Bug Bounty Hunting: Sustaining Your Success

In this blog, I’ll break down the essential steps to help you succeed in bug bounty hunting, from crafting impactful vulnerability reports to overcoming common challenges. Bug bounty hunting is not just about finding vulnerabilities; it’s about effective communication, persistence, and professionalism. Writing a strong report ensures security teams can address issues efficiently and increases your chances of earning rewards. Here’s how to improve your success in bug bounty programs.

Craft a Descriptive Title: A clear title summarizes the vulnerability, its location, and severity. Example: Instead of “IDOR on a Critical Endpoint,” use “IDOR on https://example.com/change_password Leads to Account Takeover for All Users.”Provide a Clear Summary: Briefly describe the affected endpoint, parameters, and attack method. Example: A POST request to https://example.com/change_password allows unauthorized password changes by modifying the user_id parameter.Include a Severity Assessment: Classify the vulnerability using a standardized scale (Low, Medium, High, Critical) based on impact and exploitability. Reference CVSS, Bugcrowd, or HackerOne frameworks for accurate severity ratings.Give Clear Steps to Reproduce: Provide step-by-step instructions as if the reader has no prior knowledge. Example: Create two accounts, log in, intercept a request, modify parameters, and confirm the exploit.Provide a Proof of Concept (PoC): Screenshots, videos, crafted payloads, or attack scripts help demonstrate the issue.

Understanding Report States

Need More Information — The security team requires additional details.Informative — The issue is acknowledged but not severe enough for a fix.Duplicate — Another hacker reported the bug first.N/A (Not Applicable) — The report lacks a valid security concern.Triaged — The issue is validated and will likely be fixed.Resolved — The vulnerability is fixed, and a bounty may be awarded.

Why You’re Not Finding Bugs

Choosing the Wrong Programs: Some companies delay fixes, downplay vulnerabilities, or run bounty programs for publicity rather than security.Lack of Focus: Jumping between programs too quickly prevents deep discoveries — stick with one for an extended period.Skipping Reconnaissance: Effective reconnaissance helps uncover unique attack surfaces that others may miss.Only Chasing Easy Bugs: Avoid relying on scanners or looking for overly common vulnerabilities; go beyond low-hanging fruit.Not Getting into Private Programs: Private programs have less competition, increasing the chances of finding valuable bugs.

Why Your Reports Get Dismissed

Ignoring the Bounty Policy: Many reports get marked “N/A” because they target assets or vulnerabilities that are out of scope.Lack of Business Perspective: Understanding what matters to a company helps prioritize impactful vulnerabilities over minor issues.Not Chaining Bugs: Small vulnerabilities dismissed as “informative” can become critical if combined strategically.Poor Report Writing: Even high-impact bugs can be dismissed if their risk isn’t clearly explained.