CISA Launches Hacker Bug Reporting Platform

CISA Launches Federal Vulnerability Disclosure Program

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has initiated a new vulnerability disclosure program. This program enables ethical hackers to responsibly report identified security weaknesses within federal agencies.

Collaboration with Cybersecurity Experts

Developed in partnership with leading cybersecurity firms Bugcrowd and Endyna, the platform facilitates the reception, assessment, and remediation of security vulnerabilities. This collaboration extends the reach of security efforts to the broader security research community.

Following Agency Directives

This launch follows CISA’s prior direction to civilian federal agencies. They were instructed to formulate and release their own vulnerability disclosure policies less than a year ago.

Establishing Rules of Engagement

These policies are crucial for defining the parameters for security researchers. They clearly delineate acceptable testing practices for online systems, and specify what activities are prohibited.

A Shift Towards Hacker Collaboration

While Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDPs) are commonplace in the private sector, often coupled with bug bounties, the civilian federal government has been comparatively slow to embrace this approach. The Department of Defense has demonstrated increasing openness to ethical hacker contributions over the years.

Bugcrowd's Role and Expertise

Bugcrowd, having recently secured $30 million in Series D funding, will provide agencies with access to its established commercial technologies. They will also offer their extensive expertise and a global network of ethical hackers, mirroring the resources used by enterprise businesses.

Casey Ellis, Bugcrowd’s founder, described the directive as a “watershed moment” recognizing hackers as a vital component of the “Internet’s Immune System.” He expressed pride in partnering with CISA/DHS to advance this initiative within the U.S. government.

Enhanced Information Sharing

The new platform will also serve as a conduit for CISA to disseminate information regarding security flaws among various agencies. This will improve coordinated responses to emerging threats.

Responding to Recent Cybersecurity Incidents

The program’s implementation arrives after a period of significant cybersecurity challenges for the government. These include a Russian-backed espionage campaign targeting at least nine U.S. federal agencies via SolarWinds, and a cyberattack originating from China that compromised thousands of Microsoft Exchange servers, including those within the federal government.

CISA aims to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity posture through proactive vulnerability management and collaboration with the ethical hacking community.