tech
Overrun with AI slop, cURL scraps bug bounties to ensure "intact mental health"
The onslaught includes LLMs finding bogus vulnerabilities and code that won’t compile.
TL;DR
- cURL, a widely used open-source networking tool, is terminating its vulnerability reward program.
- The program is being scrapped due to an overwhelming number of low-quality, AI-generated bug reports.
- The project's lead developer, Daniel Stenberg, cited the need to protect the mental health and survival of the small, active maintainer team.
- Stenberg plans to publicly criticize and ban individuals submitting 'crap reports'.
- cURL is integrated into major operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, making its security critical.
- While some AI-assisted bug reports have been valuable, most low-quality reports come from users blindly relying on AI without understanding.
- This move may signal a broader trend impacting bug bounty programs, similar to issues seen in music streaming services due to AI-generated content.