The Ultimate Roadmap to Becoming a Bug Bounty Hunter

The Ultimate Roadmap to Becoming a Bug Bounty Hunter

Introduction

Bug bounty hunting is an exciting field where ethical hackers find and report vulnerabilities in applications for bounty rewards.

1. Learn the Basics of Cybersecurity

It’s crucial to build a strong foundation in cybersecurity concepts.

Learn about networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, etc.)Understand common security vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)Gain basic Linux and Windows command-line skillsStudy web application security fundamentals

2. Get Comfortable with Penetration Testing Tools

Bug bounty hunting requires hands-on experience with tools used for penetration testing. Some essential tools include:

Burp Suite – Intercepting HTTP requests and testing for vulnerabilitiesNmap – Network scanning and reconnaissanceSQLmap – Automated SQL injection detection and exploitationMetasploit – Exploitation framework for testing security weaknessesDirbuster/Gobuster – Directory brute-forcing tools

3. Master Web Application Security

A majority of bug bounty programs focus on web applications.

Injection Attacks – SQL, Command, and Code InjectionCross-Site Scripting (XSS) – Stored, Reflected, and DOM-basedCross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) – Exploiting user sessionsServer-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) – Attacking internal resourcesBroken Access Control – IDOR, privilege escalation

4. Learn About APIs and Mobile Security

Many modern applications rely on APIs and mobile apps, which also contain vulnerabilities.

Learn API testing using Postman & Burp SuiteTry using API Security Academy (by 42Crunch)

5. Join Bug Bounty Platforms and Start Hunting

Best Bug Bounty Platforms:

HackerOneBugcrowdIntigriti & YesWeHackOpen Bug Bounty – A great platform for beginners

6. Report Vulnerabilities and Build Your Reputation

Learn how to write clear and professional bug reportsInclude detailed Proof of Concept (PoC)