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Read the program’s current brief before you send a request, scan an endpoint, or create an account. Confirm the exact asset, vulnerability class, test method, rate limit, account requirement, data-handling rule, proof-of-concept limit, and disclosure condition. If any part of the action is not clearly authorized, stop and ask the program through its official channel. If you encounter a vulnerability on an excluded asset by accident, stop active testing of it and report it according to that program’s process; do not assume it qualifies for a bounty.

This is a practical framework for interpreting program rules. It is not authorization to test any particular system or legal advice. A platform’s general documentation never replaces the live policy for the program you are testing.

What “out of scope” means

“Scope” is more than a list of domains. A bounty brief defines the permission boundary for a particular engagement. The boundary normally has several independent parts:

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  • Asset scope: the precise hostname, application, API, IP range, product, mobile package, or other target named as eligible for testing.
  • Activity scope: the techniques and traffic the program permits, including automation, request rates, account creation, authentication testing, and restrictions on denial-of-service or social engineering.
  • Vulnerability scope: the classes of weaknesses the program accepts and any exclusions, such as reports that require an expressly prohibited action.
  • Proof-of-concept scope: how much evidence is necessary and which accounts, data, or environments you may use to demonstrate impact.
  • Reporting and disclosure scope: the required submission channel, confidentiality terms, coordination requirements, and any limits on public disclosure.

An asset can therefore be in scope while a particular method is not. A listed web application does not automatically authorize password spraying, high-volume crawling, access to real customer records, or testing a connected service. Conversely, a technique that is generally tolerated on one program may be prohibited by another.

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Out-of-scope testing is not a harmless technicality. Bugcrowd’s documentation describes in-scope targets as locations researchers may test and submit, and out-of-scope targets as locations they must not test. It warns that prohibited out-of-scope activity can be escalated, including a ban. Intigriti states that an asset absent from a program’s in-scope list is automatically out of scope by default. Treat those statements as operating rules for the named platforms, not as a universal contract for every program.

Start with the live brief, not a cached copy

Open the exact program page and read its current bounty brief before each engagement. Bugcrowd says briefs provide the targets, goals, scope, expectations, and rules, and recommends reviewing the brief before starting. Its documentation also describes update notifications for changes such as newly added targets or exclusions.

Record the brief’s revision indicator, last-updated notice, or other change marker in your engagement notes. If the platform shows a notification about an amended target or rule, read the change rather than relying on your previous interpretation. A target that was authorized last week may be excluded today, and a newly listed asset may have different testing limits from the rest of the program.

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Do not substitute a platform’s general help page for the program description. Intigriti expressly says that instructions in a specific program’s scope or description prevail over its general triage standards. General safe-harbor language, severity guidance, or testing examples cannot expand the permission granted by the live brief.

How to know whether a target is in scope

Match the target character for character against the asset list before sending active traffic. Use the following decision sequence.

  1. Identify the exact asset. Write down the fully qualified hostname, URL path if a path is specified, API base URL, IP address or range, application name and version, mobile package identifier, or other precise identifier you intend to touch.
  2. Find the corresponding entry in the in-scope list. Do not rely on a shared logo, a parent company, a certificate, DNS ownership, or a link from an approved application.
  3. Apply wildcard boundaries literally. Determine which labels a wildcard covers and look for narrower exclusions. A broad entry can be overridden by a more specific exclusion.
  4. Check third-party and shared infrastructure language. A cloud host, analytics service, payment processor, support portal, or partner domain may belong to another organization even when the approved application calls it.
  5. Look for an explicit exclusion. Exclusions can name a hostname, path, IP, product, environment, feature, or account type. A specific exclusion takes priority over a broader inclusion.
  6. If the asset is not listed, treat it as out of scope. Intigriti’s guidance uses this as the default and recommends asking for clarification rather than guessing.
Situation Safe interpretation Action before testing
Exact hostname appears in the in-scope list with no conflicting exclusion Asset appears authorized, subject to activity and vulnerability rules Read the remaining restrictions and document the match
A wildcard appears, but a narrower hostname or path is excluded The specific exclusion controls that host or path Do not test the excluded portion; ask if the wording is ambiguous
A related subdomain is not named Not authorized merely because it shares a parent domain Request written confirmation before active testing
An external vendor or partner is linked from an approved app Ownership and permission are not established by the link Exclude it unless the brief expressly includes it
An IP is shared by several customers or services The listed product or range may not authorize every service on that address Confirm the exact boundary and avoid collateral traffic

