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Bug Bounty Program

What is Bug Bounty Program?

A crowdsourced security initiative that rewards external researchers for discovering and responsibly disclosing software vulnerabilities to the organization.

Information Security

Frameworks that govern bug bounty program

ISO 27001:2022View framework →NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0View framework →CIS Controls v8View framework →

What the standards actually require on bug bounty program

Requirements naming bug bounty program across 5 standards, quoted from the control text.

BSIMM1 control

Config & Vulnerability Management. A bug bounty program is operated so external researchers can responsibly report vulnerabilities.

CMVM3.4 · Operate a bug bounty program →
Japan AI Guidelines3 controls

AI Incident Reporting + Response is critical to learning + accountability + stakeholder protection per Japan AI Guidelines for Business + Hiroshima AI Process Code of Conduct + emerging AI Bill.

JP-AIG-Incident-Reporting-Response-AISI-METI-Notification-G7-Hiroshima-Reporting-Mechanism-Voluntary · Japan AI Guidelines AI Incident Reporting + Response + AISI/METI Notification + G7 Hiroshima Reporting Mechanism + Voluntary + AI Incident Database + OECD AI Incidents Monitor + Sector Regulator Notification + Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure →
FIRST CSIRT Services Framework and Standards1 control

FIRST PSIRT (Product Security Incident Response Team) Services Framework v1.1 published December 2020. SCOPE: parallel to CSIRT Services Framework but focused on PRODUCT VENDORS + PRODUCT TEAMS handling vulnerabilities + incidents affecting their products + cu...

FIRST-PSIRT-Services · FIRST PSIRT Services Framework (2020) - Product Security Incident Response Team Service Catalog →
FISMA1 control

FISMA 2.0 reform pipeline + legislative activity. PROPOSED LEGISLATION: (a) FISMA REFORM ACT OF 2023 (S.2251 + H.R.6395 of the 118th Congress) introduced by Senators Peters (D-MI) + Lankford (R-OK) + bipartisan support;

FISMA-Reform-Pipeline · FISMA 2.0 Reform Pipeline, Legislative Activity and Future State →
Japan FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines for Financial Institutions1 control

Vulnerability Management is a core technical control area per FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines. (1) Vulnerability Discovery: (a) Authenticated and Unauthenticated Scanning - Nessus + Qualys + Rapid7 + open source; (b) DAST Dynamic Application Security Testing;

JP-FSA-CYB-Vulnerability-Management-Patching-CVE-Risk-Based-Prioritisation-Penetration-Testing-Red-Team · Japan FSA Cybersecurity Vulnerability Management + Patching + CVE Tracking + Risk-Based Prioritisation + Penetration Testing + Red-Team + Bug Bounty + Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure + Zero-Day Response →

Questions people ask about bug bounty program

What is Bug Bounty Program?
A crowdsourced security initiative that rewards external researchers for discovering and responsibly disclosing software vulnerabilities to the organization.
Why is Bug Bounty Program important for compliance?
Bug Bounty Program is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding bug bounty program helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Bug Bounty Program?
Bug Bounty Program appears in the requirement text of BSIMM, Japan AI Guidelines, FIRST CSIRT Services Framework and Standards, FISMA, Japan FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines for Financial Institutions. Across these standards we have identified 7 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Bug Bounty Program?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how bug bounty program applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Bug Bounty Program applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

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Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.