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🚀 Earn $1000: Account Takeover by This Methodology 💰
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🔍 Introduction
Imagine earning $1000 just by finding a vulnerability in a website’s authentication system. Account Takeover (ATO) vulnerabilities are among the most critical security flaws, and bounty programs reward researchers handsomely for reporting them. This write-up will guide you step by step through a practical methodology to exploit and report an ATO vulnerability. 🕵️♂️
🔑 What is Account Takeover (ATO)?
Account Takeover occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized access to a user’s account by exploiting weaknesses in authentication or session management. The impact can be severe, including financial fraud, identity theft, and data breaches. ⚠️
💰 Bug Bounty Potential
Many platforms, including Bugcrowd, HackerOne, and private programs, pay up to $1000 or more for valid ATO reports. This guide will walk you through a methodology that has led to real-world payouts. 💵
🛠️ Step-by-Step PoC (Proof of Concept)
🔎 Step 1: Reconnaissance
1️⃣ Choose a target with a login and account recovery feature. 2️⃣ Identify authentication mechanisms: Email, phone number, OAuth, or SSO. 3️⃣ Analyze password reset and account recovery flows.
🕵️♂️ Step 2: Identifying Weaknesses in Account Recovery
Most ATO exploits target weak recovery mechanisms. Common issues include:
- 🔓 IDOR (Insecure Direct Object References) in password reset.
- 📧 Email or phone number enumeration…