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hack

yaklang/hack-skills

Entry-point router for web security testing, API security, and bug bounty work.

What is hack?

A top-level methodology skill for bug bounty, web application security, and authorized penetration testing. Use this first to determine your testing phase (Recon, Validation, Privilege Escalation, Chaining), identify the correct vulnerability category, and route to specialized skills based on observed behavior and target type.

  • Routes testing by target type and observed behavior (web app, REST API, mobile backend, payment flows, file uploads, GraphQL)
  • Maps signals to vulnerability categories (input reflection → XSS/SSTI, server fetches URLs → SSRF, object IDs → IDOR, etc.)
  • Prioritizes testing order: Recon → API Security/Auth → XSS/SQLi/SSRF → Business Logic → Chained exploits
  • Identifies input and output locations critical to real engagements (URL, query params, JSON, headers, cookies, filenames, reflection points)
  • Highlights high-value testing points baseline models often miss (parameter names as attack surface, second-order vulns, BOLA via account switching)
  • Provides structured methodology to avoid relying solely on model memory for security work

How to install hack

npx skills add https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills --skill hack
Claude Code
Cursor
Windsurf
Cline

How to use hack

  1. 1.Gather target context: identify target type (web app, REST API, mobile backend, admin panel, payment flow, file upload, GraphQL)
  2. 2.Map the identity and permission model (anonymous, regular user, admin, multi-tenant)
  3. 3.Identify input locations (URL, query params, JSON, headers, cookies, filenames, templates, reflection points)
  4. 4.Identify output locations (HTML, attributes, JS, PDF, email, logs, background tasks, mobile endpoints)
  5. 5.Match observed behavior to the routing table (input reflects in HTML → XSS/SSTI; server fetches URLs → SSRF; many object IDs → IDOR, etc.)
  6. 6.Load the corresponding specialized skill from the Core Skill Map (XSS, SQLi, SSRF, IDOR, Auth Bypass, Business Logic, etc.)
  7. 7.Follow the suggested testing order: Recon → API Security/Auth → XSS/SQLi/SSRF → Business Logic → Chained exploits

Use cases

Good for
  • You receive a new bug bounty target and need to decide whether to test XSS, SQLi, SSRF, IDOR, JWT, or API security first
  • You need to route scattered findings to the correct attack surface and prioritize testing phases
  • You want to perform web/API security testing with stable methodology rather than random payload enumeration
  • You need to identify which specialized skill (XSS, SSRF, IDOR, Auth Bypass, etc.) to load based on target behavior
  • You're testing payment flows, coupons, or inventory systems and need to prioritize business logic and race conditions
Who it's for
  • Bug bounty hunters and security researchers
  • Penetration testers performing authorized assessments
  • Security engineers validating web and API applications
  • AI agents performing security testing workflows
  • Teams building security testing automation

hack FAQ

When should I use this skill instead of jumping directly to XSS or SQLi?

Use this skill first when you're starting a new target or unsure which vulnerability category to prioritize. It helps you avoid random payload enumeration and instead route based on observed behavior, target type, and testing phase. Once you've identified the likely vulnerability class, load the specialized skill.

What does 'routing by observed behavior' mean?

It means matching what you observe in the target to a vulnerability category. For example: if user input reflects into HTML/JavaScript, route to XSS/SSTI; if the server actively fetches URLs you control, route to SSRF; if there are many object IDs in API responses, route to IDOR. This is more reliable than guessing.

Does this skill replace the specialized skills like XSS or SSRF?

No. This is a router and methodology guide. It helps you decide which specialized skill to load next. Once you've identified the vulnerability class, use the corresponding detailed skill (XSS, SQLi, SSRF, IDOR, etc.) for deep testing.

What are the high-value testing points this skill emphasizes?

Key points often missed by baseline models: reused filtering logic across pages, parameter names as attack surface, second-order vulnerabilities (safe at storage, dangerous when read), BOLA via account switching, older API versions missing patches, business-logic vulnerabilities bringing highest impact, race conditions on one-time actions, and JWT attacks requiring key/algorithm context first.

Is this skill safe to use?

This skill is designed for authorized testing only: bug bounty targets, legitimate research, defensive validation, and bug-bounty-approved rules. Do not use these techniques for unauthorized attacks. Always confirm you have explicit permission before testing.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from yaklang/hack-skills.


name: hack description: >- Entry P0 primary router for HackSkills. Use when the task involves web application testing, API security assessment, recon, vulnerability triage, exploit path planning, or choosing the right next category skill before any deep topic skill.

HACKING SKILLS / HackSkills

Overview

This is a top-level routing skill for bug bounty, web security, API security, and authorized penetration testing.

