'White Hat Hackers' in Government Policy: Russia Launches New Stage in National Vulnerability Hunt
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has kicked off the third phase of its nationwide bug bounty program aimed at uncovering vulnerabilities in government digital infrastructure. Running through December 20, 2026, this phase builds on the success of previous efforts that identified and patched 37 vulnerabilities, with ethical hackers receiving payouts totaling 1.95 million rubles.
Probing the Core: Nine Key Government Services Under Review
The latest phase will involve penetration testing of nine major e-government platforms, including the Gosuslugi portal and the Unified Identification and Authentication System (ESIA). Special focus is being placed on Russia’s national biometric system. Importantly, testing is limited to external components—internal data remains off-limits.
Depending on severity, individual bug discoveries could earn researchers up to 1 million rubles. Registration is open on the BI.ZONE Bug Bounty and Standoff 365 Bug Bounty platforms. Over 26,000 people participated in the first two rounds.
The program is a cornerstone of Russia’s broader cybersecurity strategy. It aims to strengthen defenses across public services, reduce risks of disruption, and enhance the protection of both citizen and state data. At a global level, the initiative underscores Russia’s growing interest in integrating ethical hackers into public-sector IT policy—signaling a potential shift in how nations leverage white-hat communities.
Strategic Cyber Defense
The initiative is woven into the Ministry’s long-term vision for a unified, secure digital government. Officials say future phases will expand coverage to regional authorities and critical sectors including finance, healthcare, and energy.
Ultimately, the program may evolve into an exportable Russian platform for vulnerability research and coordination. Its structure suggests strong potential for international collaboration—especially in countries exploring public-sector cyber reform.
Past as Prologue: Escalating Threats, Adaptive Defenses
Earlier this year, Solar Group disclosed that in February 2025, critical vulnerabilities were found in nearly half of all Russian banking applications. The most frequent flaws included access control issues, XSS bugs, weak encryption, and unsafe handling of sensitive data.
By July, Solar 4RAYS reported a 58% quarter-on-quarter spike in discovered vulnerabilities across popular web applications. WordPress plugins, routers, and telecom devices were among the most affected.
Meanwhile, DDoS attacks against Russian organizations surged by over 60% in the first half of 2025. These attacks are becoming more adaptive, often adjusting tactics mid-assault. Finance, IT, telecom, and e-commerce remain prime targets. According to Roskomnadzor, approximately 65% of malicious traffic originated outside Russia—mainly from Indonesia, the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands.
Hybrid threats—such as drone strikes on military targets in tandem with cyberattacks—underscore the need for integrated digital and physical defenses. The landscape is evolving rapidly, with rising attack volume demanding a systematic cybersecurity response.
Bug Bounty as a National Standard
Russia’s approach demonstrates how a formalized bug bounty model can yield continuous progress in public-sector cybersecurity. This third phase marks a maturing of policy—moving from pilot initiatives to institutionalized best practices.
Officials hope to scale the program across federal and regional systems, as well as sensitive sectors. The eventual development of a national bug bounty platform could bolster Russia’s cybersecurity exports. As vulnerability growth accelerates, consistent investment in ethical hacking may prove critical to national digital resilience.
