What Is a WordPress Bug Bounty Program? (& How to Get Involved)

Are you looking for a way to help improve WordPress security and potentially make a little money?

A WordPress bug bounty program could be a great fit. It’s an opportunity for developers and “ethical hackers” to help identify potential WordPress vulnerabilities, improve security, and get paid for their efforts.

We personally like these types of initiatives because they show us that WordPress is serious about security. And that’s why we continue to use it for all of our business websites.

In this article, we’ll explore how the WordPress bug bounty program works, how it differs from traditional bug reporting, and how it ensures WordPress remains secure and stable. We’ll also share some tips for getting started as an ethical WordPress hacker.

Here is a quick overview of the topics we’ll cover in this article.

What Is a Bug Bounty Program?

A bug bounty program is an initiative where developers and “ethical hackers” are rewarded for finding and reporting security issues in software.

These programs help software platforms identify and fix potential issues before hackers can misuse them for malicious purposes.

Here’s how it works: A platform sets up a program with clear rules and guidelines outlining the bugs they’re looking for.

Participants, often called “ethical hackers,” test the platform and report any vulnerabilities. If the report is valid, the platform rewards them with money, recognition, or other incentives.

Bug bounty programs aren’t unique to WordPress. Most big tech companies, including Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, have their own bug bounty programs.

These programs have helped make their software more secure while creating opportunities for ethical hackers worldwide.

Basically, bug bounty programs create a win-win situation. Developers improve their software’s security while participants gain valuable experience and rewards.

How Does The WordPress Bug Bounty Program Work?

The WordPress bug bounty program is designed to identify and fix potential security vulnerabilities before they can impact millions of users.

These vulnerabilities include issues that could compromise the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of WordPress websites. For instance, the following issues are considered severe security vulnerabilities:

• Compromised access: When someone manages to get unauthorized access to a WordPress website.
• Cross-site scripting XSS: A hacking technique that allows someone to sneakily add potentially dangerous code to WordPress websites.
• SQL injections: A bug in the software that could allow hackers to inject data into the WordPress database.

By partnering with ethical hackers and developers, WordPress ensures its platform remains secure and trustworthy.

The official WordPress bug bounty program is hosted on HackerOne, where security researchers can submit their findings.

Items included in the program’s scope are:

• Core WordPress software
• The WordPress.org website (including all subdomains)
• GlotPress (the translation manager used by the WordPress Translations project)
• Official WordPress plugins (plugins listed on the WordPress.org profile)
• *.WordCamp.org (all WordCamp websites)
• The WordPress Foundation
• bbPress Core (a sister project of WordPress that adds forums to websites)

The program’s official scope page provides a full list of what’s included. This list ensures that researchers focus on areas critical to the WordPress ecosystem’s security.

The WordPress security team carefully reviews all reports. Valid submissions are rewarded based on the severity of the issue. Rewards depend on the vulnerability’s impact, ranging from public recognition to monetary payouts.

Additionally, WordPress uses bug bounty programs during specific testing phases, such as the WordPress 6.4 Beta Bug Bounty Program. These efforts ensure that new features and updates are thoroughly vetted before release.

What’s the Difference Between the Bug Bounty Program and Reporting Bugs in WordPress?

WordPress encourages users to report bugs to help improve the platform. However, there’s a clear difference between reporting bugs through the WordPress bug bounty program and using the bug reporting guidelines outlined in the Core Handbook.

The bug bounty program focuses specifically on security vulnerabilities. If you discover a potential issue that could compromise a website’s security, such as unauthorized access or data leaks, you should report it through the bug bounty program.

This ensures the WordPress security team handles the issue and, if valid, rewards accordingly.

On the other hand, the Core Handbook guidelines are designed to report general bugs in WordPress core, plugins, or themes.

These include issues like broken features, unexpected behavior, or compatibility problems. While these bugs are important to address, they don’t typically pose a security risk and are not eligible for rewards through the bug bounty program.

