cURL ends bug bounty program amid AI-generated submissions

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January 21, 2026 at 5:24 PM

Overview

cURL, the widely used open-source tool for transferring data, has decided to shut down its bug bounty program. This decision comes after the organization was inundated with submissions generated by artificial intelligence, which made it difficult to discern legitimate reports from automated ones. The influx of AI-generated submissions overwhelmed the program, prompting cURL to prioritize genuine contributions from human researchers. This move affects the community of security researchers who rely on bug bounties to report vulnerabilities and receive compensation for their efforts. The closure of the program raises concerns about the future of crowdsourced security testing, especially as AI technologies become more prevalent in various domains.

Key Takeaways

Affected Systems: cURL
Timeline: Ongoing since October 2023

Original Article Summary

The popular open-source data transfer tool cURL has terminated its bug bounty program due to an overwhelming influx of AI-generated contributions.

Impact

cURL

Exploitation Status

No active exploitation has been reported at this time. However, organizations should still apply patches promptly as proof-of-concept code may exist.

Timeline

Ongoing since October 2023

Remediation

Not specified

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

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