🛡️ My HTB CBBH Exam Journey
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
So, What's This CBBH Thing Anyway?
Look, when I first heard about Hack The Box's Certified Bug Bounty Hunter (CBBH) certification, I was skeptical. Another cert? Really? But after going through it... damn, this one's actually different.
It's not your typical multiple-choice exam where you memorize OWASP Top 10 and call it a day. The CBBH is tied to HTB Academy's massive module that covers 20 different web app vulnerability topics. We're talking hundreds of labs that actually feel like real websites you'd encounter in bug bounty programs.
And here's the kicker - the final exam doesn't ask you to recite definitions. It throws you into realistic web applications and says "find the bugs, exploit them, write a report." You know, like actual bug bounty work.
My Study Grind (Or: How I Spent 2 Months Going Down Rabbit Holes)
I'm not gonna lie - I went a bit overboard with my prep. Took me about 2 months to get through everything, but that's because I have this annoying habit of wanting to understand why something works, not just how to exploit it.
My approach was pretty straightforward: - Take detailed notes - Actually do the labs instead of just reading through them - Redo the tricky ones until they clicked - Complete every single Skills Assessment, even when I wanted to rage quit
The content quality blew me away. These aren't those artificial CTF challenges where you're looking for flag{this_would_never_happen_irl}. The labs feel like actual bug bounty targets - messy, realistic, sometimes frustratingly close to real corporate apps I've tested.
Here's something that saved my brain later: every single module matters. The exam will test you on everything, and I mean everything.
Exam Day(s) - The Real Deal
scheduled for May 8th, and honestly, I was really nervous.
You get 7 days, which sounds like forever until you're actually in there. I managed to wrap up the exploitation part in 2 days, then spent another full day writing up the report (protip: don't underestimate the report writing time).
The exam drops you into multiple full websites - not toy apps, but complex sites with multiple functionalities. Your job is to find vulnerabilities, prove they're exploitable, and document everything like you're submitting to an actual bug bounty program.
Plot twist: Some of the vulnerabilities were almost identical to stuff from the module. Not copy-paste identical, but close enough that if you really understood the module content, you'd spot them immediately. This is why cramming doesn't work here - you need to actually get the concepts.
Also, forget about running automated scanners. I brought Burp Suite and my brain, and that was more than enough. The exam tests your thinking process, not your tool collection.
Manual Testing > Everything Else
The Module is Your Best Friend
Got stuck during the exam? I literally went back to the CBBH module content to refresh my memory on similar attack vectors. It helped me spot things I'd initially missed. Don't feel bad about referencing it - that's what real pentesters do.
Document As You Go
Future you will hate past you if you don't take notes during exploitation. When report time comes, you'll need those screenshots, payloads, and step-by-step reproductions. Trust me on this one.
Know When to Walk Away
I wasted like 4 hours on one particular target, convinced there was something there. Sometimes you need to switch gears and come back later with fresh eyes. Don't get tunnel vision.
Two Attempts = Less Pressure
Here's something that helped my anxiety: you get two shots at this. Even if your first attempt isn't perfect, submit whatever you have. They'll give you feedback and unlock attempt #2. Takes the pressure off a bit.
Bottom Line
Was it worth it? Hell yes.
This isn't just another cert to add to your LinkedIn. The CBBH module genuinely changed how I approach web app testing. Instead of just running through a checklist, I started thinking like someone who actually wants to find bugs that matter.
The exam was challenging but fair. Stressful but fun. And walking away with that certification felt like I'd actually earned something, not just memorized my way through it.
If you're thinking about taking it: go for it, but don't half-ass the prep. Study consistently, understand the fundamentals, and stay curious. You don't need to be a genius - you just need to be thorough and persistent.
Oh, and one last thing - when you pass (not if, when), you'll realize this was one of the best investments you could make in your security career.
Good luck out there.
— 0xAzoz
