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Microsoft’s AI Bug Bounty Launched With Awards Up to $15,000—Here’s What Changed

Microsoft’s AI bug bounty began with awards up to $15,000 for AI-powered Bing. The current Copilot Bounty page lists awards of $250 to $30,000 and broader product scope.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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Microsoft launched its AI bug-bounty program in October 2023 with awards of up to $15,000 and AI-powered Bing as its first in-scope product. That figure is historical: Microsoft’s current program page, now titled the Microsoft Copilot Bounty Program, lists awards from $250 to $30,000. The amount depends on the vulnerability, its severity, and report quality; no payout is guaranteed.

What Microsoft announced in October 2023

In an October 26, 2023 announcement, Microsoft said it had launched a new AI bounty program, drawing on lessons from AI research challenges and its work classifying AI-system vulnerabilities by severity. The company named the AI-powered Bing experience as the first product in scope and advertised awards of up to $15,000.

The program’s launch date is listed as October 12, 2023, in the revision history of Microsoft’s current Copilot Bounty page. The name, scope, and award terms have since changed, so the original $15,000 figure should not be read as the current maximum.

How the launch terms compare with the current program

Program detail October 2023 announcement Current Copilot Bounty page
Program name Microsoft AI bug bounty program Microsoft Copilot Bounty Program
Listed awards Up to $15,000, as stated in Microsoft’s October 26, 2023 announcement $250 to $30,000, according to the current program page accessed September 30, 2026; award terms can change
Product scope AI-powered Bing experience as the first in-scope product Multiple Copilot experiences and platforms; see the current scope below
Eligibility standard The announcement described the program launch and initial scope Requires demonstrable security impact, applicable severity criteria, and reproduction on the latest fully patched version

These are terms from different points in the program’s history, not competing estimates of a single current award. Microsoft’s current page lists a top award of $30,000 and says higher amounts may be considered at its sole discretion based on severity, impact, and submission quality. The listed range is not a promise that any particular report will earn a bounty.

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Which Copilot products are currently listed as in scope?

Microsoft’s current page lists Copilot AI experiences on the following surfaces:

  • copilot.microsoft.com and copilot.ai in browsers
  • Microsoft Edge on Windows, including Copilot Mode
  • Microsoft Copilot apps for iOS and Android
  • Copilot integrated into Windows through the Microsoft Copilot Application
  • Copilot on WhatsApp and Telegram

The page specifies that researchers should test with a personal account. Scope and program terms may be revised, so check the current page before testing or filing a report.

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What kinds of AI bugs may qualify?

A bounty-eligible report needs to establish a direct, demonstrable security impact, satisfy the program’s severity criteria, and reproduce on the latest fully patched version. A prompt that produces an unusual answer is not enough by itself: Microsoft’s exclusions include prompt injection without security impact on users beyond the attacker, model hallucination about running arbitrary code, and system- or meta-prompt leakage. The page also excludes some common low-impact or out-of-scope vulnerability types, and Microsoft retains discretion to reject submissions.

In practical terms, a researcher should explain what security boundary or user is affected, how the issue can be reproduced, and why the result creates meaningful harm—not merely show that the model can be persuaded to say something unexpected. Eligibility and severity are determined under Microsoft’s program terms, not by the novelty of a prompt alone.

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How to submit a report and follow the rules

  1. Review the current Copilot Bounty page and confirm the affected experience is in scope.
  2. Reproduce the issue on the latest fully patched version, using a personal account.
  3. Submit through the MSRC Researcher Portal and select “Copilot, AI+ML, and LLMs” as the product.
  4. Include the conversation ID in the reproduction steps, describe the attack vector, and document the direct security impact.
  5. Report privately and follow coordinated disclosure. Do not access, modify, or exfiltrate customer data, or disrupt service availability.

Microsoft says external vulnerability reports are handled through coordinated vulnerability disclosure, with MSRC coordinating investigation and remediation. Confirmed vulnerabilities may result in mitigations and public information. Its general bounty guidance asks researchers to allow time for remediation before public disclosure and states: “Do not access, modify, or exfiltrate customer data.”

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  • POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
  • WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
  • FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
  • TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
  • BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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