A forum discussion titled “Hacking for Profit. Working method” has provided cybersecurity researchers with a unique look into how underground communities educate aspiring hackers on vulnerability exploitation and monetization. While the original post is neither highly technical nor extensive, its significance lies in presenting a structured, easy-to-follow roadmap that simplifies a complex process.
The post, authored by a threat actor operating under the alias "Hercules," outlines the stages of identifying, assessing, exploiting, and ultimately profiting from vulnerabilities. Researchers from Flare examined both the original content and the subsequent discussions over several months, finding that the thread sparked considerable engagement among forum members.
The discussion attracted numerous responses from users who expressed appreciation for the guidance, sought private communication with "Hercules," and identified themselves as beginners hoping to transition from theoretical cybersecurity knowledge to practical application. According to researchers, the thread appeared to serve as more than just an instructional post, functioning as a source of motivation and mentorship for inexperienced individuals.
The popularity of the tutorial extended beyond its original platform, with the same methodology being reposted and debated across four additional underground forums. Through the post, "Hercules" presents a straightforward framework that helps novice threat actors understand vulnerability exploitation and methods of generating revenue from discovered flaws.
The guide begins by advising readers on how to monitor newly disclosed vulnerabilities, particularly high-impact categories such as remote code execution (RCE), authentication bypass, account takeover, insecure direct object references (IDOR), and data exposure vulnerabilities. It then explains how to locate potentially vulnerable systems, verify exposure, and determine whether findings should be reported, sold, or exploited.
Researchers identified three particularly notable aspects of the tutorial. First, it highlights the use of the Nuclei framework developed by ProjectDiscovery, a widely adopted tool among offensive security professionals. Second, it demonstrates an understanding of the difficulties organizations face when patching newly disclosed vulnerabilities. Third, the tutorial is deliberately separated into “legal” and “illegal” paths, allowing readers to choose at which stage they transition from vulnerability disclosure activities into malicious actions.
One of the tutorial’s most effective features is its approachable tone. Rather than relying on technical jargon, "Hercules" explains concepts in simple language and portrays hacking as a skill that can be learned through practical experience.
He argues that many educational resources focus excessively on subjects such as operating systems, programming languages, scanner configurations, and computer science fundamentals, while many newcomers simply want to "hack," "break in," and "gain access."
The author further suggests that aspiring hackers do not need advanced software development expertise to get started. Publicly available tools, community-created templates, automation, and artificial intelligence are presented as resources that lower the entry barrier, while programming knowledge is described as beneficial but not essential.
This message resonated strongly with forum members. One participant noted that despite completing numerous hacking courses, they struggled to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. Another admitted having no programming experience and questioned whether that would prevent them from succeeding.
Many respondents praised the post for its clarity and organization, while others requested direct mentorship or private communication with "Hercules."
A key element of the tutorial is its focus on turning vulnerability discoveries into financial opportunities. According to "Hercules," individuals who uncover vulnerabilities have several options available.
One approach involves contacting the owner of the affected website, server, or hosting provider and offering vulnerability details in exchange for compensation. As the author explains, some organizations are willing to reward responsible disclosure efforts, adding that “…you can take your money home and be proud of yourself”.
The tutorial also discusses selling discovered vulnerabilities through underground marketplaces. In some cases, "Hercules" suggests that actors may simultaneously approach the victim while marketing the same information elsewhere.
Additionally, the guide encourages exploiting vulnerabilities to determine what assets or information reside on compromised systems. Remote code execution vulnerabilities are described as opportunities that can be sold to botnet operators, abused for unauthorized resource usage, or leveraged for data theft. Similarly, account takeover, IDOR, and data leakage vulnerabilities are portrayed as valuable commodities that can be quickly monetized.
"Hercules" characterizes himself as a hacker rather than a fraudster, claiming a preference for rapid sales of access or information rather than engaging in subsequent fraudulent activities.
The forum responses indicate that the thread's influence stemmed from the confidence and practical direction it provided rather than from groundbreaking technical information.
Many users requested additional mentorship, private conversations, and more detailed follow-up material. Others expressed frustration with the limitations of theoretical learning and viewed the tutorial as a useful bridge toward hands-on experience.
Researchers noted that unlike highly technical exploit analyses, which typically appeal to a specialized audience, simple and motivational workflows can attract a much broader group of aspiring participants. Because the methodology is not tied to any specific vulnerability, its relevance can persist for extended periods.
The tutorial promotes a repeatable process: monitor newly disclosed vulnerabilities, identify exposed systems, validate findings, monetize opportunities, and repeat the cycle. This mindset, researchers suggest, provides insight into how inexperienced actors are introduced to cybercrime and encouraged to prioritize certain categories of vulnerabilities.
The post also appears to function as an informal recruitment channel, as "Hercules" repeatedly encourages users to initiate private conversations.
The tutorial highlights several important considerations for organizations responsible for cybersecurity.
First, critical vulnerabilities that are easily reachable remain prime targets for attackers. While automated botnets often begin scanning for exploitable systems shortly after vulnerabilities and proof-of-concept exploits become public, the tutorial demonstrates that even novice threat actors are being encouraged to pursue these opportunities.
Second, older vulnerabilities continue to pose significant risks. Legacy systems running outdated versions of platforms such as Drupal or WordPress may remain attractive targets for less experienced attackers seeking accessible entry points.
Third, researchers emphasize the importance of maintaining effective vulnerability disclosure programs. Financial incentives can encourage security researchers to report vulnerabilities responsibly rather than seeking alternative methods of monetization. Even if information eventually reaches underground markets, early disclosure provides organizations with an opportunity to mitigate risk before widespread exploitation .
Researchers argue that the significance of the thread lies not in the introduction of a new exploitation technique but in its ability to simplify cybercrime into a repeatable business process.
By transforming a technically complex subject into an understandable workflow, "Hercules" makes vulnerability exploitation appear achievable to newcomers. The enthusiastic responses from inexperienced users suggest that this approach is effective.
The findings underscore a broader trend within the cybercrime ecosystem: malicious capabilities do not grow solely through advanced malware development or zero-day discoveries. They also expand through accessible tutorials, mentorship, publicly available tools, and online communities that lower barriers to entry and make illicit activity appear attainable.
