Diving into the realm of bug bounty hunting requires not just theoretical knowledge but practical experience too. While reading about vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques is crucial, being able to practice these skills in a safe and legal environment is equally important. Here are five free online labs where you can get your hands dirty and sharpen your bug bounty skills:

BugBountyHunter

Created by zseano, BugBountyHunter is a custom platform designed to help you get involved in bug bounties from the comfort of your own home. It provides educational hacking challenges based on real bug bounty findings, allowing you to practice and improve your skills in a real-world setting

PentesterLab

Offering exercises based on common vulnerabilities found in different systems, PentesterLab provides real systems with real vulnerabilities for you to practice on. It also offers certificates of completion for the exercises you complete, giving you something tangible to show for your efforts

Hacker101

• With free video lessons, guides, and resources, Hacker101 is a great platform for both beginners and seasoned security professionals. It offers free classes on web security and allows you to practice hacking in a safe environment

Web Security Academy by PortSwigger

PortSwigger’s Web Security Academy offers free online training on a variety of topics including Application Security Testing, Penetration Testing, and Bug Bounty Hunting. It’s a great resource to level up your hacking skills and find more bugs quickly

NahamSec’s Free Bug Bounty Learning Lab on GitHub

This learning lab on GitHub curated by NahamSec provides a plethora of resources for beginner bug bounty hunters. It includes a list of free online labs like OWASP Juice Shop, Google Gruyere, DVWA, and others where you can practice web hacking fundamentals and earn private invites on HackerOne through Hacker101 exercises

These platforms offer a conducive environment for aspiring bug bounty hunters to practice and hone their skills. By utilizing these free resources, you can significantly accelerate your learning curve and be well on your way to becoming a proficient bug bounty hunter.