Cybersecurity expert 7h3h4ckv157 announced once again that they had found a security vulnerability in NASA’s systems and reported it to the organization. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the expert hacker has discovered and reported a flaw in NASA’s systems. However, the ‘gift’ NASA sent as a token of thanks became a topic of mockery on social media.
NASA Sent the Hacker a Plaque!
White-hat hacker 7h3h4ckv157 shared a photo of the thank-you letter NASA sent them on their X (Twitter) account. The letter, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and on behalf of NASA’s Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP), thanked the independent security researcher for their efforts and diligence in responsibly reporting the vulnerability they identified.
The letter also emphasized that the ability to detect and report vulnerabilities is a valuable skill in the information security industry. It acknowledged that 7h3h4ckv157’s report helped raise awareness about unknown security issues and contributed to preserving the integrity and availability of NASA’s data.
Social media users labeled NASA’s gesture as ‘stingy,’ criticizing the organization for only sending a thank-you letter for such an important contribution. Some pointed out that, despite NASA’s large budget, the lack of even a symbolic reward for the security expert was surprising.
It’s known that 7h3h4ckv157 has previously found and reported security vulnerabilities in NASA’s systems. This situation also raises questions about how tight NASA’s security protocols really are.
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