About

ExpressVPN operates thousands of VPN servers and makes cross-platform VPN applications for all major desktop and mobile operating systems as well as routers and browser extensions.

ExpressVPN takes the security of its applications and services seriously. We've offered an in-house bug bounty program for years and paid out thousands of dollars to security researchers in that time. We value excellent engineering and are always looking for ways to improve the security of our products and services.

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Special Bonuses and Rewards

First Valid Submission Bonus

Considering joining our bug bounty program? As a first-time submitter, you’ll get a 25% bonus on your bounty for your first valid submission! This is a limited-time bonus, so make sure you submit before 2021-03-31.

TrustedServer — First Critical Finding Bonus

We have designed our ExpressVPN VPN servers to be secure and resilient. We even have an audited design called TrustedServer that dramatically improves the security posture of our servers. We’re confident in our work in this area and aim to ensure that our VPN servers meet our security expectations. As such, we’re inviting our researchers to focus testing on the following types of security issues within our VPN servers:

• unauthorized access to a VPN server,
• vulnerabilities in our VPN server that weaken our customer’s privacy.

To make this challenge more enticing, we are introducing the following bonus: the first person to submit a valid P1-P2 vulnerability, granting unauthorized access or exposing customer data, will receive an additional $10,000 USD bonus bounty. This limited-time bonus will be valid until 2021-03-31 or until the prize has been claimed.

Please ensure that your activities remain in-scope to the program. For example, admin panels for data center services we utilize are out of scope because they are not owned, hosted, and operated by ExpressVPN. If you are unsure if your testing is considered in-scope please reach out to support@bugcrowd.com to confirm first. A researcher found to be testing out of scope will be ineligible for a reward and we will reserve the right to immediately remove you from the program.

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Ratings/Rewards

For the initial prioritization/rating of findings, this program will use the Bugcrowd Vulnerability Rating Taxonomy. However, it is important to note that in some cases a vulnerability priority will be modified due to its likelihood or impact. In any instance where an issue is downgraded, a full, detailed explanation will be provided to the researcher - along with the opportunity to appeal, and make a case for a higher priority.

Target Information

Scope

As well as the assets listed above, also in scope are:

• internal systems, e.g.
  • employee email,
  • internal chat messages,
  • source code hosting,
• any vulnerability that compromises the privacy of our employees.

Public beta versions of our applications are also in scope. You can get them via our beta tester page.

Focus

We’re particularly interested in:

• vulnerabilities in our client applications, especially vulnerabilities that lead to privilege escalation,
• any kind of unauthorised access on our VPN servers,
• vulnerabilities that expose or put our customer data at risk to unauthorised persons,
• vulnerabilities that weaken, break or otherwise subvert our VPN communications in a way that expose the traffic of our users using our VPN products.

Additionally, any publicly accessible host that is owned or operated by ExpressVPN that is not in the above list may be considered in-scope on a case-by-case basis.

All ExpressVPN properties can be considered included. However, certain testing methodologies are excluded. Specifically, tests that degrade the quality of service, e.g. DoS or spam, will not be considered for inclusion.

If you believe you've identified a vulnerability on a system outside the scope, please reach out to support@bugcrowd.com before submitting.

Out of Scope

• Alpha versions of our applications
• Social engineering (e.g. phishing)
• Physical security of our offices, servers and employees
• Third-party software (except in cases where there is an exploitable vulnerability due to misconfiguration or patch level)
• Older versions of our applications

Access and Credentials

You may also create ExpressVPN accounts by availing of a 7-day free trial by signing up with our Android or iOS applications, or you can sign up for a regular account and make use of our 30-day money-back guarantee at https://www.expressvpn.com/order.

Introduction

Security is core to our values, and we value the input of hackers acting in good faith to help us maintain a high standard for the security and privacy for our users. This includes encouraging responsible vulnerability research and disclosure. This policy sets out our definition of good faith in the context of finding and reporting vulnerabilities, as well as what you can expect from us in return.

Expectations

When working with us according to this policy, you can expect us to:

• Extend Safe Harbor for your vulnerability research that is related to this policy;
• Work with you to understand and validate your report, including a timely initial response to the submission;
• Work to remediate discovered vulnerabilities in a timely manner; and
• Recognize your contribution to improving our security if you are the first to report a unique vulnerability, and your report triggers a code or configuration change.

Ground Rules

To encourage vulnerability research and to avoid any confusion between good-faith hacking and malicious attack, we ask that you:

• Play by the rules. This includes following this policy, as well as any other relevant agreements. If there is any inconsistency between this policy and any other relevant terms, the terms of this policy will prevail;
• Report any vulnerability you’ve discovered promptly;
• Avoid violating the privacy of others, disrupting our systems, destroying data, and/or harming user experience;
• Use only the Official Channels to discuss vulnerability information with us;
• Keep the details of any discovered vulnerabilities confidential until they are fixed, according to the Disclosure Policy;
• Perform testing only on in-scope systems, and respect systems and activities which are out-of-scope;
• If a vulnerability provides unintended access to data: Limit the amount of data you access to the minimum required for effectively demonstrating a Proof of Concept; and cease testing and submit a report immediately if you encounter any user data during testing, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Personal Healthcare Information (PHI), credit card data, or proprietary information;
• You should only interact with test accounts you own or with explicit permission from the account holder; and
• Do not engage in extortion.

Public Disclosure Guidelines

Before disclosing an issue publicly we require that you first request permission from us. ExpressVPN will process requests for public disclosure on a per report basis. Requests to publicly disclose an issue that has not yet been fixed for customers will be rejected. Always make sure you coordinate disclosure and have approval before disclosing any reported vulnerability.

Safe Harbor

We provide full safe harbor as per disclose.io's core-terms-GLOBAL.

Safe Harbor Agreement

When conducting vulnerability research according to this policy, we consider this research conducted under this policy to be:

• Authorized in view of any applicable anti-hacking laws, and we will not initiate or support legal action against you for accidental, good faith violations of this policy;
• Authorized in view of relevant anti-circumvention laws, and we will not bring a claim against you for circumvention of technology controls;
• Exempt from restrictions in our Acceptable Usage Policy that would interfere with conducting security research, and we waive those restrictions on a limited basis; and
• Lawful, helpful to the overall security of the Internet, and conducted in good faith.
• You are expected, as always, to comply with all applicable laws. If legal action is initiated by a third party against you and you have complied with this policy, we will take steps to make it known that your actions were conducted in compliance with this policy.

If at any time you have concerns or are uncertain whether your security research is consistent with this policy, please submit a report through one of our Official Channels before going any further.