Bug Bounty Hunting Checklist for Beginners (2024 Edition)

So, you've decided to dive into the world of bug bounty hunting? Welcome to the hackers' paradise! 🐱‍💻 Whether you're here to flex your skills, bag some bounties, or just because you're curious, this checklist will help you stay focused and guide you through the essentials. And yes, you’ll get to play with some cool tools along the way. Let's roll.

1. Reconnaissance: The First Step to Your Bug Bounty Hunt

It all starts with good old recon. Think of this as the stalking phase...but, you know, for ethical reasons.

💡 What’s the Goal?

Gather as much dirt (info) as you can about your target.

🔧 Tools of the Trade:

  • Subdomain Enumeration:

    • Subfinder, Amass, Assetfinder, Findomain

    • Example:

      subfinder -d target.com -silent | anew subs.txt

      This will list all the subdomains, and the more you find, the bigger the playground! 🎢

  • DNS Resolution:

    • MassDNS, dnsx

    • Example:

      dnsx -l subs.txt -silent -r resolvers.txt -o dns_resolved.txt

      This command helps you resolve live domains from the list. No one likes dead ends, right?

  • Port Scanning:

    • Nmap, Naabu

    • Example:

      naabu -host target.com -silent | anew open_ports.txt
nmap -sC -sV -p $(cat open_ports.txt) target.com -oN nmap_scan.txt

You’re basically creating your target map. More info = more potential exploits. It’s all about the recon.

Insert meme here: "Recon be like: I see everything..."

2. Mapping the Attack Surface

With recon done, it’s time to understand the attack surface. This is where you’ll be digging for gold!

🔧 Tools:

  • Directory Bruteforcing:

    • Dirsearch, FFuF

    • Example:

      dirsearch -u https://target.com -e php,asp,js -o dirsearch.txt

  • Technology Detection:

    • WhatWeb, Wappalyzer

    • Example:

      whatweb target.com

      This tells you what tech stack the target is using. Is it WordPress? Apache? PHP? Knowing this helps you tailor your attacks.

  • Content Discovery:

    • GAU, Waybackurls

    • Example:

      gau target.com | anew endpoints.txt

      You’ll get a list of old URLs or endpoints from web archives. If the company thought they could hide, they’re mistaken. 😎

Insert meme here: "When you find a juicy old endpoint: Jackpot! 🤑"

3. Testing for Vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)

Okay, now let’s get to the fun part! Time to break stuff. 🔨 The OWASP Top 10 is your starting point for vulnerability hunting.

3.1 SQL Injection (SQLi):

  • Tool: SQLMap

  • Example:

    sqlmap -u "https://target.com/product.php?id=1" --dbs

    This is like sending a nuke to the database. You’ll want to dump those juicy tables and grab that sensitive info.

3.2 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):

  • Tool: KXSS, Dalfox

  • Example:

    kxss -u https://target.com/search?q=test | anew possible_xss.txt
dalfox url https://target.com/?q=search --skip-mining -o xss_results.txt

    Stored, reflected, DOM-based – XSS comes in all flavors. Make sure to sanitize those inputs, dear developers!

3.3 Command Injection:

  • Tool: Burp Suite

  • Example:

    https://target.com/search.php?cmd=ls;

    If you can inject a command into an input field and execute it on the server, you've hit the jackpot!

3.4 Broken Authentication:

  • Tool: Burp Suite, manual testing

    • Check for weak login mechanisms, session hijacking, and poor session management.

3.5 Security Misconfigurations:

  • Tool: Nuclei

  • Example:

    nuclei -t cves/ -l targets.txt -o vulns.txt

    Automate the process of finding misconfigurations and common CVEs. Quick and easy.

Insert meme here: "When the devs forgot to sanitize input: Guess who's back...back again...XSS is back...tell a friend."

4. Exploitation and Payload Crafting

If you’ve found a vulnerability, the next step is to craft a payload and see if you can exploit it.

🔧 Tools:

  • Exploitation Framework:

    • Metasploit

    • Example:

      msfconsole
use exploit/unix/webapp/wp_admin_shell_upload

  • Payload Crafting:

    • PayloadAllTheThings

    • This repository is your BFF. You’ll find pre-built payloads for everything – SQLi, XSS, SSRF, RCE, and more.

Insert meme here: "When your payload works on the first try: Wait, it actually worked?!"

5. Privilege Escalation and Post-Exploitation

You’re in. 🎉 Now what? Time to see if you can escalate your privileges or extract sensitive data.

🔧 Tools:

  • Local File Inclusion (LFI):

    • Example:

      https://target.com/page.php?file=../../../../etc/passwd

    If you can read sensitive files, you’re golden.

🔧 Other techniques:

  • Privilege escalation via weak permissions or vulnerable configurations.

  • Try to move laterally within the network or system.

Insert meme here: "When you gain root access: I have the power!"

6. Reporting: The Final Boss

You found the bug, exploited it, and now it’s time to report it. Be professional – your report should be clear and concise.

💡 What to include:

  1. Summary: Briefly describe the vulnerability.

  2. Steps to Reproduce: Walk through how you found and exploited it.

  3. Impact: What’s the worst that could happen if this bug is exploited?

  4. Proof of Concept (PoC): Screenshots, videos, or snippets.

  5. Mitigation: Suggest fixes for the devs.

Platforms like HackerOne, Bugcrowd, and Open Bug Bounty will be your primary homes.

Insert meme here: "When you submit a report and the devs patch it in 5 minutes: They grow up so fast 😢"

Final Thoughts

Bug bounty hunting is both a challenge and an art. 🎨 This checklist gives you a structured approach, but always be curious. Try new things, dig deeper, and always keep learning. And remember, the best bugs often come from thinking outside the box.

Good luck, and happy hacking! 💻

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