug Bounty Overview
  2. Rankings and Reputation Scores in Bug Bounty
  3. Bug Hunters in the Bug Bounty Ecosystem
  4. Practical Workflow of a Bug Hunter
  5. Rules and Ethics for Bug Hunters
  6. Column

1.2. Bug Bounty Program Policies and Rules

  1. Legal Protection and Code of Conduct in Bug Bounty
  2. Bug Bounty Program Policies and Rules
  3. Bug Hunter Ethics
  4. [Point] Summary

1.3. Tips for Choosing a Bug Bounty Program

  1. Characteristics of Bug Bounty Platforms
  2. Recommended Order of Programs
  3. Recommended Program Selection Criteria
  4. [Q&A] Duration to Spend on a Target
  5. [Tips] Time Management for Bug Hunters
  6. [Point] Summary
  7. Column

1.4. Bug Bounty Hunter Strategies by Type

  1. Bug Hunter Types: Wide vs. Deep
  2. Vulnerability Rankings in Bug Bounties (Trends)
  3. Target Vulnerability List by Hunter Type
  4. Turning Your Preferences into Strengths
  5. Bug Hunter Skill Matrix
  6. [Point] Summary
  7. Column

1.5. Bug Hunting Tools and Environment

  1. Tools in Bug Hunting
  2. Proxy Tools
  3. Browser Extensions (Firefox)
  4. [Tips] DevTools
  5. Reconnaissance Tools (Recon)
  6. Fuzzing Tools
  7. Vulnerability Scanners
  8. Editors
  9. AI Tools
  10. [Q&A] VPN (Virtual Private Network)
  11. [Tips] CLI Tool Chaining
  12. [Tips] Record Management Techniques
  13. [Point] Summary
  14. Column

Chapter 2: Bug Hunting Thinking and General Techniques

  1. Section Overview

2.1. Overview and Mindset of Bug Hunting

  1. Bug Hunting Investigation Flow
  2. Awareness of Objectives and Means in Bug Hunting
  3. The “7 Practical Phases” That Define Success
  4. The Bug Hunter Mindset
  5. [Tips] Mental Management
  6. [Point] Summary
  7. Column

2.2. Thought Process and Perspectives in Bug Hunting

  1. The “Four Domains of Thought” for Bug Hunters
  2. Critical Thinking
  3. Multi-dimensional Perspectives
  4. Tactical Thinking
  5. Philosophical Thinking
  6. [Point] Summary

2.3. Information Gathering Approaches and Distinctions

  1. Types of Reconnaissance Scanning
  2. Google Dorking Techniques
  3. Identifying Hidden Input Points
  4. Distinguishing Between “Fragmentary Information” and “Sensitive Information”
  5. [Tips] JS Monitoring
  6. [Point] Summary
  7. Column

2.4. Searching for and Using Gadgets

  1. Gadgets in Bug Hunting
  2. The Strategic Value of Gadgets
  3. Perspectives on Finding Gadgets
  4. Examples of Client-Side Gadgets
  5. Examples of Server-Side Gadgets
  6. Column

2.5. Errors and Blind Based Approach

  1. Identification Techniques from a Black-Box Perspective
  2. The Error-Based Approach
  3. The Blind-Based Approach
  4. Switching Between Techniques
  5. Tools for Error and Blind Verification
  6. [Tips] Black/White/Gray Box Testing Methodologies
  7. [Tips] Camouflage Techniques (Encoding)
  8. [Point] Summary
  9. Columns

Chapter 3: Practical Approaches for Bug Hunting

  1. Section Overview

3.1. Client-Side Approach

  1. Approaches to the Client Side
  2. Extracting the Frontend
  3. Static Analysis
  4. Source, Sink, and Sanitizer
  5. [Tips] AI-Driven Static Analysis
  6. Dynamic Analysis
  7. [Tips] Leveraging Browser Extensions
  8. Frontend Vulnerabilities
  9. Strategic Vulnerability Targeting
  10. [Point] Summary
  11. Column