Wildcard and subdomain examples

Suppose a brief lists *.example.test but separately excludes admin.example.test. The explicit exclusion controls the administrative host; the wildcard does not give permission to test it. If the brief lists app.example.test but you discover api.example.test, do not infer authorization from the shared parent. Ask whether that API is included, and whether its test methods differ.

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Likewise, a URL that redirects from an in-scope application to a different domain does not automatically bring the destination into scope. Stop at the boundary unless the program names the destination or confirms it in writing.

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Check activity and vulnerability restrictions separately

After matching the asset, read the rules for what you may do on it. Keep a separate note for each restriction so that an in-scope hostname does not become a justification for an out-of-scope action.

Rule category Questions to answer Typical safe control
Methods Are automated scans, fuzzing, brute-force attempts, privilege tests, or social engineering allowed? Use only named methods; obtain approval for anything not clearly listed
Traffic and rate Is there a request-per-second limit, concurrency cap, testing window, or ban on resource-intensive requests? Throttle tools, set a conservative ceiling, and stop when the limit is unclear
Accounts Must you use a test account? Are multiple roles or invitation-only accounts permitted? Create or request controlled accounts only as the brief directs
Data May you access, copy, retain, or submit personal, confidential, or production data? Stop at the first safe indicator, redact evidence, and never collect more than necessary
Operational impact Are denial-of-service, destructive actions, email or SMS triggering, payment actions, or changes to production records prohibited? Use non-destructive checks and a sandbox or test object
Disclosure Is the report confidential? Does public disclosure require permission or coordination? Use the required channel and keep the finding private until the policy allows otherwise

Intigriti recommends clear rules of engagement, controlled test accounts, and avoiding effects on real users or operations. Those are examples of safe practice, not a universal permission list. The program’s own instructions remain controlling.

A pre-testing workflow that prevents scope mistakes

  1. Open the current program brief. Verify that you are looking at the intended program and its latest revision or update notice.
  2. Copy the relevant asset entries into your notes. Preserve exact spelling, wildcard characters, ports, paths, application identifiers, and exclusions. Do not broaden a phrase such as “web application” into every service on the same domain.
  3. Build an authorization matrix. For each planned action, record the asset, vulnerability class, method, account, expected traffic, data exposure, and reporting route. Mark each item “explicitly allowed,” “explicitly prohibited,” or “unclear.”
  4. Resolve every unclear item before active testing. Pause tools and send a concise question through the program’s official support, feedback, or researcher channel. Include the exact hostname or action, the minimum test you propose, and the potential impact.
  5. Set technical guardrails. Configure rate limits, concurrency, scope filters, allowlists, stop conditions, and test accounts before running a tool. A scope note is not a substitute for a scanner’s exclusion rule.
  6. Use the least intrusive proof of concept. Demonstrate the security property with controlled data and accounts. Stop once exploitability and impact are established.
  7. Re-read the brief before submitting. Confirm the required fields, evidence format, confidentiality terms, and whether the issue is an accepted vulnerability class.

What to do when the wording is unclear

Ambiguity is a reason to pause, not an invitation to experiment. Bugcrowd directs researchers with scope questions to support. Intigriti recommends checking the program details and using its feedback option when scope is uncertain.

Ask a narrow, answerable question. For example: “The brief lists app.example.test; may I send five authenticated requests to api.example.test/v2/profile using a program-provided test account, at no more than one request per second?” This gives the program enough detail to approve or reject the precise action. Avoid asking for blanket permission to “test the company.”

