Bug bounty hunting is a highly competitive field that requires expertise in security vulnerabilities and effective exploitation techniques. Whether you’re targeting XSS, SQL Injection, SSTI, or other vulnerabilities, having a well-curated payload list is crucial. These lists help you find security flaws faster and more efficiently. In this article, we’ll go over the top 7 payload lists that every bug bounty hunter should know.
What is a Payload List?
A payload list is a collection of pre-crafted attack inputs used by security researchers to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, APIs, and systems. These lists contain various malicious inputs that trigger security flaws such as SQL Injection (SQLi), Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), and more.
For example, instead of manually crafting an SQL injection attack, you can use a payload list that includes:
' OR '1'='1' --
This can be inserted into a login form to check for database vulnerabilities.
Why Does a Payload List Save Time?
A good payload list enhances efficiency by:
Speeding Up Testing — Predefined payloads allow for quick testing instead of manually crafting each one.
Covering Multiple Attack Vectors — They include different variations that increase the chance of finding vulnerabilities.
Helping with Automation — Many tools like Burp Suite, SQLmap, and fuzzers use payload lists for automated security testing.
Improving Accuracy — Expert-curated lists ensure no common attack vectors are missed.
Being Reusable — The same payloads work across multiple applications, making testing faster and more consistent.
Photo by Nahel Abdul Hadi on Unsplash
Top 7 Payload Lists for Bug Bounty Hunters
- Payloads All The Things 🔥 (Best Overall Collection) GitHub: PayloadsAllTheThings
Contains payloads for XSS, SQLi, SSRF, XXE, SSTI, LFI, RCE, and more.
Detailed attack explanations.
Frequently updated and maintained by the community.
✅ Best for: Web security testing, API security, advanced exploitation.
- Payload Box 🛠️ (Extensive Payload Repository) GitHub: Payload Box
Covers a variety of payloads optimized for fuzzing.
Works well with Burp Suite, Ffuf, and Intruder.
✅ Best for: Fuzzing, automated testing, manual security assessments.
- SecLists 📂 (Ultimate Security Wordlist Collection) GitHub: SecLists
Most widely used wordlist repository.
Includes payloads for web, network, and OS-level attacks.
✅ Best for: Credential brute-force attacks, web fuzzing, XSS, SQLi, LFI.
- XSS Payloads Collection ⚡ (Best for Cross-Site Scripting Attacks) GitHub: XSS Payloads
Thousands of XSS payloads, including WAF bypass techniques.
Covers DOM-based, reflected, and stored XSS attacks.
✅ Best for: Finding XSS vulnerabilities, bypassing security filters, JavaScript-heavy apps.
- FuzzDB 🚀 (Advanced Fuzzing Payloads) GitHub: FuzzDB
Includes attack payloads, predictable resource names, and response analysis.
✅ Best for: Web fuzzing, discovering hidden vulnerabilities, automated scanning.
- Intruder Payloads 🎯 (Perfect for Burp Suite Automation) GitHub: Intruder Payloads
Designed for Burp Suite Intruder to automate testing.
✅ Best for: Automated security assessments, large-scale testing.
- Wordlists for Password Cracking 🔑 (Essential for Brute-Force Attacks) GitHub: Probable-Wordlists
Contains high-probability password lists.
Helps test weak password policies.
✅ Best for: Brute-force attacks, testing password reset mechanisms.
Final Thoughts
These top 7 payload lists will save time, improve accuracy, and increase efficiency in bug bounty hunting. Each list serves a different purpose, and using them together provides a powerful offensive security toolkit.
🔥 Pro Tip: Download these lists and integrate them with Burp Suite, Ffuf, and SQLmap for better automation!
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FAQs
What is the best payload list for beginners?
Payloads All The Things is the most comprehensive for beginners.
How often should I update my payload lists?
Every few months, as security research continuously evolves.
Can I use these lists for ethical hacking?
Yes, as long as you have permission.
How do I integrate payload lists with Burp Suite?
Use them in Intruder, Repeater, and Scanner.
Are there any risks in using automated payloads?
Yes, always ensure proper authorization to avoid legal consequences.
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