Apple has announced a major upgrade to its bug bounty program, raising top payouts, expanding categories, and tightening validation of exploit capabilities. The centerpiece is a higher ceiling for zero-click exploit chains, alongside a new Target Flags system that programmatically verifies researcher impact. The changes are designed to make responsible disclosure competitive with the gray market amid growing commercial spyware activity.
Apple bug bounty increases target high-impact chains and cloud abuse
Apple doubled the base maximum for zero-click chains that achieve remote compromise with no user interaction: the top reward now reaches $2 million (previously $1 million). With applicable bonuses—such as Lockdown Mode bypass and reporting during beta—Apple says combined awards could theoretically climb to $5 million for exceptional technical depth and impact.
Browser scenarios were also revised. A one-click attack via WebKit that achieves code execution and a sandbox escape can earn up to $300,000. If the chain escalates to running unsigned code with arbitrary privileges, the ceiling rises to $1 million, reflecting the risk of device-wide control.
Notably, payouts increased in areas without many public exploit precedents. A macOS Gatekeeper bypass can now pay up to $100,000, and unauthorized access to iCloud services can reach $1 million. Apple also lowered the barrier for newcomers: even low-impact issues can receive around $1,000, encouraging early, responsible reporting.
Target Flags: measurable exploit capabilities and faster triage
The newly introduced Target Flags model borrows from CTF-style validation. Researchers demonstrate specific capability milestones—such as controlled register state, arbitrary read/write, remote code execution, or sandbox escape—and a software-checked “flag” confirms the achievement. Apple notes that flags are validated programmatically, enabling quicker triage and clearer payout expectations. Target Flags are supported across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE): always-on iPhone memory hardening
To blunt spyware chains post-initial foothold, Apple announced Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), an always-on memory defense for iPhone. MIE complements ARM-based protections—such as pointer authentication and memory isolation—by constraining attacker control over memory primitives during exploitation. In plain terms, MIE raises the cost of exploit reliability and privilege escalation, creating a technical barrier that pairs with higher economic incentives for disclosure.
Why this matters in the commercial spyware market
Independent groups including Citizen Lab and Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) have documented targeted zero-click campaigns against iOS, often leveraging content parsing surfaces like messaging and media handling. Since the program’s public launch in 2020, Apple reports paying researchers more than $35 million, with some individual submissions reaching $500,000. By lifting tops to $2–5 million, Apple is making the official disclosure channel more attractive—and ethically safer—than exploit resale markets that prize stealth and exclusivity.
Actionable guidance for researchers and high-risk organizations
Researchers aiming for maximum impact and bonuses should focus on complete exploit chains, emphasize Lockdown Mode bypass potential, and target WebKit, inter-process isolation, memory validation, and Apple cloud services. Use Target Flags to deliver reproducible proofs, minimize environmental dependencies, and submit high-quality, step-by-step reports to accelerate validation and improve payout tiers.
Organizations and at-risk users should prioritize rapid patching, consider enabling Lockdown Mode for high-profile roles, and reduce browser and messenger attack surface via hardened configurations. On macOS, enforce and monitor Gatekeeper policies, and for managed fleets, apply MDM controls that restrict untrusted code, tighten entitlement use, and log anomalous behavior. Regular security reviews and a robust internal SDLC aligned with responsible disclosure practices further reduce systemic risk.
Apple’s expanded payouts, Target Flags validation, and MIE hardening collectively raise the bar for attackers while rewarding transparent research. Security teams should track Apple Security Research advisories, prioritize browser and sandbox boundary fixes, and integrate lessons from recent spyware campaigns to shorten exposure windows and strengthen resilience.
