A Bug Bounty Toolkit for Security Researchers

Course details

Bug bounties have proven to be one of the best ways to scale penetration testing and tap into the skills of thousands of security researchers. One of the challenges with security researchers is that they have varied skills and come from different security backgrounds. Many new researchers lack the right guidance and toolkit to be successful in the bug bounty program. This course helps bridge that gap and empower researchers with knowledge and skills to be successful in the bug bounty.

Instructor Bipin Gajbhiye starts with an intro to bug bounty programs and then explains how to participate and get started with different bug bounty opportunities. Bipin guides you through various hacking principles and introduces the OWASP top 10 and threat modeling frameworks. Learn technical details on how to perform reconnaissance, threat modeling, understanding business context, and how to identify opportunities to find vulnerabilities based on information gained so far about the system/application.

Learning objectives
Analyze the principles and techniques involved in participating and getting started with bug bounty programs, enabling the identification of various opportunities and vulnerabilities.
Discover the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and different techniques to perform reconnaissance, threat modeling, business context issues, and facilitating the discovery of potential vulnerabilities.
Construct effective proof of concept (PoC) demonstrations and draft quality bug reports, demonstrating the ability to communicate findings efficiently and elicit prompt responses.
Evaluate the limitations and restrictions associated with bug bounty programs, enabling the development of a comprehensive understanding of the ethical and legal boundaries.
Synthesize strategies for upskilling knowledge and pursuing relevant certifications or courses to enhance vulnerability discovery capabilities continuously.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Getting started with bug bounty programs
02 - Prerequisites for this course
03 - Disclaimer - The intent of this course

1. How to Get Started in Bug Bounty

04 - Essential technical skills required
05 - Essential security skills required
06 - Additional skills - Good to have
07 - Finding the right program and platform to participate
08 - Understanding the challenges
09 - Read the rules
10 - Signing up and creating test accounts

2. Learning Fundamentals and Sharpening the Axe

11 - Free hands-on resources
12 - Useful books and reading materials
13 - Essential tools and software needed
14 - OWASP Top 10
15 - Trainings, courses, and certifications to consider

3. Reconnaissance and Threat Modeling

16 - Information gathering techniques
17 - Tools for reconnaissance and threat intelligence
18 - Mapping attack surfaces
19 - Threat modeling fundamentals

4. Types of Testing

20 - Automated and manual testing
21 - Functional testing
22 - Business logic testing
23 - Compliance testing

5. Tools to Use

24 - Proxy tools such as Burp Suite or ZAP
25 - Open-source scanners
26 - Write custom scripts

6. Common Vulnerabilities in Action

27 - Cross-site scripting (XSS)
28 - SQL injection (SQLi)
29 - Broken access control
30 - Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR)
31 - Common vulnerabilities

7. Advanced Pentesting Skills

32 - Chaining vulnerabilities together
33 - Supply chain issues
34 - Zero-day vulnerability
35 - Authentication and authorization issues
36 - Browser security model
37 - Cryptographic issues

8. Documenting and Submitting Bug Bounty Reports

38 - Creating a well-crafted vulnerability report
39 - Responsible disclosure
40 - Managing communication

9. Staying up to Date with the Threat Landscape

41 - Leveraging LLM for security testing
42 - Continuous learning
43 - Conference talks, community, and networking

Conclusion

44 - Get started