Ethical Hacking News
Google has announced significant changes to its vulnerability rewards program for Android and Chrome, offering bounties of up to $1.5 million for the most difficult exploits. The new structure aims to incentivize researchers to discover and exploit previously unknown security vulnerabilities in these systems, while also streamlining the reporting process to make it more efficient for both researchers and the company itself.
Google has updated its Android vulnerability rewards program with new tiers offering up to $1.5 million for difficult exploits. The Chrome browser rewards have been scaled back, with full-chain browser process exploits now eligible for up to $250,000 plus an additional bonus. Google is shifting focus towards concise bug reports and autonomous validation tools to streamline the process. The Android program has a narrower focus on Linux kernel vulnerabilities in Google-maintained components.
Google, the tech giant behind the popular Android operating system and Chrome browser, has recently made significant changes to its vulnerability rewards program for both Android and Chrome. The new structure of the program is designed to incentivize researchers to discover and exploit previously unknown security vulnerabilities in these systems.
As of May 2026, Google's Android vulnerability rewards program now offers bounties of up to $1.5 million for the most difficult exploits. This new tier includes full-chain Pixel Titan M2 security chip exploits with persistence, which are considered the most technically demanding attack scenarios in the program. These exploits carry a reward of $1.5 million, while those without persistence are eligible for up to $750,000.
On the Google Chrome side, the rewards have been scaled back significantly. Full-chain browser process exploits on up-to-date operating systems and hardware now come with rewards of up to $250,000, plus an additional $250,128 bonus for successfully exploiting MiraclePtr-protected memory allocations. This shift in focus reflects Google's recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier for researchers to find and report bugs.
In order to facilitate the process, Google is shifting its focus towards concise reports containing only bug proofs and essential artifacts, rather than lengthy written analyses that AI can now generate automatically. This change aims to streamline the process and make it more efficient for both researchers and the company itself.
The Android program has also undergone a restructuring, with a narrower focus on Linux kernel vulnerabilities in Google-maintained components, unless researchers can demonstrate concrete exploitability on Android devices. This move is an effort to ensure that only the most relevant and impactful exploits are rewarded.
According to Sergiu Gatlan, a news reporter who has covered the latest cybersecurity and technology developments for over a decade, this restructuring follows a record year for Google's bug bounty effort in 2025. The company paid $17.1 million to 747 researchers, representing a more than 40 percent increase from the previous year and an all-time high.
This new structure of the program is also part of a broader trend towards autonomous validation tools. Google estimates that the total aggregate rewards paid in 2026 will increase despite reductions in some individual reward amounts. This suggests that the company remains committed to its bug bounty program and is willing to adapt its approach as needed.
As researchers continue to explore new ways to exploit vulnerabilities, it's clear that Google's willingness to adapt and evolve its program will play a crucial role in shaping the future of cybersecurity research. With its increased rewards for challenging exploits and streamlined reporting process, the company is poised to remain at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Google-Increases-Android-Vulnerability-Rewards-to-15-Million-A-Shift-towards-More-Challenging-Exploits-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-now-offers-up-to-15-million-for-some-android-exploits/
Published: Tue May 5 08:24:32 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