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Keep the response with your notes, including the date, the account or channel used, and any conditions attached to the approval. If no clarification arrives, do not treat silence as consent. Choose only actions already authorized or wait.

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Keep the proof of concept as small as possible

Intigriti’s triage standards describe a step-by-step demonstration using the simplest possible evidence that establishes exploitability and impact. The objective is to prove the issue, not to map an entire environment or collect convincing quantities of data.

Use controlled identities and objects

Prefer accounts supplied by the program or accounts you created under its rules. Use records that you own, dummy files, and non-production objects. If a role or tenant boundary is the issue, create two controlled identities and demonstrate only the minimum cross-account effect needed to establish the flaw.

Stop at the first reliable indicator

If one harmless record proves unauthorized access, do not enumerate thousands more. If a response reveals a token or identifier, redact it and stop rather than using it to explore unrelated systems. Do not trigger emails, notifications, purchases, deletions, or configuration changes when a read-only demonstration is sufficient.

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Protect evidence

Capture the request, response, timestamps, account roles, and expected-versus-actual behavior needed for triage. Remove personal data, secrets, session tokens, and unrelated identifiers. Follow the program’s retention and submission rules; do not store production data merely to make a report persuasive.

If you find a vulnerability on an out-of-scope asset by accident

Distinguish passive discovery from active testing. Seeing a hostname in a certificate, search result, passive DNS feed, or normal redirect is not the same as probing it. Once you recognize that an asset is excluded or unlisted, do not knowingly continue testing it.

  1. Stop active interaction. Halt scans, fuzzing, authentication attempts, exploitation, and enumeration against the asset.
  2. Preserve only minimal, lawful evidence. Keep the passive observation or the single response that revealed the issue. Do not gather additional records to strengthen the case.
  3. Check the program’s reporting route. Submit through the specified channel or ask support how an accidental finding should be handled.
  4. State the boundary clearly. Identify that the asset was outside the listed scope, explain how it was encountered, and describe exactly what testing stopped.
  5. Follow disclosure instructions. Keep the information confidential and do not contact affected users or publish details unless the program authorizes that step.

Intigriti’s guidance says to report an accidental out-of-scope vulnerability but not to expect a bounty and not to knowingly continue testing the vulnerable asset. Treat that as an important expectation-setting rule: reporting an accidental discovery does not retroactively authorize more testing.

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Does safe harbor cover out-of-scope testing?

Do not treat safe harbor as blanket permission. HackerOne describes safe harbor as applying to good-faith research and advises clarifying borderline conduct before acting. Intigriti says its safe-harbor coverage depends on following the program’s rules of engagement and warns that testing out-of-scope assets without explicit permission may expose a researcher to legal complaints.

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Safe-harbor language is therefore conditional. It can protect conduct that fits the program’s stated authorization and restrictions; it does not expand an asset list, override a prohibition, or excuse excessive impact. The exact legal effect also depends on the program wording and applicable jurisdiction. When an action is borderline, obtain written clarification through the official channel before performing it.

Reporting and disclosure boundaries

A technically valid finding can still be mishandled if it is submitted through the wrong route or disclosed prematurely. Before testing, identify:

  • the platform or form required for submissions;
  • the information triage needs, such as affected asset, prerequisites, reproduction steps, impact, and sanitized evidence;
  • confidentiality requirements and restrictions on sharing screenshots, data, or source code;
  • whether public disclosure, customer notification, or coordination requires explicit approval; and
  • the process for an accidental out-of-scope report.

Use the program’s requested format and keep the report focused on the authorized portion of your work. Do not include unrelated discoveries from excluded systems, and do not attach raw production data when a redacted example proves the issue.

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How scope changes should alter your workflow

Scope is not static. Platform documentation describes program updates that can add targets or exclusions, and both Bugcrowd and Intigriti direct researchers toward current program details. Recheck the policy at the start of a new engagement, after an update notice, and whenever the program changes its infrastructure or rules.

