Microsoft Expands Copilot Bug Bounty Program with Increased Payouts for Moderate Vulnerabilities

2025-02-10

In a move to enhance the security of its Copilot AI ecosystem, Microsoft announced a significant expansion of its Copilot bug bounty program. The initiative now includes a wider range of Copilot consumer products and services, such as Copilot for Telegram, Copilot for WhatsApp, and copilot.microsoft.com. Additionally, the company is introducing increased financial incentives for moderate severity vulnerabilities, offering rewards of up to $5,000. These steps come as part of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to strengthen its cybersecurity efforts and address potential vulnerabilities across its platforms.

The expanded program allows security researchers to report bugs in more products, with a broader scope for vulnerability findings. Now, anyone identifying moderate security flaws will be eligible for rewards, encouraging more involvement from the cybersecurity community in securing Copilot’s growing range of services. Payouts for vulnerabilities can range from $250 for low-severity issues to as high as $30,000 for critical flaws.

This expansion is also part of the company’s broader Secure Future Initiative (SFI), aimed at strengthening Microsoft’s overall cybersecurity approach in response to recent concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Safety Review Board.

Summary:

Microsoft’s Copilot bug bounty program has been significantly expanded, now covering a broader range of Copilot consumer products and services such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and copilot.ai. The company has introduced higher payouts, offering rewards up to $5,000 for moderate-severity vulnerabilities. The expanded scope includes products like Copilot for Microsoft Edge, iOS, Android apps, and Bing generative search. The move aims to bolster the security of these platforms while providing more opportunities for security researchers to participate in improving Copilot’s resilience. Payouts range from $250 to $30,000 depending on the severity of the reported vulnerability.

This announcement is also linked to the Secure Future Initiative, a company-wide cybersecurity effort launched to address concerns raised by a recent cybersecurity review. In addition to this, the Microsoft 365 Bounty Program has been extended to cover more products, offering up to $27,000 for critical vulnerabilities. Microsoft’s comprehensive bug bounty programs reflect its commitment to strengthening the security of its products and services.

What Undercode Says:

Microsoft’s strategic expansion of its Copilot AI bug bounty program reflects the company’s growing recognition of the critical importance of cybersecurity in the AI landscape. The of higher payout thresholds, especially for moderate-severity vulnerabilities, signals a more proactive approach in securing AI-powered tools and services used by millions across the globe. In addition to traditional security testing, bug bounty programs offer a valuable layer of crowd-sourced expertise, as they tap into a global pool of cybersecurity professionals, researchers, and ethical hackers.

By increasing payouts and broadening the range of eligible products, Microsoft is not only enhancing the financial incentives for researchers but also diversifying its cybersecurity defenses. This should help the company to detect and address a wider variety of vulnerabilities that could otherwise be overlooked in routine internal audits. Furthermore, the inclusion of services like Copilot for Telegram and WhatsApp demonstrates the company’s recognition of the growing demand for secure AI applications across multiple platforms, as well as its awareness of the potential attack surfaces these services may introduce.

The reward structure, ranging from $250 for low-severity vulnerabilities to $30,000 for critical flaws, is also a clear indication that Microsoft values both small and large contributions to its security ecosystem. The decision to offer these varying levels of payout helps to motivate researchers with different expertise and allows for more nuanced attention to both common and high-impact issues. Additionally, with the expansion of the Microsoft 365 bounty program to include new Viva products, Microsoft is further securing its enterprise-grade solutions, which are increasingly relied upon for business-critical tasks.

Critically, this push for robust security measures follows a less-than-flattering cybersecurity review by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Safety Review Board, which criticized Microsoft’s security culture. The Secure Future Initiative (SFI), which Microsoft launched to address these concerns, is likely to be a long-term endeavor aimed at overhauling the company’s approach to cybersecurity and ensuring that its vast product ecosystem remains resilient against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.

In the context of AI-driven platforms like Microsoft’s Copilot, it’s crucial for the company to stay ahead of emerging threats. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday tools and services, the risk of exploitation grows. By offering significant financial incentives, Microsoft is positioning itself as a leader in both the development and the secure deployment of AI technologies. For organizations and individuals invested in AI research and development, this program presents a valuable opportunity to contribute to the creation of a safer digital ecosystem.

Additionally, the broader scope of

In conclusion, Microsoft’s increased investment in bug bounty programs, particularly the expansion of the Copilot AI program, is a forward-thinking move that could set a benchmark for other tech companies. As AI continues to play a more central role in digital transformation, securing these technologies will require collective effort, industry-wide collaboration, and continued innovation in cybersecurity practices.

References:

Reported By: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-raises-rewards-for-copilot-ai-bug-bounty-program/
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