Best WordPress Bug Bounty Programs

WordPress is the backbone of millions of websites, making it a prime target for security vulnerabilities. As cyber threats evolve, the importance of identifying and fixing these issues becomes even more crucial. This is where bug bounty programs step in. By offering rewards to ethical hackers who uncover and report vulnerabilities, these programs ensure the ongoing safety of WordPress users and the broader online ecosystem.

Four key platforms—Patchstack, WordFence, WPScan, and HackerOne—publicly accept and reward WordPress vulnerability reports. However, each has its own set of rules, making it essential for researchers to choose wisely to maximize their rewards. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, selecting the right platform can make a significant difference in your bug bounty success.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the top WordPress bug bounty programs and explore how you can leverage them to find vulnerabilities, earn rewards, and contribute to a safer web.

List of the Best Bug Bounty Programs

Here’s a breakdown of the best WordPress bug bounty platforms and how you can make the most of them. Let’s dive in!

Patchstack

Patchstack is a leading platform offering WordPress bug bounty opportunities, especially for vulnerabilities found in WordPress plugins and themes. It stands out for its monthly competition system, which ranks researchers based on XP points.

• Rewards: CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) for all validated reports and bug bounties through a monthly competition.
• Ranking System: Bounties are given to the top 15 researchers based on their XP scores. XP is awarded only for vulnerabilities found in plugins/themes with over 1,000 active installs.
• Zero-Day Payouts: Available for severe vulnerabilities like full site compromise or unauthorized access in plugins/themes with at least 10,000 active installs.

Why Choose Patchstack?
If you’re just starting out or focusing on plugins and themes with fewer than 50,000 installs, Patchstack is ideal. The monthly competition allows you to earn even if you’re not dealing with the largest plugins/themes.

Explore: How to Create a WordPress Plugin: Your Complete Guide!

WordFence

WordFence, a well-known name in WordPress security, also offers a WordPress bug bounty program. However, their requirements are stricter, making this platform better suited for more advanced researchers.

• Rewards: CVE for all validated reports, with additional bug bounty payouts.
• Conditions: To qualify for bounties, the reported vulnerabilities must affect plugins/themes with over 50,000 active installs. For researchers in the 1337 WordFence Vulnerability Program, vulnerabilities in plugins/themes with over 1,000 active installs may also qualify.

Why Choose WordFence?
This platform is best for experienced researchers targeting large-scale plugins and themes. If you are seasoned in bug hunting and prefer working on higher-profile vulnerabilities, WordFence offers more substantial rewards.

Also Check: WordFence Tutorial: How To Enhance Your Website’s Security?

WPScan

WPScan offers recognition in the form of CVEs for vulnerabilities but does not have a monetary bounty program. Despite the lack of direct financial rewards, it remains a great platform for those seeking industry recognition.

• Rewards: CVE for all validated reports.
• Conditions: No financial rewards.

Why Choose WPScan?
WPScan is perfect for researchers who prioritize recognition in the security community over monetary incentives. If you’re looking to build a reputation or expand your CVE count, WPScan offers a straightforward path.

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Learn more: WordPress XSS Attacks: How To Prevent Them

HackerOne

HackerOne is widely known across the cybersecurity world, and it offers bug bounties for vulnerabilities found in WordPress core. If you’re interested in working with core files rather than plugins or themes, this is the platform for you.

• Rewards: CVE and bug bounty only for WordPress core vulnerabilities.

Why Choose HackerOne?
HackerOne is ideal for researchers focused on WordPress core vulnerabilities. With a large community and extensive rewards for core issues, this is a solid platform for targeting more foundational issues in WordPress.

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Maximizing Your Bug Bounty Success

To get the most out of WordPress bug bounty programs, follow these key steps:

Find the Public Codebase for WordPress Plugins/Themes

The WordPress ecosystem is open-source, meaning you have access to the source code of its core, plugins, and themes. Download the WordPress core from wordpress.org, and explore plugin/theme source codes from plugins.svn.wordpress.org and themes.svn.wordpress.org.

Having access to the codebase gives you an edge, allowing you to dive deep into the structure of these components, spot vulnerabilities, and improve your bug-hunting skills.

Relevant Reading: Page Speed Optimization Guide for WordPress

Enable Debug Mode for Your WordPress Test Site

During penetration testing, you may encounter unexpected PHP errors that provide subtle hints about potential bugs. Enabling WordPress’s debug mode can give you insights into vulnerabilities that wouldn’t otherwise be visible.

How to Enable: Add the following lines to your wp-config.php file:

define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);

define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);

This logs any errors to /wp-content/debug.log, which can reveal hidden issues while testing.

More Insights: Solid Reasons Why You Need Ongoing WordPress Support Plans

Restore Your WordPress Test Site by Cleaning Up the Database

During bug hunting, you will install, deactivate, and uninstall many plugins and themes. This can clutter your WordPress installation, leading to performance issues or even site failures.

Recommendation: Use the WP-phpMyAdmin plugin to easily clean up your WordPress database by dropping unnecessary tables.

Restoring your test site manually through the database helps ensure it runs smoothly and reduces the risk of interference during testing.

Read More: Boost Your Site’s Security: Simple Steps to Implement WordPress Two-Factor Authentication

Pay Attention to Roles and Permissions

User roles and permissions play a vital role in WordPress security. Many bounty programs, like those on Patchstack or WordFence, reward based on the level of permission required to exploit a vulnerability.

Tip: Always register users with typical roles like admin, editor, contributor, and subscriber to thoroughly test vulnerabilities at different permission levels. WordPress’s capability and roles documentation is a helpful resource to familiarize yourself with how roles interact with plugins/themes.

Find: Best WordPress Security Service Providers (And Plugins)

Watch for Copy-and-Paste Code Vulnerabilities

In the WordPress ecosystem, many developers reuse functions from other plugins or themes. This copy-paste approach can introduce older vulnerabilities into newer code. Some of the most overlooked vulnerabilities stem from poorly understood copied functions.

Example: The fs_request_get() function is widely copied in WordPress plugins and is often implemented without proper input sanitization, leading to XSS vulnerabilities.

Always examine reused functions for gaps in security, as these are common areas where vulnerabilities surface.

Read: How to Check for Vulnerabilities in Your WordPress Website?

Conclusion: WordPress Bug Bounty Programs

When participating in WordPress bug bounty programs, it’s crucial to select the platform that best aligns with your skills and focus areas. Patchstack is great for beginners, while WordFence and HackerOne are more suited to experienced researchers aiming for larger rewards. Each platform has its strengths, so make sure to understand the guidelines and conditions before diving in.

By utilizing the source code available, enabling debugging tools, managing roles, and watching out for overlooked vulnerabilities, you can maximize your success in finding and reporting bugs in the WordPress ecosystem. Happy hunting!