Mastering Reconnaissance: The Ultimate Guide for Bug Hunters (Part 1)

Reconnaissance is the first and arguably the most crucial phase in bug hunting and penetration testing. It involves collecting as much information as possible about a target before launching any tests. A successful recon phase sets the stage for identifying vulnerabilities and gaining an edge over the competition.

In Part 1, we will focus on building a strong recon foundation, covering domain discovery, subdomain enumeration, DNS information gathering, and asset discovery.

Section 1:

Domain Discovery — Expanding Your Attack Surface

Domain discovery is all about identifying the primary targets and uncovering hidden or lesser-known domains related to the organization. This step helps expand your attack surface and ensures you don’t miss out on any critical assets.

Advanced Tools to Use:

• Rapid7 Project Sonar: Offers a database of scanned domains, certificates, and services.
• SecurityTrails API: Provides a robust API for discovering domains and associated assets.
• Censys: Delivers insights into SSL certificates and connected infrastructure.

Advanced Techniques: