Adobe Invites Security Researchers to Private Bug Bounty Program
Adobe has called out to security researchers on the HackerOne vulnerability reporting platform to join its VIP private bug bounty program. The private program expands on the public Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP) that Adobe runs on the hacker-powered platform and offers higher rewards for the identified vulnerabilities and closer collaboration with the research community. Managed by Adobe’s Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT), the VIP program will reward researchers helping the company identify and promptly address issues across a broad gamut of products. Adobe has included all Adobe desktop and mobile applications in its private program over the past year and has doubled the maximum bug bounty rewards, which are now paid out more quickly to researchers reporting vulnerabilities.
Reward for Researchers
Adobe‘s VIP program is offering greater rewards to security researchers who report vulnerabilities on Adobe‘s products. The company runs monthly bounty multiplier campaigns as part of the VIP program, including a bonus campaign that rewards researchers who demonstrate proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits exploiting new vulnerabilities in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on Adobe‘s products.
How to Join
Qualified security researchers who are interested in joining Adobe’s VIP private bug bounty program need to submit an application through Adobe’s website.
Editorial and Philosophy
Bug bounty programs are the norm for most high-profile tech companies and have become an essential tool in identifying and patching vulnerabilities. While a public bug bounty program may offer reward incentives, private programs allow companies to identify and repair vulnerabilities before they are exploited maliciously. Adobe is among the latest companies providing a private bug bounty program that rewards researchers for identifying security bugs in Adobe products, thereby addressing potential vulnerabilities before they inflict damage.
However, bug bounty programs can have unintended consequences. For instance, some hackers may skip the responsible disclosure route and promptly sell discovered vulnerabilities to exploiters and cybercriminals, pocketing larger sums. Usually, companies cooperate with researchers and give recognition to them. As organizations share data with external entities, security researchers must be cautious to comply with the data sharing conditions. An over-enthusiastic cybersecurity researcher overstepping their limit may lead to unintended consequences. Therefore, companies and researchers need to be mindful of their roles and responsibilities in a bug bounty program.
Advice to Researchers
While a company’s bounty program may offer significant financial rewards to researchers who identify vulnerabilities, they must follow the company’s responsible disclosure policy and agree to the bounty program’s terms and conditions. Any discovered vulnerabilities should get reported to the company immediately without any malicious intent behind their intent to identify the vulnerability. Researchers must only test for potential security vulnerabilities on their own devices and refrain from using or accessing real user data. This measure will protect security researchers from violating data security policies. They should not sell any identified vulnerability details or exploit them maliciously.
Internet Security
A cyberattack can cripple an organization, potentially leading to loss of reputation, revenue, and data breaches. Private Bug Bounty programs like the one Adobe is launching help detect and fix critical vulnerabilities in Adobe products. However, companies must take additional steps to ensure the security of all their products. Companies should employ a comprehensive security strategy that encompasses security measures ranging from training employees on secure behavior to the deployment of cybersecurity solutions. As the risk of cybercrime rise in both intensity and frequency, ensuring the security of customer data and corporate systems has become paramount.
<< photo by Yoal Desurmont >>
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