NASA praised a hacker for identifying and reporting significant security vulnerabilities. The hacker disclosed the loopholes and received an appreciation letter from NASA, recognizing his role in enhancing the agency’s information security. In a social media post, the hacker shared that he had “hacked NASA, again” and discovered significant weaknesses in the space agency’s security system.
He reported the vulnerabilities to NASA to give them time to address the issues. After patching up the loopholes, NASA sent the hacker a letter, signed by Mark Witt, NASA’s Chief Information Officer. The agency acknowledged that the hacker’s actions contributed to safeguarding the integrity and availability of its information infrastructure.
NASA praised the hacker for identifying the vulnerability while following their Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP).
Nasa commends hacker’s security findings
The letter stated, “The ability to detect and report security vulnerabilities is a valuable skill in the information security industry.”
The space agency noted that they were able to protect the integrity and availability of NASA’s information because of the hacker’s awareness and skills.
They described the letter as a “token of our appreciation” for the hacker’s efforts in detecting vulnerabilities. The hacker’s post garnered over 1.8 million views and intrigued many users. Comments ranged from congratulations to humorous remarks about the significance of hacking NASA.
One user said, “Good on NASA for rewarding security researchers (rather than punishing with legal action), it’s really only in their best interests. Massive props and congratulations to you, good sir.”
Another user jokingly suggested, “Hack SpaceX next and see what happens?”
This incident highlights the importance of white-hat hackers and their role in strengthening cybersecurity for critical institutions like NASA. The collaboration between hackers and organizations can lead to safer and more secure technological advancements.