Why Does WordPress Use a Bug Bounty Program?

A bug bounty program allows WordPress to proactively identify and address security vulnerabilities, making sure that the platform remains stable and secure.

WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites on the internet, including big-name brands, government websites, and even top universities.

With millions of websites relying on WordPress, security is always a top priority. One advantage of being open-source software is that the code behind WordPress is available to anyone.

As highly popular web software, WordPress source code is already reviewed thoroughly by volunteers, big companies, and its own very large user base.

However, there is still a chance that someone with malicious intent could find clever ways to compromise the software.

One of the biggest advantages of the bug bounty program is the involvement of the global security community.

By encouraging ethical hackers and developers to test the platform, WordPress benefits from diverse perspectives and skills that help uncover issues that traditional testing might miss.

This proactive approach also helps WordPress build trust with the public. Users and businesses feel confident knowing the platform takes security seriously and works actively to improve it.

For developers, it’s an opportunity to contribute to WordPress, which is one of the biggest open-source software projects on the planet.

Benefits of Bug Bounty Programs for Aspiring Developers

Participating in a bug bounty program is a fantastic learning opportunity for aspiring developers. Here’s what it can help you achieve.

• Explore real-world challenges and improve your coding skills.
• Learn the importance of cybersecurity and how to prevent vulnerabilities.
• Understand how websites and applications work by testing them for issues.
• Develop skills to think like a hacker and identify security gaps.
• Showcase your expertise by reporting vulnerabilities and earning recognition.
• Build your portfolio and gain credibility in the developer community.
• Open doors to career opportunities in cybersecurity and development.

Even if you don’t find a vulnerability right away, testing and exploring can help you gain invaluable experience.

It’s not just about rewards; it’s about growing as a developer, contributing to the WordPress ecosystem, and making the web safer for everyone.

Bug Bounty Programs for WordPress Plugins and Themes

One of WordPress’s biggest advantages is its massive ecosystem of plugins. Over 59,000 of them are in the free WordPress.org plugin directory alone.

Many smaller WordPress plugins rely on the WordPress plugin review team to perform a security review. Ethical hackers can disclose issues to the plugin review team without a monetary reward or acknowledgment.

In addition, third-party security platforms like Patchstack and Wordfence run bug bounty programs with rewards.

These platforms then responsibly disclose the issue to the plugin authors and provide them enough time to release a fix.

This is why it’s super important to keep your WordPress plugins current by installing updates as soon as they are available.

Getting Started with WordPress Bug Bounty Programs

Getting involved in WordPress bug bounty programs is an excellent way to contribute to the platform while improving your skills and earning rewards. Platforms like HackerOne, Patchstack, and Wordfence are great starting points for developers and ethical hackers.

If you’re interested in securing WordPress plugins and themes, then plenty of developers welcome bug reports through their support channels or forums.

Participating in third-party bug bounty programs can also allow you to report vulnerabilities responsibly while earning recognition or rewards.

Here are some quick tips to get started:

• Familiarize yourself with the program scope and rules before starting.
• Always follow responsible disclosure practices when reporting bugs.
• Use tools like browser developer consoles and vulnerability scanners for testing.
• Focus on learning and improving, even if your reports aren’t immediately accepted.
• Join developer communities to share experiences and learn from others.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting started, participating in bug bounty programs is a rewarding way to grow your skills and make the web safer for everyone.

Bonus Resources: WordPress Security Guides

Here are a few additional resources to improve WordPress security for your websites:

• How to Perform a WordPress Security Audit (Complete Checklist)
• The Ultimate WordPress Security Guide – Step-by-Step
• eCommerce Security Tips: How to Secure Your WordPress Store
• Most Common WordPress Errors and How to Fix Them
• Vital Tips to Protect Your WordPress Admin Area (Updated)

We hope this article helped you understand the role of bug bounty programs and how they contribute to making WordPress a secure platform. You may also want to see our guide on creating secure contact forms or learn how to back up your WordPress site.

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