My Bug Hunting Methodology: Recon | by Gentil Security

3 min read4 days ago

My Bug Hunting Methodology: Recon — My Bug Hunting Methodology

Bug bounty hunting is an exciting and rewarding field for ethical hackers, offering opportunities to uncover vulnerabilities and enhance cybersecurity. Among the essential steps in bug hunting, reconnaissance (or recon) plays a crucial role in identifying potential entry points into a system. In this article, I will share my personal methodology for conducting recon using the specific tools and techniques demonstrated in my video tutorial.

What Is Reconnaissance in Bug Bounty Hunting?

Reconnaissance is the initial phase of bug bounty hunting, focused on gathering as much information as possible about a target. This phase involves mapping the attack surface, identifying exposed subdomains, extracting URLs, and analyzing parameters to discover vulnerabilities.

Steps in My Recon Methodology

Here is the detailed step-by-step methodology I used:

Make a Target Directory

Create a dedicated directory for storing all target-related files and results to maintain organization.

2. Subdomain Enumeration

Use tools like Sublist3r, subExtreme to gather subdomains for the target.
Verify the discovered subdomains using Httpx to check for live hosts.

3. Get Target URLs from Multiple Websites (Passive)

Use Waymore to collect URLs from various sources such as search engines, archives, and public datasets.

4. Filter Unique URLs

Use urldedupe to remove duplicate URLs and keep the list concise.

5. Pass URLs to Burp Suite

Import the filtered URLs into Burp Suite for further analysis and manual testing.

6. Discover Hidden Files & Directories

Employ Dirsearch to uncover directories and files that might contain sensitive information.

7. Crawl the Target Deeply

Use the Crawley tool to crawl the target extensively and send all traffic to Burp Suite for deeper analysis. Note: Crawley requires more CPU and RAM resources.

8. Extract All Parameters

Save Burp Suite results into a text file and extract all detected parameters using manual inspection or scripts.

9. Discover Hidden Parameters

Use Arjun to identify hidden GET and POST parameters that might be vulnerable.

10. Scan for XSS Vulnerabilities

Scan all identified parameters for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities using Dalfox.

My Notion Notes (Free & Paid) : https://gentilsecurity.notion.site/Gentil-Security-Hacking-Methodology-1495c1f3a8fd80d8a149ce2aefe1d084

Tools in My Recon Arsenal

Here are the tools I used to implement this methodology:

Python3: Required for running many of the tools.
Golang: For tools like Httpx and Waymore.
C-Make: To compile some tools.
Rust: For additional tool support.
urldedupe: To filter unique URLs.
Arjun: For discovering hidden parameters.
Waymore: For collecting target URLs from various sources.
Sublist3r: For subdomain enumeration.
Dirsearch: For directory and file enumeration.
subExtreme: For enhanced subdomain discovery.
Httpx: To verify live hosts and gather HTTP response details.
Crawley: For deep crawling and sending traffic to Burp Suite.
PassURLs: To pass the collected links to BurpSuite.
Dalfox: For automated scanning of XSS vulnerabilities.
SecLists: For wordlists to enhance brute-forcing and scanning.

Challenges and Tips for Effective Recon

Organize Your Workflow: Start with a clear directory structure to avoid confusion.
Monitor Resource Usage: Tools like Crawley can consume significant resources; ensure your system is optimized.
Combine Automation and Manual Testing: Automated tools are great for scalability, but manual inspection often reveals overlooked vulnerabilities.
Focus on Parameters: Many vulnerabilities hide in the parameters of a web application, so prioritize their discovery and analysis.
Stay Consistent: Follow the methodology step by step to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Why Recon Matters

Reconnaissance is the foundation of bug bounty hunting. A thorough recon process:

Uncovers hidden attack vectors.
Maximizes your chances of finding unique vulnerabilities.
Provides a deep understanding of the target’s infrastructure.

Watch My Live Recon Session

Ready to see this methodology in action? Watch my YouTube video where I demonstrate these steps using the tools and techniques described here:

Watch Now: Bug Bounty Hunting and Recon Explained

Reconnaissance is more than just gathering information — it’s about creating a clear roadmap for your bug bounty hunting journey. By following a structured methodology and leveraging the right tools, you can uncover vulnerabilities efficiently and effectively.

Start honing your recon skills today by watching my video, exploring related resources, and practicing on live targets. Bug bounty success starts with solid recon!