Bug bounty hunters and ethical hackers participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) events have a complex set of considerations when it comes to reporting the vulnerabilities they discover. While there is no strict rule dictating whether or not they should disclose these findings to the affected vendor, there is a general expectation that doing so is in the best interest of the public.
According to vulnerability researcher Ellis, the decision to report a vulnerability to a vendor is often based on two factors. Firstly, if the researcher feels it is necessary to ensure the security of the product and protect users, they may choose to disclose the vulnerability. Secondly, if there is a bug bounty program in place that offers rewards for reporting vulnerabilities, researchers are more incentivized to submit their findings. However, if neither of these factors are present, the researcher has the freedom to decide what to do with their discovery.
Complexities arise when it comes to vulnerabilities discovered during CTF events. From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem obvious that hackers participating in these events would disclose any issues they uncover. However, this is not always the case. The decision to report vulnerabilities ultimately lies with the researcher, and they are not obligated to help the vendor fix the issues they find.
Chris Evans, CISO and chief hacking officer at HackerOne, believes that vulnerabilities discovered during CTF events should be reported to vendors. He argues that by not disclosing these risks, hackers could potentially harm others who are using the affected software. Evans emphasizes the importance of prompt reporting to minimize the possibility of harm.
In light of a recent incident involving an Apple CTF player discovering a flaw in Google’s software, Evans commends the collaboration between the hacker and the vendor to fix the vulnerability. He views this as a positive outcome resulting from the CTF event.
Ellis points out that there is a distinction between CTF events and bug bashes. Bug bashes are organized and controlled events where participants focus on finding as many vulnerabilities as possible within a predetermined time frame. The purpose of bug bashes is clear: to uncover and fix vulnerabilities. In contrast, CTF events are more like games, with artificial environments. If vulnerabilities are accidentally discovered during these events, the path forward is less straightforward.
Overall, the decision to report vulnerabilities discovered during CTF events is a complex one. While there may not be a strict rule mandating disclosure, there is a general expectation that it is in the public’s best interest to report these vulnerabilities to the vendor. The collaboration between hackers, vendors, and the broader security community is crucial in ensuring the safety and security of software systems.