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Dilip Mallavarapu

Security Researcher  ·  M.S. Cybersecurity @ UAB
Jan 2025 – Dec 2026  ·  GPA 3.5

I find vulnerabilities in open-source web applications, billing platforms, IoT firmware, and mobile SDKs, through careful source code review, binary analysis, and targeted security testing. My work doesn't stop at finding a bug, I trace each one back to its root cause, build a working exploit to prove real impact, and write it up clearly enough for a vendor to fix it fast. That process has produced 3 assigned CVEs and responsible disclosures accepted by Microsoft, Cisco, Western Union, and Mastercard. Open to PhD research positions and full-time security engineering roles starting December 2026.

🏆 Best Paper Award · DCS-CI'26 Open to PhD positions Open to full-time roles Graduating Dec 2026
Experience
Security Researcher Intern
Appsecrew
Web application penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and detailed security report writing for enterprise clients. Conducted assessments covering OWASP Top 10, business logic vulnerabilities, and API security across client-facing production applications.
Aug 2024 – Dec 2024
Security Engineer & Researcher
Freelance / Bug Bounty
Independent vulnerability research across open-source billing software, IoT firmware, and mobile payment SDKs. Responsible disclosure to Cisco, Microsoft, Western Union, Mastercard, and government targets. Awarded 3 CVEs through GitHub's CNA for original vulnerability research in FOSSBilling.
Mar 2022 – Present
Projects
CRYPT
Python · HTML

Symmetric file encryption utility with recursive directory traversal. Implements AES-256 in four modes (CBC/CTR/OFB/CFB) and ChaCha20 with per-file IV randomization. Ships both a Python CLI for batch operations and a zero-dependency browser GUI built on the WebCrypto API, drag-and-drop, no server required.

AES-256ChaCha20PythonWebCrypto
View on GitHub →
ASN Intelligence Mapper
In progress

Python automation pipeline that ingests an organization name or ASN and outputs a workflow diagram of all associated IPs, domains, netblocks, and infrastructure relationships. Integrates BGP ASN data, passive DNS, and certificate transparency logs for OSINT-driven attack surface enumeration, designed for recon at scale.

PythonASNOSINTAutomation
LLM Security Research
🏆 Best Paper, DCS-CI'26

Peer-reviewed research on indirect prompt injection against LLM SOC copilots in industrial control systems, published and awarded Best Paper at DCS-CI'26. Built a full testbed (SWaT + OpenPLC), an attack generator across three channels, and a layered defense that cuts attack success rate from 68.8% to 8.1%.

LLMPrompt InjectionICS Security
Read the writeup →
Firmware Security

Static analysis and reverse engineering of router, camera, and BMC firmware, plus the tooling behind it. Numbers come from binaries I unpacked and measured, not from vendor claims.

OpenWrt hardening study
Measurement · Published

Measured stack canary coverage across three OpenWrt 23.05 architectures. Protection is on by default (74 to 80 percent), and the same core packages opt out on every build. Includes the measurement bug that made an earlier pass read zero.

OpenWrtMIPSx86-64
Read the study →
Sentinel
Tool · Open source

A firmware scanner whose confirmed findings carry a proof you can re-check offline, and which reports present, absent, or unknown rather than reporting a mitigation as missing when it could not read it.

GoPythonELF
Read →
Vendor disclosures
Hikvision · OpenBMC · QNAP

Device firmware research across a Hikvision access terminal (reported to HSRC), an OpenBMC finding under coordinated disclosure, and an ongoing QNAP QTS review. Details on the firmware page.

ARM ELFIoTBMC
View all →
Recent Work
CVE
CVE-2026-43921 — PHP Code Injection via unescaped config serialization → RCE in FOSSBilling
HIGH
CVE
CVE-2026-43925 — Mass assignment of group_id in FOSSBilling guest registration → promo code bypass
MODERATE
CVE
CVE-2026-43927 — TOCTOU race condition in FOSSBilling cart checkout → unlimited promo use
MODERATE
Bug Bounty
Microsoft — Stored HTML injection, MSRC Case 101912
Sep 2025
Bug Bounty
Western Union — Sensitive data exposure via ServiceNow instance (P3, Bugcrowd)
Jul 2024
Bug Bounty
Cisco — Reflected XSS via return_url parameter (P3, Bugcrowd VDP)
Jan 2024
Bug Bounty
Mastercard — Open redirect in customer portal login (P4, Bugcrowd)
Jan 2025
Skills & Tools
Offensive Security
  • Web Application Pentesting
  • Source Code Review
  • Binary Analysis (ARM ELF)
  • Mobile SDK Analysis
  • Race Condition Testing
  • OSINT Automation
Tools
  • Burp Suite Pro
  • Ghidra / Binary Ninja
  • Nmap / ZGrab2
  • Metasploit
  • Wireshark
  • Docker
Languages
  • Python (exploit dev)
  • PHP (source review)
  • Bash scripting
  • Kotlin (Android)
  • SQL
Platforms
  • Linux / Kali
  • AWS / GCP
  • Azure AD
  • IoT / Embedded
  • Windows Server AD