“Hacker101 encrypted pastebin” likely refers to a CTF (Capture The Flag) challenge from Hacker101 (a free web security class by HackerOne) involving an encrypted pastebin-style web app. The challenge often tests your ability to exploit cryptographic weaknesses, not just SQLi or XSS.
Cody Brocious didn't just teach web app hacking in the Hacker101 course; he taught operational maturity. If you are a bug bounty hunter, your report is only as secure as the medium you use to send it.
The primary hurdle in the Encrypted Pastebin level is identifying and exploiting a Padding Oracle Attack . This cryptographic vulnerability occurs when an application reveals whether a decrypted message has valid padding.