Key Takeaways
- The maintainer of the popular open-source data transfer tool cURL has ended the project’s bug bounty program due to a flood of AI-generated contributions.
- The decision was made to reduce the noise and high load on the curl security team caused by the large number of submissions.
- The maintainer, Daniel Stenberg, hopes that developers will continue to send reports of actual security vulnerabilities, even if they are not paid for them.
- Stenberg believes in publicly shaming those who submit "silly AI-generated submissions" to the bounty program, but also acknowledges the need to balance this approach with empathy and understanding.
Introduction to the Issue
The maintainer of the popular open-source data transfer tool cURL, Daniel Stenberg, has announced the end of the project’s bug bounty program. This decision comes after the team struggled to assess a large number of AI-generated contributions, which were often of poor quality and did not identify actual vulnerabilities. Stenberg had previously expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that the flood of submissions was putting a high load on the curl security team. In a GitHub commit, Stenberg officially ended the bug bounty program, effective January 2026.
The Problem with AI-Generated Contributions
The issue with AI-generated contributions began in early 2024, when Stenberg started receiving a large number of bug reports that were generated by artificial intelligence. While some of these reports were helpful, many were not well-researched and did not identify actual vulnerabilities. Stenberg had initially considered killing the bug bounty program, but decided to give it more time. However, by mid-2025, the situation had not improved, and Stenberg was still receiving a large number of low-quality submissions. He expressed his hope that ending the bug bounty program would "remove the incentive for people to submit crap and non-well researched reports to us. AI generated or not."
The Decision to End the Bug Bounty Program
Stenberg’s decision to end the bug bounty program was not taken lightly. In a mailing message, he explained that the team had received seven submissions in the previous week, but none of them described a vulnerability. Assessing these submissions had taken "a good while," and Stenberg felt that the program was no longer effective. He hoped that ending the program would reduce the noise and allow the team to focus on more important issues. Stenberg also expressed his hope that developers would continue to send reports of actual security vulnerabilities, even if they were not paid for them.
The Importance of Responsible Bug Reporting
Stenberg’s post also highlighted the importance of responsible bug reporting. He emphasized that developers should only report bugs or vulnerabilities that they actually understand and can reproduce. He believed that exposing and ridiculing those who waste the team’s time by submitting low-quality reports was an effective way to get the message across. However, he also acknowledged the need to balance this approach with empathy and understanding, recognizing that some individuals may be "ordinary misled humans" who can learn from their mistakes.
The Future of Bug Reporting
The future of bug reporting for cURL is uncertain. Stenberg’s decision to end the bug bounty program may discourage some developers from submitting reports, especially if they are not paid for them. However, Stenberg hopes that developers will continue to prioritize responsible bug reporting and submit high-quality reports, even if they are not incentivized by a bounty. The success of this approach will depend on the willingness of developers to take the time to understand and reproduce bugs, and to submit reports that are accurate and helpful.
Conclusion
The end of the cURL bug bounty program marks a significant change in the way that the project approaches bug reporting. While the program was initially intended to incentivize developers to submit high-quality reports, it ultimately became overwhelmed by low-quality, AI-generated submissions. Stenberg’s decision to end the program is an attempt to reduce the noise and allow the team to focus on more important issues. As the project moves forward, it will be important for developers to prioritize responsible bug reporting and submit high-quality reports, even if they are not paid for them. By doing so, they can help to ensure the continued security and stability of the cURL project.