Bug Hunting

Overview
Bug Hunting is CIS College’s fully online course for anyone who wants to become a bug bounty hunter. Running 40 to 60 hours depending on pace, it takes you from the basics of web technologies through to hunting real vulnerabilities on public bug bounty platforms such as HackerOne, Bugcrowd, and Open Bug Bounty.
You will learn how to set up a safe and legal testing environment, gather information on a target, and find and exploit common and advanced web vulnerabilities. The course also covers mobile and network bug hunting, the tools professionals use daily, and how to write a bug report that gets taken seriously, all within an ethical and responsible disclosure framework.
What You Will Learn
- Set up a safe, legal environment for bug hunting and penetration testing
- Perform reconnaissance and OSINT gathering on web targets
- Identify and exploit common web vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, and IDOR
- Test for advanced issues such as SSRF, XXE, business logic flaws, and API vulnerabilities
- Assess mobile application and network security weaknesses
- Use industry tools such as Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, FFUF, and Wireshark
- Write professional bug reports and understand CVSS scoring
- Practice on real bug bounty platforms and vulnerable lab applications
Course Curriculum
| Module | What you cover | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Bug Hunting | Ethical hacking and bug bounty platforms, legal and ethical considerations, setting up a safe testing environment | 4-6 |
| Web Application Basics & Reconnaissance | HTTP/HTTPS, REST APIs, cookies and sessions, OSINT, and recon tools such as Sublist3r, Amass, Shodan, and Nmap | 6-8 |
| Common Web Vulnerabilities | SQL injection, cross-site scripting, broken authentication, sensitive data exposure, security misconfigurations, CSRF, and IDOR | 10-12 |
| Advanced Web Exploitation | Business logic flaws, SSRF, XXE, API security testing, race conditions, and caching/header manipulation attacks | 10-12 |
| Mobile & Network Bug Hunting | Mobile app security on Android and iOS, wireless hacking basics, traffic sniffing with Wireshark, MITM attacks, and IoT security testing | 6-8 |
| Tools & Automation | Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, FFUF and Dirbuster, and Python scripting for bug hunting | 6-8 |
| Reporting & Responsible Disclosure | Writing professional bug reports, CVSS scoring, proof of concept development, and responsible disclosure | 4-6 |
| Hands-on Labs & Real-World Bug Hunting | CTF challenges, live bug bounty platform practice, vulnerable lab applications (DVWA, Juice Shop, bWAPP), and a final project | 8-12 |
Who This Course Is For
- Beginner to intermediate learners with basic knowledge of web technologies (HTML, JavaScript, HTTP) who want to become bug bounty hunters
- Developers who want to understand how their applications can be attacked
Certification
Upon completing the practical bug hunting challenge and final exam, you receive a Certificate of Completion from CIS College.
Target audiences
- Beginner to intermediate learners who want to become bug bounty hunters
- Developers who want to understand how their applications can be attacked
Requirements
- Basic knowledge of web technologies (HTML, JavaScript, HTTP, etc.)