Unlocking Hidden Treasures: Why Testing 404 Not Found in Bug Bounties Matters

Bug bounty hunting is a demanding endeavor, often requiring hunters to navigate through numerous websites in search of vulnerabilities. Amidst the hunt for critical or high-level vulnerabilities, many bug bounty hunters overlook websites that return a 404 Not Found error. However, dismissing such websites prematurely can lead to missed opportunities and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

One Man’s Trash, Another Man’s Treasure:

The adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” holds particularly true in the world of bug bounty hunting. Websites that appear to have no content in the “/” directory may still harbor valuable information and vulnerabilities.

Example Discovery:

Consider a scenario where a bug bounty hunter encounters a wildcard subdomain, such as “*.example.com,” leading to a subdomain returning a 404 Not Found error, like “example1.example.com.” Rather than disregarding it, the hunter decides to delve deeper.

Content Discovery:

The first step is to initiate content discovery using tools like dirsearch with a customized wordlist. Through this process, the hunter uncovers static pages hidden within the seemingly empty directory.

Uncovering Secrets:

Upon exploring the static pages, the hunter stumbles upon valuable information embedded in the source code. In some instances, this could include sensitive data such as AWS access keys and secret keys.

Exploiting Vulnerabilities:

Armed with AWS access keys and secret keys, the hunter gains potential access to AWS S3 buckets and other parts of the AWS infrastructure. By validating the credentials and leveraging appropriate tools, the hunter can further explore and exploit vulnerabilities within the system.

Conclusion:

This example underscores the importance of testing 404 Not Found errors in bug bounties. What may initially appear as empty directories could conceal valuable assets and vulnerabilities. By maintaining a vigilant and thorough approach to bug hunting, hunters can uncover hidden treasures and contribute to enhancing cybersecurity across various platforms. Remember, in bug bounty hunting, persistence and thoroughness often yield the most rewarding results.