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Bug Bounty Hunting: Complete Beginner’s Guide 2026

Bug bounty hunting is ethical hacking where security researchers identify and report vulnerabilities in software or websites to organizations via bounty programs, earning monetary rewards for valid findings. In 2024, companies paid out millions to researchers who discovered critical security flaws before criminals could exploit them. HackerOne reported payouts reaching six figures for high-impact discoveries, proving this field offers both financial opportunity and meaningful contribution to global cybersecurity.

For beginners, bug bounty hunting represents a practical pathway into cybersecurity careers. You don’t need a formal degree or certifications to start. Organizations benefit from crowdsourced security testing that costs less than traditional penetration testing contracts while providing continuous coverage. Researchers gain hands-on experience, build professional portfolios, and earn income while learning. The model encourages responsible disclosure over exploitation, creating a win-win ecosystem where ethical hackers protect users while getting paid.

This guide covers everything you need to start bug bounty hunting from zero. You’ll learn what bug bounties are, how programs work, which platforms to use, common vulnerabilities to target, essential tools and techniques, earning strategies, and ethical guidelines. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap from setup to your first submission, with practical examples and sourced recommendations to avoid common pitfalls.

Table of Contents

What Bug Bounty Programs Are and How They Work

A bug bounty program is a structured initiative where organizations reward security researchers for finding and reporting vulnerabilities within defined scopes. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and thousands of smaller organizations run these programs through platforms such as HackerOne, Bugcrowd, and Intigriti. Rather than relying solely on internal security teams, organizations tap into a global pool of ethical hackers who test their systems continuously.

The process works through clear parameters. Each program defines its scope, which specifies exactly which assets you can test (specific domains, mobile apps, APIs) and which are off-limits. The scope also lists acceptable testing methods and prohibited actions. For example, a program might allow testing web applications but prohibit denial-of-service attacks or social engineering. Bugcrowd uses its Vulnerability Rating Taxonomy (VRT) to assign severity scores, determining bounty amounts based on impact.

Rewards vary widely based on vulnerability severity and program budgets. Critical vulnerabilities affecting authentication or data exposure can pay $5,000 to $50,000 or more, while low-severity issues might earn $100 to $500. Public programs allow anyone to participate without invitation, making them ideal starting points. Private programs require proven track records and invite researchers based on reputation scores built through successful submissions.

The fundamental concept enabling this ecosystem is responsible disclosure. When you discover a vulnerability, you report it privately to the organization through the platform. This gives them time to develop and deploy fixes before any public announcement, preventing exploitation by malicious actors. Platforms mediate the process, handling triage, communication, and payment, which protects both researchers and organizations.

Getting Started: Your First Steps

Starting bug bounty hunting requires foundational web security knowledge, not advanced expertise. You should understand HTTP requests and responses, basic HTML/CSS/JavaScript, and how web applications communicate with servers. Familiarity with your browser’s developer tools helps tremendously. If you’re completely new to these concepts, spend a few weeks learning web fundamentals before diving into vulnerability hunting.

HackerOne’s beginner guide recommends starting with practice platforms before touching real programs. PortSwigger Academy offers free labs covering the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities with hands-on exercises. TryHackMe and HackTheBox provide structured learning paths for web security basics. These platforms let you make mistakes in safe environments, building confidence without risking bans from real programs.

Once you’ve practiced basic vulnerabilities, create accounts on bug bounty platforms. HackerOne and Bugcrowd are the largest, offering the most public programs. Registration requires email verification and profile completion. Fill out your profile thoroughly, including any relevant skills or certifications. Some programs review researcher profiles before accepting submissions, so a complete profile builds credibility.

Reading program scopes carefully prevents wasted effort and potential legal issues. Each program’s policy page lists in-scope assets (URLs, apps, infrastructure), out-of-scope items, and rules of engagement. Pay attention to prohibited testing methods, which commonly include brute-force attacks, social engineering, physical security testing, and third-party services. Programs also specify what happens to duplicate reports (usually no reward if someone submitted the same bug first).

Start with programs explicitly marked “beginner-friendly” or those with large scopes and active communities. Look for programs with recent activity, which indicates responsive triage teams. Avoid programs with low response rates or long wait times for initial feedback. Your first goal isn’t a big payout but learning the submission process, understanding report quality expectations, and building your methodology.

For additional guidance, check out our beginner’s guide to ethical hacking to understand the broader context of working as a security researcher.

Essential Tools and Reconnaissance Techniques

Your basic toolkit should include a web proxy, subdomain enumeration tools, and vulnerability scanners. Burp Suite Community Edition serves as your primary testing platform. This web proxy sits between your browser and target applications, letting you intercept, inspect, and modify HTTP requests. Install Burp Suite, configure your browser to use it as a proxy, and practice capturing traffic from practice sites before testing real targets.