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Subscribe to the platform’s update notifications when available, but still open the brief and read the changed section. A notification may identify that something changed without explaining how a wildcard, rate limit, or disclosure condition was rewritten. If you have a long-running test, freeze active work while you reconcile your notes with the new policy.

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Common mistakes and the safer replacement

Mistake Why it fails Safer replacement
Testing every subdomain because the parent company owns them Ownership does not equal authorization, and a specific exclusion may apply Match each hostname to the list or obtain written approval
Assuming a wildcard includes a separately excluded host Specific exclusions can override broad entries Apply the narrowest applicable rule
Using a high-volume scanner on an approved domain Traffic and availability restrictions are separate from asset scope Set the published rate limit and use a low-impact profile
Testing a vendor endpoint reached by an approved app The vendor may be a separate legal and technical boundary Stop at the handoff unless the brief includes that service
Continuing after one accidental out-of-scope response Further probing becomes knowing out-of-scope testing Stop, record the minimum evidence, and report or ask how to proceed
Collecting real-user data to make impact look larger It creates unnecessary privacy and operational harm Use controlled accounts and stop at the first sufficient proof
Relying on a previous engagement’s approval Programs and infrastructure change Verify the current brief and revision before each engagement
Publishing because a report was submitted Submission does not necessarily grant disclosure permission Follow the program’s confidentiality and coordination terms

Scenario decisions you can apply immediately

A linked API is not listed

You are testing an approved web application and its JavaScript references an API hostname absent from the in-scope list. Treat the API as out of scope until the program confirms otherwise. You may document the reference as passive context, but do not enumerate endpoints or send exploit attempts to the API.

A wildcard appears to cover a sensitive administrative host

The brief lists a wildcard and separately names the administrative host under exclusions. The exclusion controls. Do not log in, scan, or test the administrative host; ask whether the program wants a report about a passive observation instead.

A normal request exposes another customer’s record

If the response appears during an authorized, low-impact request, stop after preserving the minimum redacted evidence. Do not browse neighboring identifiers or download more records. Report the access-control issue through the approved channel and explain the controlled request that revealed it.

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A scanner discovers an excluded domain

Disable the scanner’s follow-links or cross-host behavior, stop requests to the excluded domain, and record how it was reached. Do not use the discovery as a reason to continue scanning. Ask the program whether it wants a passive notification.

You want to test a method not mentioned in the brief

An unmentioned method is not automatically allowed. Describe the exact method, traffic volume, account, and possible impact in a clarification request. Proceed only if the program gives permission or the updated brief expressly authorizes it.

Pre-flight checklist

Before starting active testing, confirm every item below:

  • The brief is the current version and you have read its update notices.
  • Every hostname, path, IP range, application, or package you will touch appears in scope.
  • You have checked narrower exclusions and wildcard boundaries.
  • Any linked vendor, parent-domain, redirect, or shared infrastructure boundary is explicitly resolved.
  • The vulnerability class and test method are allowed.
  • Your account type, authentication flow, and number of accounts meet the rules.
  • Your scanner and scripts enforce the published rate, concurrency, and request limits.
  • You will not cause denial of service, destructive changes, notifications, purchases, or other prohibited effects.
  • You have a controlled object and a stop condition for the proof of concept.
  • You know what data may be retained and how to redact it.
  • You know the required report channel and disclosure restrictions.
  • Any uncertainty has a written answer from the program’s official channel.

If any box is unchecked, do not begin that part of the test. Narrow the plan, ask for clarification, or wait.

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Bottom line for responsible researchers

Scope discipline is a technical control as much as a policy requirement. Read the live brief, match the exact asset, evaluate activity restrictions separately, use the smallest controlled proof of concept, and stop when the boundary is uncertain. An unlisted or explicitly excluded asset is not yours to probe. If you encounter a problem there accidentally, halt active testing, report it through the program’s process, and do not assume safe harbor or a bounty. Recheck the policy whenever the program changes, because yesterday’s authorization is not evidence of today’s.

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