How I Found a Critical Vulnerability and Earned $4,000 in Bug Bounty Hunting

Introduction
Imagine this: It’s 2 a.m., and I’m sitting in front of my laptop, surrounded by empty coffee cups and a half-eaten bag of chips. My eyes are glued to the screen as I meticulously test every corner of a web application. Suddenly, I notice something unusual — a small oversight in the server’s file upload feature. My heart races as I realize I’ve stumbled upon a critical vulnerability. Fast forward a few days, and I’m $4,000 richer.

This is the world of bug bounty hunting — a thrilling mix of cybersecurity, problem-solving, and, yes, the occasional adrenaline rush. In this blog, I’ll take you through my journey of finding a critical vulnerability, reporting it responsibly, and earning a bounty. Whether you’re a seasoned hacker or a curious beginner, I hope my story inspires you to dive into this exciting field.

The Beginning: Why I Started Bug Bounty Hunting

I’ve always been fascinated by how things work — especially when it comes to technology. A few years ago, I stumbled upon a YouTube video about bug bounty hunting. The idea of getting paid to find vulnerabilities in software sounded too good to be true. But as I dug deeper, I realized it wasn’t just about the money. It was about the challenge, the learning, and the satisfaction of making the internet a safer place.