Reconnaissance (recon) is your first step when approaching any target. The goal is mapping the attack surface by discovering all accessible assets within scope. Subdomain enumeration reveals hidden or forgotten assets that may have weaker security. Tools like Sublist3r automate this process:

sublist3r -d example.com

This command queries public DNS records, search engines, and certificate transparency logs to find subdomains. Infosec Writeups recommends running multiple enumeration tools since each uses different data sources, giving you more complete coverage.

Directory and file discovery helps find forgotten admin panels, backup files, or exposed configuration files. The ffuf tool performs fast fuzzing against web servers using wordlists:

ffuf -u https://target.com/FUZZ -w wordlist.txt

Replace wordlist.txt with common directory names or filenames. SecLists provides comprehensive wordlists for various fuzzing scenarios. Focus on results returning 200 (OK) or 403 (Forbidden) status codes, which indicate existing resources.

Nuclei offers automated vulnerability scanning using community-maintained templates. It’s particularly useful for finding common misconfigurations and known CVEs:

nuclei -u https://target.com -t cves/

The -t cves/ flag runs only CVE-related templates. While automated scanners find low-hanging fruit, manual testing discovers the logic flaws and complex vulnerabilities that pay higher bounties. Use automation to identify potential issues, then investigate manually to confirm exploitability and impact.

Browser extensions enhance your manual testing workflow. Wappalyzer identifies technologies used by target applications (frameworks, CMS platforms, JavaScript libraries), helping you research known vulnerabilities for those specific versions. Cookie-Editor lets you modify cookies to test authentication and authorization flaws. These tools integrate directly into your browser, streamlining common tasks during testing sessions.

Common Vulnerabilities for Beginners

Five beginner-friendly vulnerability types account for many successful first reports: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR), SQL Injection (SQLi), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF). Mastering these gives you solid foundations for more advanced hunting.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

XSS occurs when applications include untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or escaping. Attackers inject malicious JavaScript that executes in victims’ browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users, or modifying page content.

Reflected XSS happens when user input immediately echoes back in responses. Test by entering <script>alert('XSS')</script> in search boxes, form fields, or URL parameters. If an alert pops up, the application is vulnerable. Stored XSS persists in databases, affecting all users who view the poisoned data. Comment sections, user profiles, and message boards commonly suffer from stored XSS.

Finding XSS requires creativity with payloads. Simple script tags often get filtered, so try HTML event handlers like <img src=x onerror=alert('XSS')> or encoded variations. Modern applications implement Content Security Policy (CSP), which restricts script execution. Read CSP headers to understand restrictions, then craft payloads that comply with the policy while still demonstrating impact.

Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR)

IDOR vulnerabilities allow access to unauthorized resources by manipulating reference parameters. Applications use predictable identifiers (sequential numbers, simple UUIDs) without verifying the requester has permission to access that specific resource.

Common IDOR scenarios include viewing other users’ profiles, accessing private documents, or modifying others’ data. Test by creating two accounts, capturing requests with Burp Suite, and swapping identifiers between accounts. If Account A can access Account B’s data by changing an ID parameter, you’ve found an IDOR.

The impact varies based on data sensitivity and available actions. Reading others’ personal information qualifies as medium severity, while modifying or deleting data rates higher. Financial records, health information, or administrative functions affected by IDOR typically earn higher bounties. Always demonstrate impact clearly in your reports, showing exactly what unauthorized access the flaw enables.

SQL Injection (SQLi)

SQL injection lets attackers interfere with database queries by inserting malicious SQL code through user inputs. Successful SQLi can dump entire databases, modify data, or bypass authentication. Modern frameworks reduce SQLi prevalence through parameterized queries, but it still appears in legacy code or custom implementations.

Test for SQLi by adding single quotes (') to input fields and observing errors. Database error messages revealing SQL syntax indicate vulnerability. Time-based blind SQLi uses database sleep functions to confirm injection when no errors display. For example, if adding ' OR SLEEP(5)-- causes a five-second delay, SQLi exists even without visible output.

Tools like SQLMap automate exploitation, but understanding manual techniques builds deeper knowledge. Learn to identify injection points, determine database types from error messages, and craft union-based queries to extract data. Document your findings carefully, demonstrating impact without actually dumping sensitive production data, which violates most program policies.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

CSRF tricks authenticated users into executing unwanted actions on applications where they’re logged in. Attackers craft malicious links or forms that submit requests using the victim’s session. Without anti-CSRF tokens, applications can’t distinguish legitimate user actions from forged requests.

Testing CSRF involves intercepting state-changing requests (account updates, password changes, transactions) and checking for unique, unpredictable tokens. If requests lack tokens or use predictable values, create a proof-of-concept HTML page that automatically submits the malicious request when opened.

