Apple’s iPhone Bug Bounties Hit Record Highs — Hackers Could Earn More Than a CEO
Apple has dramatically increased payouts in its iPhone bug bounty program, offering rewards that now rival or exceed the salaries of top executives. Zero-click exploits — vulnerabilities that compromise a device without any user interaction — can now earn researchers up to $2 million, and with bonus multipliers, some payouts can exceed $5 million. This bold move is part of Apple’s strategy to attract elite security talent and combat the black market for exploits.
Key Takeaways
- Zero-click iPhone exploits: Maximum reward doubled from $1 million to $2 million.
- Potential for $5 million payouts: Stacking bonus multipliers for rare, high-impact discoveries.
- Total paid since 2020: Apple has awarded $35 million across more than 800 researchers.
- Streamlined verification: Apple’s Target Flags system lets researchers prove exploit effectiveness faster, accelerating payment.
Why the Program Matters
Zero-click exploits are among the most dangerous because they allow attackers to compromise devices silently. By increasing rewards, Apple incentivizes responsible disclosure to the company rather than the underground market. The move also positions Apple as offering financial opportunities potentially higher than many corporate CEO salaries, signaling a significant investment in security.
Breakdown of Bounty Levels
- Proximity-based exploits (single-click): Up to $1 million, quadrupling previous limits.
- Physical device attacks: Maximum $500,000.
- WebKit code execution + sandbox escape: $300,000.
- macOS Gatekeeper bypasses: $100,000.
This shows Apple is willing to pay top dollar for vulnerabilities across both iOS and macOS platforms, with particular focus on the most severe threats.
Target Flags: Streamlining Exploit Verification
Apple has introduced Target Flags, a system of objective markers embedded in iOS and macOS that allow researchers to demonstrate their exploits’ effectiveness without long back-and-forth verification.
Benefits:
- Faster evaluation of reported exploits
- Accelerated researcher payouts
- Encourages responsible reporting over underground sales
Think of it as a “gamified” system for vulnerability hunters, awarding recognition (and cash) quickly for confirmed discoveries.
The Bigger Picture
Apple’s financial strategy is part of a broader effort to:
- Redirect elite hacker talent toward defending iPhones instead of selling exploits on the black market.
- Protect personal data on consumer devices by making legitimate reporting more lucrative than criminal alternatives.
- Maintain a leading security posture for iOS and macOS platforms, reinforcing trust with users.
Apple VP Ivan Krstić noted that while top-tier payouts are rare, they are necessary to compete with mercenary spyware developers offering similar sums.
Historical Context
- Program inception: Initially invitation-only; expanded publicly in 2020.
- Payments to date: Over $35 million awarded to more than 800 researchers, with the average payout around $40,000.
- Significance: Rewards now outpace most average salaries, creating a new career path for security researchers focused on ethical hacking.
Why This Matters for Users
- Increased bug bounty rewards mean faster patches and safer devices.
- Target Flags ensure that Apple can respond to exploits before they appear in the wild.
- The program helps prevent data theft, malware infections, and surveillance by third-party attackers.
Summary
Apple has quadrupled its maximum bug bounty payouts, offering up to $5 million for zero-click iPhone exploits through combined bonuses. Since 2020, the company has paid over $35 million to researchers. With innovations like Target Flags, Apple is accelerating exploit verification and payout processes, attracting top-tier hacking talent, and improving device security. In short, iPhone users benefit from faster, safer security responses, and researchers now have the potential to earn CEO-level rewards for ethical hacking.
