Microsoft Pays $2.3M as Zero Day Quest Exposes Dozens of Security Flaws

Microsoft has awarded $2.3 million to security researchers following its Zero Day Quest 2026 hacking contest, highlighting a major push to strengthen defenses across its cloud and AI ecosystem. The initiative drew nearly 700 vulnerability submissions, uncovering dozens of serious flaws.

Global researchers uncover high-impact flaws

The event took place at Microsoft’s Redmond campus and brought together participants from more than 20 countries. The group ranged from students to academic researchers and industry professionals, creating a diverse testing environment.

Microsoft confirmed that over 80 high-impact vulnerabilities were identified during the contest. These included issues affecting cloud infrastructure as well as emerging AI systems, both of which remain key targets for attackers.

Wide range of vulnerabilities discovered

Researchers reported several critical vulnerability types during the event. These included credential exposure risks, SSRF chains, and cross-tenant access issues that could potentially allow attackers to move between isolated environments.

The findings highlight ongoing concerns around complex cloud architectures, where misconfigurations or chained exploits can lead to broader system compromise.

Strict testing conditions ensured safety

All research activities took place in controlled and authorized environments. Participants had no access to real customer data or external tenant systems, ensuring that testing remained safe and compliant.

Microsoft enforced strict Rules of Engagement throughout the contest, allowing researchers to probe systems without risking real-world impact.

Expanded rewards and transparency efforts

Microsoft also announced an expansion of its vulnerability rewards program. Researchers can now receive payouts not only for Microsoft-owned code, but also for flaws discovered in third-party components used within its services.

The company plans to disclose validated vulnerabilities through the official CVE program, reinforcing transparency and collaboration with the wider security community.

Security remains in focus amid ongoing threats

Initiatives like Zero Day Quest come as Microsoft continues to address a growing number of security challenges. The company recently patched 167 vulnerabilities in its latest Patch Tuesday update, including multiple critical and zero-day flaws.

At the same time, external pressure continues to mount. Security agencies have warned about new privilege escalation risks in Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, while researchers have raised concerns about weaknesses in the Windows Recall feature. Microsoft has so far declined to classify those Recall findings as critical issues.

The latest contest results show that proactive engagement with the security community remains a key strategy as threats evolve across cloud, AI, and enterprise platforms.

Via Bleeping Computer