Impact depends on available actions. CSRF enabling account takeover, unauthorized purchases, or privilege escalation rates as high severity. Simple profile updates without sensitive data changes rate lower. Always demonstrate the attack chain from initial victim interaction through successful unauthorized action completion.

Writing Reports and Maximizing Earnings

High-quality reports separate successful hunters from those who get duplicates rejected. Your report should answer four questions immediately: What is the vulnerability? Where does it exist? How do you reproduce it? What impact can it cause? Structure reports with clear headings, numbered reproduction steps, and supporting evidence like screenshots or HTTP request/response pairs.

Intigriti’s methodology guide emphasizes clarity over technical jargon. Write for security teams who may not specialize in web vulnerabilities. Explain the attack scenario in plain language before diving into technical details. Include a severity assessment using CVSS or the platform’s rating system, justified by demonstrable impact.

Reproduction steps should be precise and complete. Number each step, include exact URLs, parameter names, and payload values. If exploitation requires specific timing or preconditions, document them. Imagine a new security analyst reading your report six months later when they’re finally addressing it. They should reproduce the issue without asking for clarification.

Typical bounty ranges vary by program and severity. Low-severity issues (information disclosure, self-XSS, low-impact CSRF) often pay $100 to $500. Medium severity (stored XSS, IDOR accessing non-sensitive data, rate limiting bypasses) ranges from $500 to $2,000. High severity (authentication bypasses, SQL injection, sensitive IDOR) pays $2,000 to $10,000. Critical vulnerabilities (remote code execution, full account takeover, payment manipulation) can exceed $10,000 in well-funded programs.

Maximizing earnings requires strategic program selection and persistence. Start with programs offering higher minimum bounties rather than chasing the biggest maximums. A program paying $300 minimum for low-severity issues provides steadier income than one paying $50. Focus on fewer programs deeply rather than scanning many superficially. Deep familiarity with an application’s architecture reveals logic flaws that shallow testing misses.

Avoid common mistakes that delay or reduce payouts. Submitting duplicates wastes everyone’s time and lowers your reputation score. Search existing disclosed reports before submitting. Provide complete information upfront rather than making triage teams request additional details through multiple messages. Never test beyond reported scope, even if you discover vulnerabilities in related assets. Respect program rules absolutely, as violations can result in permanent bans.

Build relationships with program teams through professional communication. Polite, detailed reports with clear impact assessments get faster responses and better bounties. When programs negotiate severity ratings, provide evidence supporting your assessment rather than arguing emotionally. Remember that triage teams handle hundreds of submissions, so making their jobs easier increases your chances of favorable treatment.

To understand how bug bounty hunting relates to broader security testing, read our guide on penetration testing fundamentals.

Bug bounty hunting operates in a legal gray area without explicit program authorization. Programs provide legal safe harbor by granting written permission to test specific assets under defined conditions. The scope defines your legal boundaries. Testing out-of-scope assets, even if vulnerable, constitutes unauthorized access in most jurisdictions.

Responsible disclosure protects both researchers and organizations. Report vulnerabilities privately through official channels (platform submission forms, security email addresses listed in security.txt files). Never disclose publicly before organizations have reasonable time to fix issues. Most programs request 90 days, though critical vulnerabilities may receive expedited patches.

Never exploit vulnerabilities beyond proving they exist. Accessing one user’s data to demonstrate IDOR is acceptable with explicit permission. Accessing hundreds of accounts or downloading databases to “confirm” scope constitutes data theft. Demonstrate impact using your own test accounts whenever possible. For IDOR, create two accounts and show cross-account access. For XSS, use alert boxes or non-malicious payloads that prove execution without harm.

Avoid actions that could disrupt services or harm users. Denial-of-service testing is almost universally prohibited. Resource exhaustion attacks, brute-force login attempts against production systems, and social engineering against employees violate program rules. When testing rate limiting or resource constraints, use minimal traffic and document your approach in reports.

Data handling requires careful consideration. Screenshots containing user data should blur or redact personally identifiable information (names, email addresses, payment details). If vulnerability requires demonstrating data access, use the minimum necessary examples. Never retain, share, or use accessed data for any purpose beyond proving the vulnerability’s existence.

Program policies supersede general guidelines. Read each program’s specific rules before testing. Some prohibit automated scanning, require specific tools or techniques, or limit testing to certain times. Violating program-specific rules can result in account bans even if your actions would be acceptable elsewhere. When uncertain about rule interpretation, ask through the platform’s communication channel before proceeding.

Legal protections vary by jurisdiction. The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) creates criminal liability for unauthorized computer access, even when discovering vulnerabilities. Bug bounty programs provide authorization, but only within stated scopes. European and Asian countries have similar laws with varying interpretations. Always operate within explicit program authorization to minimize legal risk.

