Security News > 2023 > May > Google launches bug bounty program for its Android applications

Google has launched the Mobile Vulnerability Rewards Program, a new bug bounty program that will pay security researchers for flaws found in the company's Android applications.

As the company said, the main goal behind the Mobile VRP is to speed up the process of finding and fixing weaknesses in first-party Android apps, developed or maintained by Google.

Category 1) Remote/No User Interaction 2) User must follow a link that exploits the vulnerable app 3) User must install malicious app or victim app is configured in a non-default way 4) Attacker must be on the same network Arbitrary Code Execution $30,000 $15,000 $4,500 $2,250 Theft of Sensitive Data $7,500 $4,500 $2,250 $750 Other Vulnerabilities $7,500 $4,500 $2,250 $750. "The Mobile VRP recognizes the contributions and hard work of researchers who help Google improve the security posture of our first-party Android applications," Google said.

"The goal of the program is to mitigate vulnerabilities in first-party Android applications, and thus keep users and their data safe."

In 2022 it awarded $12 million, including a record-breaking $605,000 payout for an Android exploit chain of five separate security bugs reported by gzobqq, the highest in Android VRP history.

The same researcher submitted another critical exploit chain in Android, earning another $157,000-the previous bug bounty record in Android VRP history at the time.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-launches-bug-bounty-program-for-its-android-applications/