D 2024

Using Real-world Bug Bounty Programs in Secure Coding Course: Experience Report

MALINKA, Kamil, Anton FIRC, Pavel LOUTOCKÝ, Jakub VOSTOUPAL, Andrej KRIŠTOFÍK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Using Real-world Bug Bounty Programs in Secure Coding Course: Experience Report

Authors

MALINKA, Kamil (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Anton FIRC (203 Czech Republic), Pavel LOUTOCKÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jakub VOSTOUPAL (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Andrej KRIŠTOFÍK (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution) and František KASL (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

New York, Proceedings of the 2024 Inno- vation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 1 (ITiCSE 2024), p. 227-233, 7 pp. 2024

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Stať ve sborníku

Field of Study

50501 Law

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Publication form

electronic version available online

References:

Organization unit

Faculty of Law

ISBN

979-8-4007-0600-4

ISSN

DOI

Keywords in English

University Education; Bug Bounty; Cybersecurity Specialization; Secure coding; Course Assignment; Experience Report

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 1/8/2024 16:22, Mgr. Andrej Krištofík

Abstract

V originále

To keep up with the growing number of cyber-attacks and associ- ated threats, there is an ever-increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals and new methods and technologies. Training new cybersecurity professionals is a challenging task due to the broad scope of the area. One particular field where there is a shortage of experts is Ethical Hacking. Due to its complexity, it often faces educational constraints. Recognizing these challenges, we propose a solution: integrating a real-world bug bounty programme into the cybersecurity curriculum. This innovative approach aims to fill the practical cybersecurity education gap and brings additional positive benefits. To evaluate our idea, we include the proposed solution to a se- cure coding course for IT-oriented faculty. We let students choose to participate in a bug bounty programme as an option for the semester assignment in a secure coding course. We then collected responses from the students to evaluate the outcomes (improved skills, reported vulnerabilities, a better relationship with security, etc.). Evaluation of the assignment showed that students enjoyed solving such real-world problems, could find real vulnerabilities, and that it helped raise their skills and cybersecurity awareness. Participation in real bug bounty programmes also positively af- fects the security level of the tested products. We also discuss the potential risks of this approach and how to mitigate them.