Practice Resources and Communities

PortSwigger Academy offers the most comprehensive free web security training available. Their labs cover SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, authentication, and business logic flaws with hands-on exercises. Each topic progresses from basic concepts to advanced exploitation techniques. Complete the academy’s learning paths before attempting real programs to build solid foundations.

TryHackMe and HackTheBox provide interactive practice environments with real-world scenarios. TryHackMe’s beginner-friendly approach includes guided rooms walking through vulnerability discovery step-by-step. HackTheBox offers more challenging machines requiring independent problem-solving. Both platforms help you develop the persistence and methodology crucial for bug bounty success.

PentesterLab focuses specifically on web application vulnerabilities with progressively difficult exercises. Their badge system tracks your progress through common vulnerability types. The platform’s focus on practical exploitation complements theoretical knowledge from other resources. Free tiers provide enough content to build foundational skills before considering paid subscriptions.

Community engagement accelerates learning through shared knowledge and support. Reddit’s r/bugbounty subreddit hosts discussions on methodology, tools, and program recommendations. Twitter’s infosec community shares writeups, new techniques, and program updates. Discord servers like Bug Bounty Forum provide real-time help for specific problems.

GitHub repositories collect valuable resources. The “Awesome Bug Bounty” repository curates tools, writeups, and learning materials. Payload lists help you craft effective test inputs for various vulnerability types. Publicly disclosed reports on HackerOne and Bugcrowd show what successful submissions look like, teaching you report writing standards and effective communication.

Conferences and virtual events offer networking and learning opportunities. DEF CON’s Bug Bounty Village, OWASP AppSec conferences, and platform-specific events like HackerOne’s live hacking events bring researchers together. These connections often lead to mentorship relationships, program invitations, and career opportunities beyond bug bounties.

Key Takeaways

  • Bug bounty hunting rewards ethical hackers for finding vulnerabilities in organizations’ systems, providing both income and cybersecurity career development opportunities
  • Start by learning web fundamentals and practicing on safe platforms like PortSwigger Academy, TryHackMe, or HackTheBox before testing real programs
  • Focus on mastering beginner-friendly vulnerabilities (XSS, IDOR, SQLi, CSRF, SSRF) that appear frequently and build foundational skills for advanced hunting
  • Essential tools include Burp Suite for request manipulation, subdomain enumeration tools like Sublist3r, and directory fuzzers like ffuf for reconnaissance
  • Write clear, detailed reports with precise reproduction steps, demonstrable impact, and supporting evidence to maximize bounty amounts and build reputation
  • Always operate within program scopes and follow responsible disclosure practices to avoid legal issues and maintain access to platforms
  • Join communities on Reddit, Twitter, and Discord to learn from experienced hunters, share discoveries, and stay updated on new techniques and program launches

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join a bug bounty program as a beginner?

Create accounts on platforms like HackerOne or Bugcrowd by verifying your email and completing your profile. Start with programs marked “beginner-friendly” or those with large scopes and public access. Read program policies carefully to understand scope, rules, and submission processes before testing.

What tools do I need to start bug bounty hunting?

Begin with Burp Suite Community Edition for intercepting web traffic, Sublist3r for subdomain enumeration, and ffuf for directory fuzzing. Add browser extensions like Wappalyzer and Cookie-Editor. These free tools cover most beginner testing needs before investing in paid alternatives.

What are the most common beginner-friendly vulnerabilities?

Focus on Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR), SQL Injection, Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF). These vulnerabilities appear frequently, have clear testing methodologies, and help build foundational security knowledge.

How do I write a high-quality bug report?

Structure reports with clear sections covering what the vulnerability is, where it exists, numbered reproduction steps, and demonstrated impact. Include screenshots, HTTP requests/responses, and severity ratings. Write for non-specialist readers who may not have deep expertise in the specific vulnerability type.

What are typical bounty amounts for beginners?

Low-severity issues pay $100 to $500, medium severity ranges from $500 to $2,000, and high-severity vulnerabilities can reach $2,000 to $10,000. Amounts vary significantly by program funding and organizational priorities. Focus on programs with higher minimum payouts for steadier income while learning.

What legal risks should I know?

Testing outside program scopes, even if you find vulnerabilities, constitutes unauthorized access in most jurisdictions. Always operate within explicit program authorization, follow responsible disclosure practices, and never exploit vulnerabilities beyond proving they exist. Read program-specific rules before testing.

Can a complete beginner earn from bug bounties in 2024?

Yes, though expect a learning curve before your first payout. Spend several weeks practicing on safe platforms, understanding common vulnerabilities, and developing methodology. First earnings typically come from low-severity findings in beginner-friendly programs. Persistence and continuous learning drive success more than natural talent.

References

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