Bug Bounty 2024: How I Reported 30+ Security Vulnerabilities in Facebook, Shopify, & Other Top Platforms to Earn Rewards! 💰🧑💻 | PixelLab Geeks
Imagine waking up to an email from the Facebook Security Team. Sounds exciting. That happened to me after I reported a serious security vulnerability in Meta’s Platform. For a moment, I thought I was about to Become a Millionaire! 😆💸 But things didn’t go exactly as planned… From bypassing security on Shopify to finding hidden admin panels, my journey in bug bounty hunting has been a rollercoaster of wins, losses, and shocking discoveries! 🤯 Buckle up as I share how I found 30+ security bugs in Facebook, Shopify, and other platforms, what mistakes I made, and why some companies don’t want you to know the truth! 😱 Ready to dive in? Let’s go! 🚀
📌 Table of Contents:
- What is Bug Bounty? 🕵️♂️💰
- Is Bug Bounty a Good Career? 🤔💼
- Is Bug Bounty Difficult? 🧠⚡
- What is the Highest Bug Bounty Ever Paid? 💵🔥
- My Bug Bounty Journey: How It All Started! 🚀📖
- The First Bug I Found - HTML Injection (P5) 🖥️🪲
- Hacking Facebook: My Open Redirect Vulnerability Story! 🔗🔓
- Reality Check: How Meta Closed My Report! 🚫📩
- Motivation & Lessons from Experts! 🎓💡
- Shopify Hacking: How I Found 3 Critical Bugs! 🏪🔍
- No-Rate Limit Vulnerability: Bypassing Shopify's Security! ✉️💥
- Bug Bounty Scams: How Some Companies Ignore Reports! 🚨⚠️
- Self-Hosted Programs: The Struggle of Private Testing! 🔐🕵️♂️
- Final Thoughts: My Biggest Takeaways! 🎯🔑
- How Much Money Did I Make? (Coming Soon on LinkedIn) 🤑📢
- 💡 Stay tuned till the end because this journey will blow your mind! 🤯🔥
🔍 What is Bug Bounty?
Bug Bounty is a program where companies pay hackers (ethical ones 😆) to find security flaws in their systems. Instead of misusing these bugs, hackers report them responsibly and earn bounties (cash rewards) for their efforts. It’s like being a digital detective but with legal permission! 🕵️♂️
💼 Is Bug Bounty a Good Career?
Absolutely! Many ethical hackers make a full-time living from bug bounty hunting. Companies like Facebook, Google, and Shopify pay thousands for valid security reports. But remember, it requires patience, skills, and consistency.
😵 Is Bug Bounty Difficult?
Yes and no! Beginners often struggle at first because finding valid bugs takes time and practice. But once you learn how systems work, bug hunting becomes a fun challenge rather than a headache! 🚀
💰 What is the Highest Bug Bounty Ever Paid?
One of the highest recorded bounties was $2,000,000+ (yes, two million dollars! 🤯) paid by Apple for discovering a critical exploit in iOS. So yeah, big rewards are possible if you find something hazardous!
🚀 My Bug Bounty Journey: From Noob to 30+ Bug Reports in 2024!
I started bug bounty hunting in 2022, but in 2024, I got serious about it. That’s when I found 30+ security vulnerabilities on platforms like Facebook, Shopify, and public/private programs! 😎💻
1️⃣ My First Bug: HTML Injection (P5 - Informative) 😅
The first bug I reported was HTML Injection (P5 - Informative). It wasn’t critical, but it gave me huge motivation to continue. Seeing my first valid bug report felt like a small victory! 🎉
2️⃣ My Facebook Open Redirect Bug (I Thought I’d Be a Millionaire! 😂)
Then came my Facebook Open Redirect Bug. The moment I found it, I thought:
- "Bhai, ab toh zindagi set hai! Millionaire banne wala hoon!" 🤩💰
But reality hit hard! Facebook (Meta) rejected my report because:
👉 Their Linkshim system already protects against malicious redirects.
👉 The bug didn’t qualify for a bounty.
👉 They closed my report without my permission! 😡
That day, all my motivation disappeared. I felt like quitting. But then my bug bounty mentor, Muhammad Waseem, told me:
- "Bhai, beginner ho aur phir bhi Facebook ka bug nikala? Ye koi chhoti baat nahi hai!" 💪🔥
👉 My Teacher, Sir SairAli, also motivated me. I realized that big programs often reject reports unfairly. But the key is to keep going!
🛒 My Shopify Bug: When a Friend Promised a Treat but Never Paid! 😂
👉 One day, a friend said:
- "Bhai, main Shopify pe store bana raha hoon. Zara testing karke bata, koi bug mile toh treat pakki!"
I tested his site and found three security issues:
1️⃣ Two major business logic flaws 😲
2️⃣ A hidden admin panel 🛠
He was shocked and impressed but never gave me the treat! 🤦♂️😂 (Bhai, paisa nahi doge toh burger toh khila do!)
Later, I found a No-Rate Limit bug in Shopify verification emails. But when I tried to report it on HackerOne, I discovered that new accounts can’t submit reports! 😭🥹
So, my friend "Ustaad Kashif" (a pro bug hunter) submitted it from his account. The result?