Its core role is not to replace all specialized techniques, but to help the agent:

  1. First determine the testing phase (Recon / Validation / Privilege Escalation / Chain building)
  2. Then select the correct vulnerability category
  3. Avoid relying only on baseline model memory; prefer structured methodology
  4. Prioritize boundary conditions AI often misses but that matter in real engagements

Trust Model

  • This knowledge base emphasizes content safety and auditability.
  • Use this only within authorized targets, legitimate research, defensive validation, and bug-bounty-approved rules.
  • Do not use these techniques for unauthorized attacks.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill first in the following scenarios:

  • You just received a new bug bounty target and do not know where to start
  • You need to decide whether to load XSS / SQLi / SSRF / IDOR / JWT / API tracks first
  • You want the agent to perform Web/API security testing with a more stable methodology
  • You need to route scattered findings to the right attack surface
  • You want AI to miss fewer critical test points in security work

Operating Model

Step 1: Start with Recon and context validation

Collect first:

  • Target type: classic web, REST API, mobile backend, admin panel, payment flow, file upload, GraphQL
  • Identity and permission model: anonymous, regular user, admin, multi-tenant
  • Input locations: URL, query parameters, JSON, headers, cookies, filenames, imported files, templates, reflection points
  • Output locations: HTML, attributes, JS, PDF, email, logs, background tasks, mobile endpoints

Step 2: Route by observed behavior

SignalPriority direction
Input reflects into HTML / JSXSS / SSTI
Server actively fetches URL / hostnameSSRF
Accepts XML / Office / SVGXXE
Path, filename, or download endpoint is controllablePath Traversal / LFI
Many object IDs appear in APIsIDOR / BOLA / BFLA
Login, reset password, 2FA, sessionsAuth Bypass / JWT / OAuth
Multi-step transactions, coupons, pricing, inventoryBusiness Logic
MongoDB / JSON query syntax exposureNoSQL Injection
CLI tools, image processing, importersCommand Injection
HTTP parsing anomalies / front-back framing mismatchRequest Smuggling
Node.js JSON handling / controllable __proto__Prototype Pollution
PHP weak comparison / 0e hash / loose conditionsType Juggling
Repeated parameter names / WAF-app parsing mismatchHTTP Parameter Pollution
One-time operations (coupon/inventory/reset)Race Condition
XML/XSLT template processingXSLT Injection
Accessible .git/.svn/.env pathsInsecure SCM
CSV/Excel export featuresCSV Formula Injection
WebSocket protocol upgradesWebSocket Security
Internal package names / supply-chain inventoryDependency Confusion

Step 3: Use the most likely-hit testing order

  1. Recon / Methodology
  2. API Security / Auth / IDOR
  3. XSS / SQLi / SSRF / SSTI / XXE
  4. Business Logic / Race Condition
  5. Chained exploits and privilege-escalation paths

Core Skill Map

If you have the full repository, prioritize using these topic documents together:

  • Recon and Methodology
  • XSS Cross Site Scripting
  • SQLi SQL Injection
  • SSRF Server Side Request Forgery
  • XXE XML External Entity
  • SSTI Server Side Template Injection
  • IDOR Broken Object Authorization
  • CMDi Command Injection
  • Path Traversal LFI
  • CSRF Cross Site Request Forgery
  • API Security Router
  • JWT OAuth Token Attacks
  • OAuth OIDC Misconfiguration
  • CORS Cross Origin Misconfiguration
  • SAML SSO Assertion Attacks
  • Authentication Bypass
  • Business Logic Vulnerabilities
  • Upload Insecure Files
  • NoSQL Injection
  • Request Smuggling
  • Prototype Pollution
  • Type Juggling (PHP)
  • HTTP Parameter Pollution
  • Race Condition
  • XSLT Injection
  • Insecure Source Code Management
  • CSV Formula Injection
  • WebSocket Security
  • Dependency Confusion
  • Ghost Bits Cast Attack

Previously separate mini skills such as payload-selection and brute-selection were merged back into their main skills to avoid router overload and selection noise.

High-Value Expert Intuitions

These are points many baseline models miss, but they are frequently effective in real bug bounty work:

  1. The same filtering logic is often reused across multiple pages: if one point is bypassable, similar pages usually are too.
  2. Parameter names are an attack surface too: WAFs often inspect values but not names.
  3. Second-order vulnerabilities are common: safe at storage time does not mean safe when later read into a dangerous context.
  4. BOLA is fundamentally 'authenticated but unauthorized': replaying with account A/B switching is critical.
  5. Older API versions are most likely to miss patches: fixing v2 does not mean v1 was retired.
  6. Business-logic vulnerabilities often bring highest impact: scanners miss them and they persist longer.
  7. Race conditions should prioritize one-time actions: coupon redemption, claims, resets, invites, trials, inventory deduction.
  8. For JWT attacks, check key and algorithm context first: do not blindly spray payloads; verify alg, kid, JWKS, and key source first.

Suggested Prompts

Use this skill as a router to make the agent clarify phase and goal first:

  • "First, plan the testing route for this target using bug bounty methodology.
  • "This is a REST API; prioritize BOLA, BFLA, Mass Assignment, and JWT angles.
  • "This parameter triggers server-side requests; list key validation points from an SSRF perspective.
  • "This feature is a payment/coupon/inventory flow; prioritize business logic and race-condition analysis.
  • "I only see login and password-reset flows; analyze via Auth Bypass + OAuth/JWT + CSRF.

Installation Notes

Recommended skill name:

  • hack

Recommended search keywords:

  • HackSkills
  • HACKING SKILLS
  • bug bounty
  • bug bounty hunter

Guidelines

  • Prioritize routing by target type and observed behavior, not random payload enumeration.
  • When payloads are needed, prefer quick-start / first-pass samples in the corresponding main skill instead of adding another intermediate router.
  • Prioritize reusable filters, shared components, and cross-page reproduction paths.
  • Confirm authentication, authorization, and version boundaries before deeper exploitation.
  • Preserve explainable, auditable, reproducible testing processes.
  • When full repository context is available, return to topic documents for finer exploitation details.