The Hidden Door in Plain Sight
It started like any other bug bounty hunt — hours of clicking, testing inputs, and getting nowhere.
Then, a simple trick changed everything: I stopped hacking the website and started reading its JavaScript files.
What happened next? A Stored XSS vulnerability was discovered, and it all began with a few lines of code hidden in plain sight.
Here’s how anyone (yes, even you) can do this.
Step 1: The Frustration — When Nothing Works
Most hackers start by injecting payloads into every input field, hoping for a miracle. I did too.
- Tried basic XSS payloads (
<script>alert(1)</script>). - Found two CSRF vulnerabilities — but they were out of scope.
- Almost gave up… until I remembered: “What if the website is telling me where to hack it?”
That’s when I switched to reading JS files.
Step 2: The Goldmine — Searching JavaScript Files
JavaScript files are like a treasure map for hackers. They contain:
- Hidden API endpoints (e.g.,
/platform/apps/lighthouse-homepage).