️‍♂️ Bug Bounty Beginner’s Roadmap-01

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Before you dive into bug hunting, it’s important to understand what bug bounties are and why they exist.

What is a Bug?

A bug refers to any kind of vulnerability or flaw in a software application or system that could be exploited by attackers to compromise its security. Bugs can range from minor issues to critical vulnerabilities that can cause data breaches.

What is a Bug Bounty?

A Bug Bounty Program is a reward system set up by companies or organizations where they pay ethical hackers (also known as white hat hackers) to find and report security vulnerabilities in their systems. These programs help improve the security of websites, apps, and other digital services by encouraging ethical hacking.

Learn more about bug bounties here:
HackerOne — What is Bug Bounty? 🔗

To succeed in bug bounty hunting, you need to have a good grasp of web security and basic hacking concepts.

Learn Web Security & Vulnerabilities 🛡️

Start by learning about the most common vulnerabilities that bug bounty hunters target. Here are the key ones:

SQL Injection (SQLi): A type of vulnerability where attackers can inject malicious SQL queries into input fields, affecting databases.Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): A vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into websites viewed by other users.Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF): A type of attack where malicious requests are sent from a user’s browser without their knowledge.

Resources to Learn Web Security:

OWASP Top 10 📖 — The essential guide to the most critical web application security risks.PortSwigger Web Security Academy 🎓 — Free interactive courses on web security.

Once you’re comfortable with the basics of web security, it’s time to dive into the Bug Bounty Platforms. These platforms offer opportunities to find and report vulnerabilities for rewards.

Top Bug Bounty Platforms:

HackerOne 🏆 — One of the most popular platforms where companies like Uber, Twitter, and GitHub post bug bounty programs.Bugcrowd 🔍 — Another top bug bounty platform that works with a wide range of companies.Synack 🔒 — Synack has a private program focused on more advanced bug hunters.Open Bug Bounty 🌍 — A platform where you can report bugs for free, and companies can decide whether to reward you.

To begin hunting for bugs, you need to equip yourself with the right tools. Here are some must-have tools for bug bounty hunters:

Essential Tools for Bug Hunting:

Burp Suite 🕵️‍♂️ — A web vulnerability scanner for finding and exploiting security flaws. Learn more here.OWASP ZAP 🛠️ — An open-source tool for penetration testing. Download it here.Nmap 🌐 — A powerful network scanning tool for discovering hosts and services on a computer network. Get it here.Wireshark 📡 — A tool for analyzing network traffic and identifying suspicious activity. Get started here.

Additional Tools:

Nikto 🧑‍💻 — A web server scanner for finding vulnerabilities.Gobuster 🚀 — A tool for directory and DNS busting.

As a bug bounty hunter, ethical behavior is essential. Responsible disclosure refers to the practice of reporting a discovered vulnerability privately to the organization before making it public.

Why is Responsible Disclosure Important?

It allows companies time to fix the vulnerability before it is exploited.It helps maintain a positive relationship with companies, ensuring they continue offering rewards.

Read the full guidelines for responsible disclosure:
OWASP Vulnerability Disclosure 🔐

Capture the Flag (CTF) platforms provide hands-on experience for practicing bug bounty skills.

Best CTF Platforms to Practice:

Hack The Box 🏅 — Offers a wide range of challenges for aspiring ethical hackers.TryHackMe 💻 — Provides beginner-friendly, structured learning paths.Root Me 🖥️ — A platform offering free, self-paced challenges.

Building a network and joining communities is crucial for growing as a bug bounty hunter. These communities provide support, advice, and updates about new vulnerabilities.

Top Bug Bounty Communities:

Bugcrowd Forum 💬 — A community where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others.Reddit Bug Bounty 🌍 — A subreddit dedicated to bug bounty hunters, with lots of discussions and advice.HackerOne Hacktivity 🔍 — A place where you can see the latest vulnerabilities reported by hackers.

Now that you have the knowledge, tools, and practice, it’s time to start hunting bugs on live platforms.

How to Start Bug Hunting:

Choose a Platform: Start with platforms like HackerOne or Bugcrowd. These platforms offer a wide variety of targets.Start Small: Focus on simpler vulnerabilities initially (like XSS or IDOR).Report Properly: Learn how to write effective bug reports that include detailed steps to reproduce, the impact of the vulnerability, and possible mitigations.

Learn how to report bugs effectively:
HackerOne Reporting Guide 📃

Bug bounty hunting is an ongoing learning process. Stay updated with the latest security trends and techniques.

Recommended Resources to Keep Learning:

The Hacker News 📰 — Stay updated on the latest security news and vulnerabilities.Security Weekly 🎧 — Listen to podcasts from security experts to learn about new research.Follow Security Experts on Twitter and YouTube for real-time insights.

Books to Consider:

“The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook” by Dafydd Stuttard and Marcus Pinto 📖 — A comprehensive guide to web application security.“Hacking: The Art of Exploitation” by Jon Erickson 📘 — A deeper dive into hacking techniques.

By following this roadmap, you will have the tools, resources, and knowledge needed to start your journey into the world of Bug Bounty Hunting. Keep practicing, learning, and contributing to make the internet a safer place. Best of luck in your bug bounty journey! 🐞💥

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