In this episode of The BlueHat Podcast, host Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone are joined by Felix Boulet fresh off his participation in Zero Day Quest. Felix talks about his unique journey from industrial maintenance to becoming a full-time vulnerability researcher, and how that background fuels his passion for hacking and bug bounty work. He explains his method for finding bugs in Microsoft products—particularly in identity systems—and why identity is such a valuable target for attackers. Felix also shares highlights from the Zero Day Quest event, where he focused on building connections, learning from Microsoft engineers, and experiencing the collaborative side of the security community.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
Why identity-based bugs are especially valuable and dangerous in the security world
When breaking identity controls can be the key to pivoting through an entire system
How SharePoint's concept of "virtual files" impacts vulnerability validation
Some Questions We Ask:
What was your first bug bounty experience?
Can you explain what the flash challenges were and what your experience was like?
Do you think sharing bug ideas could cost you a bounty?
Resources:
View Felix Boulet on LinkedIn
View Wendy Zenone on LinkedIn
View Nic Fillingham on LinkedIn
Related Microsoft Podcasts:
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson
Uncovering Hidden Risks
Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts
The BlueHat Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.
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33:19
Evolutions in Hacking with Marco Ivaldi
In this episode of The BlueHat Podcast, host Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone are joined by Marco Ivaldi, co-founder and technical director of HN Security, a boutique company specializing in offensive security services, shares his journey from hacking as a teenager in the '80s to becoming a key figure in the security research community. With nearly three decades of experience in cybersecurity, Marco digs into the ongoing challenges, particularly in Active Directory and password security, highlighting vulnerabilities that continue to pose significant risks today. He recounts his unexpected path into bug bounty hunting, including his involvement in Microsoft's Zero Day Quest and his passion for auditing real-time operating systems like Azure RTOS.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
How Marco taught himself BASIC and assembly through cassette tapes and trips to local libraries
Why mentorship and positive leadership can catapult your cybersecurity career
When measuring network response times can unintentionally leak valuable info
Some Questions We Ask:
Do you remember the first time you made code do something unexpected?
What was your experience like in the Zero Day Quest building for those three days?
How are you thinking of approaching fuzzing after Zero Day Quest?
Resources:
View Marco Ivaldi on LinkedIn
View Wendy Zenone on LinkedIn
View Nic Fillingham on LinkedIn
HN SECURITY
Learn More About Marco
Related Microsoft Podcasts:
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson
Uncovering Hidden Risks
Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts
The BlueHat Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.
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49:20
From Facebook-phished to MVR Top 5 with Dhiral Patel
In this episode of The BlueHat Podcast, host Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone are joined by Dhiral Patel, Senior Security Engineer at ZoomInfo and one of MSRC’s Most Valuable Researchers (MVR). Dhiral shares how a hacked Facebook account sparked his passion for ethical hacking. From web development to penetration testing, Dhiral has become a top bug hunter, landing multiple spots on the MSRC leaderboards. Dhiral reflects on his early MSRC submissions and lessons learned. He also discusses the importance of mastering web security basics, practicing on platforms like TryHackMe and Hack the Box, and staying connected with the bug bounty community.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
The importance of mastering web security basics before diving into bug bounty hunting
Why hands-on platforms like TryHackMe and Hack the Box are perfect for beginners
Dhiral’s journey from blogging to freelancing and security research
Some Questions We Ask:
How do you balance competition and collaboration in the bug bounty community?
Can you explain what clickjacking is and if it still works today?
Why did you start with Power BI, and how did it lead to your journey in security?
Resources:
View Dhiral Patel on LinkedIn
View Wendy Zenone on LinkedIn
View Nic Fillingham on LinkedIn
Related Microsoft Podcasts:
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson
Uncovering Hidden Risks
Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts
The BlueHat Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.
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41:45
AI & the Hunt for Hidden Vulnerabilities with Tobias Diehl
In this episode of The BlueHat Podcast, host Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone are joined by security researcher Tobias Diehl, a top contributor to the Microsoft Security Research Center (MSRC) leaderboards and a Most Valuable Researcher. Tobias shares his journey from IT support to uncovering vulnerabilities in Microsoft products. He discusses his participation in the upcoming Zero Day Quest hacking challenge and breaks down a recent discovery involving Power Automate, where he identified a security flaw that could be exploited via malicious URLs. Tobias explains how developers can mitigate such risks and the importance of strong proof-of-concept submissions in security research.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
Researching vulnerabilities in Power Automate, Power Automate Desktop, and Azure
The importance of user prompts to prevent unintended application behavior
Key vulnerabilities Tobias looks for when researching Microsoft products
Some Questions We Ask:
Have you submitted any AI-related findings to Microsoft or other bug bounty programs?
How does the lack of visibility into AI models impact the research process?
Has your approach to security research changed when working with AI versus traditional systems?
Resources:
View Tobias Diehl on LinkedIn
View Wendy Zenone on LinkedIn
View Nic Fillingham on LinkedIn
Related Microsoft Podcasts:
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson
Uncovering Hidden Risks
Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts
The BlueHat Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.
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35:25
Bug Hunting from the Beach with Brad Schlintz
In this episode of The BlueHat Podcast, host Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone are joined by Brad Schlintz, independent security researcher and bug bounty hunter. Brad shares how he transitioned from a decade-long career as a software engineer to hacking Microsoft products while traveling the world with his wife. He recounts his early days tinkering with RuneScape bots, his experience working in SharePoint and Azure at Microsoft, and the moment he first encountered a real-world cybersecurity incident. He also discusses his journey into ethical hacking and his qualification for the upcoming Zero Day Quest, showcasing how he turned bug hunting into a lifestyle that allows him to work from anywhere—including a stunning island in Brazil.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
How a single discovered bug can lead to finding multiple vulnerabilities in the same area
The importance of exploring app integrations when searching for security vulnerabilities
Why building on prior discoveries can make it easier to uncover more hidden security issues
Some Questions We Ask:
What guidance can you share with other researchers and hackers on how to find vulnerabilities?
Why did your background in software engineering help you in your bug bounty work?
How did you transition from working on the website incident to more full-time security research?
Resources:
View Brad Schlintz on LinkedIn
View Wendy Zenone on LinkedIn
View Nic Fillingham on LinkedIn
Related Microsoft Podcasts:
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson
Uncovering Hidden Risks
Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts
The BlueHat Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.
Since 2005, BlueHat has been where the security research community, and Microsoft, come together as peers; to debate, discuss, share, challenge, celebrate and learn. On The BlueHat Podcast, Microsoft and MSRC’s Nic Fillingham and Wendy Zenone will host conversations with researchers and industry leaders, both inside and outside of Microsoft, working to secure the planet’s technology and create a safer world for all.
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