Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 Offers $1M for WhatsApp Vulns, Attracts Top Cyber Talent
Cork is set to host a major cybersecurity event from October 21 to 24, organised by the Zero Day Initiative. The event, Pwn2Own Ireland 2025, promises substantial rewards for successful exploits in various categories, including a whopping $1 million bounty for WhatsApp vulnerabilities.
The event features eight categories, each with its own prize pool. In the SOHO Smashup category, participants can earn $100,000 for compromising two targets within 30 minutes, despite fewer but more complex devices being featured.
Meta has set aside a significant $1 million bounty for WhatsApp exploits at this year's event. A zero-click account takeover exploit could fetch up to $150,000, while a one-click remote code execution exploit can earn up to $500,000. The Wearables Category offers up to $150,000 for zero-click remote code execution on Ray-Ban smart glasses and Quest headsets.
Last year's event, Pwn2Own Ireland 2024, saw participants earning a total of $1,066,625 for discovering and demonstrating over 70 new vulnerabilities.
With such high rewards at stake, this year's Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 is expected to attract top cybersecurity talent. The event not only offers lucrative prizes but also contributes to improving the security of widely used platforms and devices.