👉 Accepted Bug❓🤔
Appreciated but marked OUT OF SCOPE ❌ (No bounty! 😭)
🐞 My Bug Crowd & Self-Hosting Bugs: More Wins & Frustrations!
On BugCrowd, I found two bugs:
👉 One got accepted as P5 (Informative) 😅
👉 The other was marked OUT OF SCOPE again! 😭
I also tested self-hosted programs and found multiple bugs, including:
- XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) 🛠
- HTML Injection 💻
- Business Logic Bugs 🏢
- Sensitive File Exposure 🗄️
- No-Rate Limit Vulnerabilities 🔓
Many reports are still pending review, which is super frustrating! 😡 But that’s just how bug bounty works. You have to be patient.
🎯 Lessons I Learned from Bug Bounty Hunting in 2024!
- Never get too excited after reporting a bug. (Companies reject even valid ones!) 😭
- Big companies like Meta sometimes ignore reports or fix them without paying. 😡
- Always have a mentor & a support system (Shoutout to Muhammad Waseem & Sir SairAli! 🙌)
- Bug bounty hunting is like a breakup - report the bug & forget it! 😂
- If no bounty comes, at least enjoy the process & keep learning! 🤓
🤔 How Much Money Did I Make?
The Golden & Good Question! 💰
But I won’t reveal it here! 😆 I’ll post the answer in my next LinkedIn update. You can follow me there (Link at the end of this blog)! 🚀
👨💻 Want to Start Bug Bounty? Here's My Advice!
If you want to start bug bounty hunting, here’s what you should do:
✅ Learn Web Security Basics (OWASP Top 10, Burp Suite, etc.)
✅ Practice on Bug Bounty Platforms (HackerOne, BugCrowd, Synack, etc.)
✅ Join a Community (Talk to experienced hunters for guidance!)
✅ Be Patient! Bug bounty is not easy, but the rewards are worth it.
💬 Final Thoughts & A Big Thank You!
Bug bounty hunting has changed my life. From finding my first HTML Injection to discovering 30+ security vulnerabilities, this journey has been crazy, frustrating, and exciting! 😆
If you’re a beginner, never give up! Success in bug bounty comes with learning, failing, and trying again. 💪🔥
Wanna stay updated with my latest bug bounty stories & earnings? Follow me on LinkedIn! 👇
🔥 Hunt bugs, Earn Bounties, & Keep Hacking! 🚀💻
🔎 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is Bug Bounty?Answer: Bug Bounty is a cybersecurity program where ethical hackers find security vulnerabilities in companies' systems and get paid to report them. 💰🔍
Q2: Is Bug Bounty a promising career?Answer: Yes! Bug bounty can be a great career if you love hacking and problem-solving. Many hackers earn thousands of dollars per month just by finding security flaws! 🏆💻
Q3: Is Bug Bounty difficult?Answer: It can be challenging at first, but with practice, patience, and the right skills, anyone can succeed. Start small, keep learning, and don’t give up! 🚀📚
Q4: What is the highest bug bounty ever paid?Answer: The highest recorded bug bounty was $2,000,000, paid by Apple for a serious security vulnerability in iPhones! 😱💸
Q5: How did you start your Bug Bounty journey?Answer: I started in 2022, but in 2024, I focused more on practical testing, which led me to find 30+ security bugs in platforms like Facebook & Shopify! 🔥🔍
Q6: How did Facebook respond to your bug report?Answer: Facebook (Meta) closed my Open Redirect vulnerability report, saying it wasn’t a valid security issue. 😤 No bounty, just a "thanks for reporting" email! 📩🚫
Q7: What was your most significant bug in Shopify?Answer: I found a No-Rate Limit vulnerability where I could send unlimited verification emails without restrictions! Shopify later closed it as Out of Scope. 📨💀
Q8: Do companies scam bug hunters by rejecting valid reports?Answer: Sadly, yes. Some companies ignore or downplay real security issues to avoid paying bounties. This happens more often than you’d think! 😡❌
Q9: How much money did you earn from these bug reports?Answer: That’s coming soon on my LinkedIn post! Stay tuned to find out if this journey made me rich or just gave me stress! 😂💵
Q10: Any advice for beginners in Bug Bounty?Answer: Keep learning, stay patient, and don’t let rejections demotivate you! Even if reports get closed, each bug teaches something new. 💪💡 Happy hunting! 🕵️♂️🎯
🎯 Final Thoughts: The Reality of Bug Bounty Hunting!
Bug bounty hunting is a rollercoaster ride: one day, you're on top of the world, and the next, you're questioning your life choices! 🎢😂 Finding 30+ security vulnerabilities in platforms like Facebook, Shopify, and private programs was an incredible experience, but it also came with disappointments, rejected reports, and unpaid findings. Still, every closed report and every ignored submission taught me something valuable: never give up and always keep learning! 💪📚
Many companies ignore reports or refuse to pay, but that’s part of the game. The real reward is the knowledge and skills you gain along the way because,e in the long run, these skills will make you unstoppable! 🚀 Whether you’re just starting or already deep in bug bounty, remember: every great hacker faced rejections before success! So keep hunting, reporting, and, most importantly, believing in yourself! 💡🔥
- And for those wondering "Kitna paisa kama liya?" 😏💰 that answer is coming soon on my LinkedIn! Stay tuned, and let’s keep this journey going! 🚀📢
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