Bug Bounty Roadmap 2025: The Only Roadmap You'll Ever Need

👋 Welcome Future Hunters!

Are you someone who loves to break things and fix them too?

Do you get excited by the word “hacking”?

If yes, then bug bounty hunting might be the perfect journey for you.

In this blog, I will explain everything in simple words — what is bug bounty, why people do it, how you can start, what mistakes to avoid, some real tips and tricks, and a complete roadmap to go from beginner to skilled hunter.

Let us begin!

🕷️ What is Bug Bounty?

Bug bounty is a program run by companies where they invite hackers (yes, ethical ones) to test their websites, apps, or systems.

If you find a security problem (called a “bug”) and report it responsibly, they will give you a reward. This reward is called a “bounty”. It can be money, swag, a shoutout, or even a job offer.

You are not breaking the law — you are helping them stay secure.

In short:

You hack legally
You help companies
You earn rewards

Sounds cool, right?

🎯 Why Do People Do Bug Bounty?

People start bug bounty for many reasons:

To learn real-world hacking
To earn money from home
To build a strong portfolio
To get into cybersecurity jobs
To contribute to internet safety

And the best part?

You do not need a degree to begin. You just need curiosity, internet, and a strong will to learn.

🧭 Step-by-Step Roadmap for Beginners

Now let us break it down step by step. Follow this roadmap if you are serious about becoming a bug bounty hunter.

1. Understand the Basics of Cybersecurity

Before jumping into bug bounty, learn the basic terms:

What is a vulnerability?
What is HTTP, HTTPS?
What is XSS, SQLi, SSRF, etc.?

📚 Resources:

YouTube channels like HackerOne, NahamSec ( also we share resources in our community )
Free platforms like cybersecurityguide.org
OWASP Top 10 list — this is your best friend.

2. Learn Web Technologies

You must know how websites work.

Start with:

HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Basic PHP
Request and Response (Headers, Cookies, Status codes)

Once you know this (Just basics), you will understand where the bugs live.

📘 Pro Tip: Use websites like w3schools.com or MDN to practice.

3. Master the OWASP Top 10

These are the most common and dangerous bugs found in web apps.

Top ones include:

🔥 Learn how they work and how to exploit and prevent them.

4. Set Up Your Lab

Practice is the real key.

Tools you must install:

Kali Linux or Parrot OS
Burp Suite (used to intercept and modify requests)
Postman (for API testing)
VS Code (for writing scripts)
Browser extensions like Wappalyzer, HackTools

🧪 Practice on:

5. Start with Free Platforms

Do not go to real bug bounty programs directly. First, build your skills on practice platforms.

✅ Best ones:

TryHackMe– beginner-friendly with step-by-step rooms
Hack The Box – more advanced, very practical
PentesterLab – learn with real scenarios
PortSwigger Academy – free and very detailed

Spend at least 1–2 months here.

6. Join Bug Bounty Platforms

Once you are confident, join these platforms:

HackerOne
Bugcrowd
Intigriti
YesWeHack
Synack (after invite)

Create profiles, complete any beginner challenges, and explore public programs.

Start with low-hanging fruits like:

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR)
Open Redirect
Clickjacking
Information Disclosure
Subdomain Takeover
Rate Limiting Issues
Missing Security Headers
Exposed .git or .env Files
Default Credentials
Directory Listing
Verbose Error Messages
Cache Poisoning
Weak CORS Policy
and more that you can google! (After knowing these)

7. Learn Recon (Information Gathering)

Finding the right target is half the battle.

Tools to master:

Amass, Subfinder – for finding subdomains
Assetfinder, Findomain – fast subdomain discovery
Httpx – check which subdomains are alive
Naabu – fast port scanner
Nmap – deep port & service enumeration
Gau, Waybackurls – find archived and old endpoints
Katana – web crawler to discover hidden URLs
ParamSpider – for finding hidden parameters
GF Patterns – to filter useful/juicy parameters
Dnsx – DNS resolution for subdomains
Whois, Dig – for domain info
Shodan, Censys – to gather intel about hosts
Webanalyze, Wappalyzer – for technology fingerprinting

All are easy to use its just a mind game 🧠

📁 Create your recon workflow using tools + automation.

Tip: Save everything in files. Organise data properly.

8. Hunt, Report, and Learn

Once you find a bug:

Reproduce it properly
Record video or screenshots
Write a clean and clear report
Include steps to reproduce, impact, and possible fix

📜 Keep all your reports in a private folder. You can use them to improve your future reports or create blog content later.

❌ Mistakes to Avoid

Let us be honest. Everyone makes mistakes. But you can avoid some if you know them early.

❗ Jumping to real programs too fast

→ Build basic skills first. Otherwise, you will get demotivated.

❗ Copy-pasting payloads blindly

→ Learn why a payload works. Understand the logic behind it.

❗ Not reading program rules

→ Every program has a scope. If you report something out of scope, it will get closed as “NA”.

❗ Reporting duplicates again and again

→ Use recon properly. Focus on less-explored areas.

❗ Not respecting responsible disclosure

→ Never leak private reports. Be ethical always.

💡 Tips and Tricks from Real Hunters

Always read past reports from HackerOne or blogs
Write your own scripts. Do not depend only on tools.
Try weird inputs. Try what others will not.
Go deep into one application instead of trying 50 in a day
Be consistent — do not take long breaks

📢 Join community groups on Telegram, Discord, Reddit. You will learn faster.

🔥 Bug Hunting Mindset

Bug bounty is not a quick-rich scheme.

Some bugs can earn you ₹5,000. Some can give ₹5,00,000. But the key is:

Stay patient
Stay curious
Learn something daily
Respect other hunters
Build your own methods

Remember: You are not in a race. You are building skills for life.

📚 Daily Learning Routine (Example)

If you can give at least 2 hours per day, follow this:

Day 1–30:

Watch videos
Practice OWASP labs
Learn request-response structure

Day 31–60:

Setup tools
Do recon manually
Explore XSS, IDOR, SSRF

Day 61–90:

Hunt on VDPs (public programs)
Try real reports
Start writing bug writeups

Repeat, improve, and evolve.

📘 Bonus: Write and Share What You Learn

One of the best ways to grow is to:

Write blog posts
Share small tips on LinkedIn or X
Create short videos
Help other beginners

This not only helps the community, but builds your reputation.

Companies will notice.

You might even get job offers. Many people got hired because of their writeups and open-source contributions.

🧠 Final Words: Let Us Learn and Grow Together

Bug bounty is a journey.

You will face rejections, duplicates, frustration. But you will also learn, earn, and connect with amazing people across the world.

You are not alone.

Ask doubts.

Join active communities.

Be honest with your learning.

There is no shortcut — but if you keep going, you will reach your destination.

So, are you ready to start your journey?

Join our community today. Ask. Share. Learn. Grow. Together. 💻🛡️ Join Now

Bug Bounty Roadmap 2025: The Only Roadmap You’ll Ever Need

👋 Welcome Future Hunters!

🕷️ What is Bug Bounty?

🎯 Why Do People Do Bug Bounty?

🧭 Step-by-Step Roadmap for Beginners