3.2. Server-Side Approach

  1. Server-Side Approach
  2. Strategy for Black-Box Testing
  3. Backend Vulnerabilities
  4. Fuzzing Strategy
  5. Core Backend Vulnerabilities
  6. Strategically Targeted Vulnerabilities
  7. [Tips] Examples of Business Logic Flaws
  8. [Point] Summary
  9. [Tips] Examples of Business Logic Flaws
  10. [Point] Summary
  11. Column

3.3. Software Approach

  1. Approaching Software
  2. Identifying Software
  3. Key Software and Vulnerabilities
  4. [Point] Summary
  5. Column

3.4. Cloud and Infrastructure Approach

  1. Approaches to Cloud and Infrastructure
  2. Approaches to Public Cloud
  3. Approaches to Infrastructure and Servers
  4. Others
  5. Strategic Vulnerability Targets
  6. Precautions for Cloud and Infrastructure Investigations
  7. [Point] Summary
  8. Columns

3.5. Mobile App APIs Approach

  1. Approaching Mobile Application APIs
  2. Investigation Steps and Perspectives
  3. Recommended Tools
  4. [Tips] The Path to Becoming a Low-Level Expert
  5. [Key Point] Summary
  6. Column

Chapter 4: Maximizing the Value of Vulnerabilities in Bug Bounties

  1. Section Overviews

4.1. Maximizing the Threat of Vulnerabilities

  1. Mindset for Maximizing Vulnerability Threats
  2. Approaches to Escalation
  3. The Path to ATO and RCE
  4. XSS Escalation Case Studies
  5. Vulnerability Escalation Case Studies
  6. Classification and Characteristics of Critical Vulnerabilities
  7. [Summary] Key Points
  8. Column

4.2. Security Circumvention

  1. Evasion Techniques for Real-World Security Mechanisms
  2. WAF (Web Application Firewall) Evasion
  3. CSP (Content Security Policy) Evasion
  4. Reverse Proxy Evasion
  5. Sanitization Evasion
  6. 2FA/MFA (Two-Factor Authentication) Evasion
  7. Others
  8. [Point] Summary
  9. Column

Chapter 5: Bug Bounty Reporting and Review

  1. Section Overview

5.1. Writing High-Quality Reports

  1. Standard Report Structure for Bug Bounty Platforms
  2. How to Write High-Quality Reports
  3. “Report Quality Pollution” to Avoid at All Costs
  4. [Tips] How to Create Proper PoC Scripts
  5. [Tips] Hints from Official Bug Bounty Platforms
  6. [Point] Summary
  7. Column

5.2. Retesting and Leveraging Feedback

  1. Post-Reporting Etiquette
  2. Importance and Opportunities in Retesting
  3. Analyzing Patch Patterns and Bypass Strategies
  4. Professional Communication with Triagers
  5. Analyzing Feedback and the Growth Cycle
  6. [Point] Summary
  7. Column

Conclusion & Exclusive Reader Benefits

  1. To the Readers
  2. Happy Bug Bounty Hunting!

Appendix 1: A Roadmap to Earning Your First $100,000

  1. Hands-on BB Timeline Simulation (18-Month Version)
  2. Original Concept: Full-Time Bug Bounty Hunter (12-Month Version)
  3. The Author’s Actual Early Records (When Starting Out)
  4. Column
  5. [Point] Summary

Appendix 2: Developing Custom AI Tools for Bug Hunting

  1. Developing Custom AI Tools
  2. Core Pillars of Automation and Efficiency
  3. Examples of Custom Tool Development Targets
  4. The Bug Hunter’s Mindset for Accelerating Development
  5. [Point] Summary
  6. Column

Appendix 3: Bug Bounty Vulnerability Report Collection

  1. Front-end Vulnerabilities
  2. Back-end Vulnerabilities
  3. Other
  4. HackerOne Most Popular Votes Top 10
  5. [Point] Summary

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