---
title: "Forget Low-Hanging Fruit. Hunt These Instead"
description: "XSS and SQLi labs don't survive Cloudflare. The bug classes worth your time: account takeover, 2FA bypass, 403 bypass, API auth and privilege escalation."
canonical_url: "https://amrelsagaei.com/forget-low-hanging-fruit-hunt-these-instead"
last_updated: "2025-10-01"
---

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When I first got into bug bounty hunting, I thought I had it all figured out…<br />


Learn XSS, SQLi, file upload bugs, OWASP Top 10, easy wins, right?

But the real world humbled me.<br />


I’d throw my payload like in the Burp Suite labs…<br />


Instead of a popup, I’d get *“Access Denied”* from Cloudflare.

That’s when it hit me, if you want real progress, real impact, and real money in bug bounty…<br />

**Stop chasing low-hanging fruit. Start hunting smart.**

This isn’t a payload dump or step-by-step exploit guide. That’s on you.<br />


This is the list of **10 bug categories** you should focus on if you want to consistently find valuable vulnerabilities.

---

## **1. Account Takeover (ATO)**

It’s rarely a single bug, more often it’s weak flows, sloppy tokens, or flawed logic.<br />


Check:

- Password resets (is the token tied to the session?)
- Email changes (can you bypass password confirmation?)
- Support flows or forgotten endpoints.

If you can control someone’s account, you’ve struck gold.

---

## **2. 2FA Bypass**

Most hunters skip targets with 2FA, big mistake.<br />


Look at:

- Legacy APIs (do they enforce 2FA at all?)
- “Remember this device” features that skip enforcement.
- Cookie/session inconsistencies.

If 2FA isn’t enforced everywhere, you can walk right in.

---

## **3. 403 Bypass**

A 403 doesn’t mean “stop”. It means “get creative.”<br />


Try:

- Changing HTTP methods (GET → POST, OPTIONS, TRACE).
- Adding headers (`X-Original-URL`, `X-Forwarded-For`).
- Path tricks (double slashes, `%2e`, `%2f`).

WAFs and proxies can be confused. That’s your in.

---

## **4. API Authentication Flaws**

APIs are often inconsistent.<br />


Check:

- Unauthenticated endpoints developers forgot to lock down.
- Token format quirks.
- Differences between mobile, web, and API validation.

---

## **5. API Authorization Flaws**

Even after login, not all actions are equal.<br />


Look for:

- User ID or role changes in request bodies.
- Predictable UUIDs or hashes.
- Role escalation through overlooked parameters.

---

## **6. Privilege Escalation**

Low-privilege accounts often have hidden doors.<br />


Tricks:

- See if old permissions still work after a downgrade.
- Ignore the frontend, test GraphQL or raw API calls.
- The backend is the real gatekeeper.

---

## **7. Business Logic Bugs**

Break how the app *expects* users to behave.<br />


Examples:

- Skip checkout steps.
- Abuse discounts or loyalty systems.
- Race conditions that allow duplicate actions.

You’re breaking assumptions, not just code.

---

## **8. CSRF (Yes, Still Exists)**

If SameSite cookies aren’t set properly, you’ve got an opening.<br />


Look for:

- State-changing actions without CSRF protection.
- APIs callable from a malicious page.

Password changes, deletions, or financial actions are prime targets.

---

## **9. File Upload Vulnerabilities**

A file upload feature is basically an invitation.<br />


Test:

- Extension bypasses (`.php.jpg`, `.svg`, `.html`).
- Path traversal or zip bombs.
- SVG/TXT uploads for stored XSS.

Renaming files doesn’t always make them safe.

---

## **10. IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference)**

Simple concept, huge impact.<br />


Check:

- Users, orders, files, increment or guess IDs.
- Not just GET, try POST, PUT, DELETE.
- Even UUIDs can be brute-forced if predictable.

---

## **The Real Hacker Mindset**

These bugs aren’t random. They’re *patterns* most hunters overlook.<br />


The edge comes from:

- Reading reports.
- Studying write-ups.
- Thinking differently.

Every “low severity” finding is a chance to chain, escalate, and turn it into a real payout.

---

## **Final Words**

That’s it, no fluff, no filler. Just the mindset and targets that matter.

Until next time…<br />

**Stay curious, and stay secure. 🔐🔥**

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