Bug Bounty Field Guide
Section: 🔴 Offensive Security
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Time to Complete: ~85 minutes
Prerequisites: HTTP fundamentals, Web Application Security, Burp Suite / OWASP ZAP
Status: ✅ Complete & Production-Ready
🎯 Overview & Learning Objectives
The Bug Bounty Field Guide provides practical methodology for ethical security researchers and application security engineers participating in vulnerability disclosure programs (VDPs) and bug bounty platforms.
By the end of this practical guide, you will be able to:
- Understand Bug Bounty platform mechanics (HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti) and VRT taxonomies.
- Conduct effective asset discovery and attack surface mapping safely within scope.
- Audit high-value vulnerability categories (BOLA, Business Logic flaws, Race Conditions, OAuth misconfigurations).
- Write professional, clear, and easily reproducible vulnerability reports.
- Utilize Burp Suite extensions (Autorize, Param Miner) and automated contract verification tools.
- Solve a hands-on lab: Vulnerable Coupon API + Race Condition Verification Script + Atomic Transaction Lock Remediation.
📚 Module Navigation
- 01. Overview & Bug Bounty Ecosystem — Bug bounty platforms, VDP vs Paid Bounty, Rules of Engagement (RoE), and Bugcrowd VRT taxonomy.
- 02. Asset Discovery & Scope Mapping — Mapping organizational attack surfaces, HTTPX, Katana, and subdomain scope boundaries.
- 03. High-Value Vulnerability Analysis — Deep dive into BOLA, Race Conditions, Business Logic bypasses, and OAuth implementation bugs.
- 04. Report Writing & Triage Communication — Writing high-impact vulnerability reports, clear repro steps, CVSS v4.0 calculation, and triager collaboration.
- 05. Tooling & Burp Suite Extensions — Burp Suite Pro workflow, Autorize for authorization testing, Param Miner, and Nuclei verification.
- 06. Hands-On Vulnerability Lab — Self-contained Python Lab: Vulnerable Race Condition API + Audit Script + Atomic Lock Fix.
- 07. References & Taxonomies — Bugcrowd VRT, HackerOne Taxonomy, PortSwigger Web Security Academy.
Begin reading: 01. Overview & Bug Bounty Ecosystem →