Apple has dramatically escalated its war against sophisticated cyber threats by increasing maximum bug bounty rewards to $5 million. The Cupertino-based tech giant announced the enhanced Security Bounty program on October 10, 2025, targeting critical vulnerabilities in Lockdown Mode, beta software, and system-level exploits that could enable mercenary spyware attacks.
Unprecedented Rewards for Critical Vulnerabilities
Apple’s Security Bounty program, which launched in 2020, has already distributed $35 million to more than 800 security researchers, averaging $43,750 per participant. The new maximum reward of $5 million represents a 400% increase from the previous $1 million cap and targets specifically the most dangerous categories of vulnerabilities. According to Apple’s updated bounty guidelines, the highest payouts will focus on zero-click kernel code execution with kernel privileges and Lockdown Mode bypasses that could enable sophisticated spyware operations.
The enhanced reward structure reflects Apple’s recognition that modern threats require unprecedented incentives. “We need to make the economics work for security researchers,” stated Apple’s head of security engineering in the official announcement. The company has specifically identified vulnerabilities that could be exploited by mercenary spyware firms—the same type of sophisticated attacks that have previously targeted journalists, activists, and government officials through tools like Pegasus and Predator.
Targeting Sophisticated Mercenary Spyware
Apple’s announcement explicitly acknowledges that current system-level iOS attacks primarily originate from “extremely sophisticated mercenary spyware that cost millions of dollars to develop.” These attacks typically target “a very small number of targeted individuals” including journalists, human rights activists, and political dissidents. The company’s official blog post emphasizes that Lockdown Mode, introduced in 2022, has proven effective against most threats but requires continuous improvement to counter evolving attack methods.
Security researchers have documented how mercenary spyware operations typically exploit zero-day vulnerabilities that can cost millions on the private market. According to Citizen Lab research, a single exploit chain for iOS can command prices exceeding $3 million from government clients. By offering competitive bounties, Apple aims to redirect these critical vulnerability reports through legitimate channels rather than the shadow market.
Expanding Program Scope and Accessibility
Beyond increasing maximum rewards, Apple has streamlined its bounty submission process and expanded eligible targets. The program now covers all Apple operating systems in their beta phases, recognizing that early detection during development cycles provides the most cost-effective security improvements. Researchers can now report vulnerabilities in iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS beta versions, with rewards scaled according to severity and potential impact.
The company has also addressed previous criticism about payment transparency and processing times. According to Apple’s updated bounty terms, researchers will receive clearer guidelines about reward calculations and faster payment processing. This improvement comes as competitors like Google’s VRP and Microsoft’s Bounty Program have also enhanced their reward structures, though neither approaches Apple’s new $5 million maximum for specific critical vulnerabilities.
Impact on Mobile Security Landscape
Security experts predict Apple’s enhanced bounty program will significantly alter the economics of vulnerability research. “This moves the needle substantially for researchers deciding between reporting to vendors or selling to third parties,” noted a cybersecurity analyst at HelpNet Security. The increased rewards particularly target the types of exploits used by sophisticated threat actors like NSO Group, whose Pegasus spyware has repeatedly exploited iOS vulnerabilities to target high-value individuals.
Industry data from HackerOne’s 2024 Security Report shows that bug bounty programs have collectively paid out over $300 million to researchers since 2012, with Apple’s program ranking among the most generous for mobile platforms. The report indicates that critical mobile vulnerabilities typically command rewards between $100,000 and $1.5 million across major programs, making Apple’s new maximum significantly above industry standards.
References:
1. Apple Security Bounty Program: https://security.apple.com/bounty/
2. Citizen Lab Mercenary Spyware Research: https://citizenlab.ca/2024/03/pegasus-ios-17-exploit-chain/
3. Apple Official Announcement: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-enhances-security-bounty-program-with-higher-rewards/
4. Google Vulnerability Reward Program: https://bughunters.google.com/about/rules/6625378258649088/google-and-alphabet-vulnerability-reward-program-vrp-rules
5. HackerOne Security Report 2024: https://www.hackerone.com/resources/reporting/hacker-powered-security-report-2024
