The Complete 2025 Guide to Becoming a Six-Figure Bug Bounty Hunter
2025 Industry Snapshot:
- Average bounty payout increased 42% since 2023 (HackerOne Report)
- Top 10% hunters earn $150k+/year
- AI-powered tools now standard in workflows
- Cloud/Web3 vulnerabilities fetch highest rewards
Chapter 1: Building Your Foundation (First 30 Days)
1.1 Must-Learn Technical Skills
- Web Technologies: HTTP/S, Cookies, Headers, REST APIs
- Common Vulnerabilities: OWASP Top 10 2025 Edition
- Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, WebSockets
- Programming: Python, JavaScript, Bash basics
Chapter 2: Essential Tools for 2025 Hunters
| Tool Type | Free Options | Premium Options |
|---|---|---|
| Proxy | OWASP ZAP, Burp Community | Burp Suite Pro ($399/yr) |
| Recon | Amass, Subfinder | Chaos ($99/yr) |
| Automation | Nuclei, Custom scripts | BugGPT Pro ($29/mo) |
Chapter 3: Advanced Hunting Methodologies
3.1 The 60/30/10 Time Allocation Rule
- 60% Recon: Subdomains, endpoints, JS files
- 30% Scanning: Automated vulnerability detection
- 10% Exploitation: Manual testing and chaining
Chapter 4: Writing High-Value Reports
Case Study: $25k SSRF Report
Elements That Maximized Payout:
- Clear reproduction steps with numbered screenshots
- Video proof of AWS metadata access
- Impact analysis showing potential data breach
- Suggested remediation with code samples
Chapter 5: 2025 Emerging Trends
5.1 AI-Assisted Hunting
- Automated Pattern Recognition: AI identifies vulnerability patterns across codebases
- Smart Payload Generation: Machine learning creates targeted exploit payloads
- Report Automation: Natural language processing drafts preliminary reports
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