scope-attribution

Verify host ownership via CNAME, whois, and rDNS before testing in-scope targets.

7|4|Updated Jun 22, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/dbx0/skills --skill scope-attribution-dbx0
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: scope-attribution
Source: https://github.com/dbx0/skills/tree/main/skills/recon-osint/reconnaissance/scope-attribution
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/dbx0/skills --skill scope-attribution-dbx0

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? A DNS name inside an in-scope wildcard does not prove the target owns the infrastructure behind it. CNAMEs pointing to SaaS vendors, ISP-hosted circuits, and honeypot cloud buckets all appear as legitimate subdomains, and testing them means attacking third parties who never authorized it. This Skill prevents scope violations that can end a bug bounty engagement or create legal exposure. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Three-question attribution check: A shell helper inspects the CNAME chain, IP ownership via whois, and reverse DNS for any newly discovered host before the first request. - Third-party detection: Recognizes CNAMEs to vendors like Webflow, Discourse, Campaign Monitor, and Google Sites, plus pages whose assets load entirely from vendor CDNs. - Cloud bucket attribution: Explains why name-permutation bucket hits are unreliable, how to spot honeypot listings, and why only buckets referenced in the target's own JS and source should be treated as in scope. - Use Case: During recon on a fintech program, vpn.target.com.mx resolves to a consumer ISP circuit. Instead of port-scanning it, you report the dangling DNS record as a hygiene finding without touching third-party equipment. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to verify whether a newly discovered subdomain is actually operated by the target before testing it.

Frequently Asked Questions about scope-attribution

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I verify a subdomain is in scope for a bug bounty?

Check three things before sending any request: where the CNAME points, who owns the resolved IP via whois, and what the reverse DNS says. A CNAME leaving the target's domain or an IP owned by an ISP or hosting reseller means the host is out of scope.

How to check if an S3 bucket belongs to my target?

Only treat a bucket as in scope if the target's own assets reference it. Grep harvested JavaScript and source code for s3.amazonaws.com, storage.googleapis.com, or blob.core.windows.net URLs. Name-permutation hits belong to whoever registered them first and prove nothing.

Does a wildcard scope cover all subdomains automatically?

No. A wildcard like *.target.com only means the target controls the DNS records, not the machines behind them. CNAMEs to SaaS vendors, ISP circuits, and third-party hosting all resolve under the wildcard but belong to organizations that never authorized testing.

Why does S3 bucket enumeration give inconsistent results?

AWS deliberately returns AccessDenied for buckets you do not own to defeat enumeration, so a 403 does not prove a bucket exists. The same bucket can return a key listing and NoSuchBucket minutes apart, making existence checks unreliable.

What are signs of a honeypot bucket during recon?

A bucket listing exactly the files you hoped for is bait. Listings combining .env, backup.zip, payroll.xlsx, and VPN configs in one place are either canaries or a real third party's data. Both cases mean do not download or test.

What should I do when DNS belongs to the target but the server does not?

Report it as a DNS hygiene finding without testing the machine. Noting that a subdomain resolves to an ISP circuit is a legitimate observation, but port-scanning or probing that host means testing a non-participant's equipment.