Ledger CTO urges AI bug hunter responsibility, warns against ‘attention farming’

Hardware wallet security firms Ledger and Trezor are calling for researchers to follow responsible disclosure practices when reporting vulnerabilities, emphasizing that AI-driven bug discovery has increased the urgency of coordinated fixes. Both companies urge security researchers to privately report findings, agree on a remediation timeline before public disclosure, and publish details only after the agreed window closes or if vendors fail to meet their commitments.

By AI NewsroomPublished 21 minutes agoUpdated 21 minutes ago0 views

Ledger CTO urges AI bug hunter responsibility, warns against ‘attention farming’

Why It Matters

As artificial intelligence makes security vulnerabilities easier to identify and exploit, coordinated disclosure practices become critical to protecting users from attacks. The call comes amid recent high-profile incidents affecting hardware wallet users, including major thefts and data breaches that have underscored the importance of timely security patching.

Key Facts

Recommended disclosure timeline: 90 days as a common default, with flexibility based on severity
Ledger CTO statement: Charles Guillemet warned against publishing findings before fixes are available, calling it 'attention farming with someone else's risk'
Trezor security head position: Jan Komárek stated researchers should agree timelines with vendors before publication, with the option to publish anyway if fixes miss the window
Recent Coldcard incident: Thefts exceeded $100 million
Trezor data breach scope: Tens of thousands of customers affected through shipping provider breach, with additional 67K US customers impacted

The hardware wallet industry is pushing back against what it views as irresponsible security research practices. Ledger's chief technology officer Charles Guillemet raised concerns on social media this week about researchers publishing vulnerability details without waiting for vendors to deliver patches, suggesting this approach prioritizes publicity over user protection and leaves millions of wallet holders exposed to exploitation.

The underlying issue stems from recent advances in artificial intelligence, which have dramatically lowered the barrier to finding security flaws in digital systems. While this democratization of security research has potential benefits, it has also created a rush-to-publish dynamic where researchers may prioritize media attention over the careful coordination needed to protect users. Ledger and Trezor both advocate for a structured process: researchers should first contact vendors privately, establish a mutually agreed timeline for fixes, and only then make their findings public.

Trezor's head of security Jan Komárek emphasized that the 90-day window commonly cited in disclosure practices represents a genuine commitment from vendors to deploy patches, not merely a courtesy to researchers. He added that researchers retain the right to publish their findings regardless if vendors miss the agreed deadline, ensuring accountability on both sides. This framework, Komárek argued, balances the need for transparency with the practical realities of software development and security patching.

The appeal for responsible disclosure reflects mounting pressure on the hardware wallet sector following a series of major security incidents. Coldcard users lost over $100 million to theft recently, while Trezor suffered a significant data breach through its shipping provider that compromised tens of thousands of customer records. These incidents have intensified scrutiny of how wallet makers handle security, making coordination with researchers increasingly important to maintain user confidence.

The two companies are essentially asking the security research community to treat vulnerability disclosure as a shared responsibility rather than a race for attention. By waiting for patches before publication and only going public if vendors fail to meet commitments, researchers can help ensure that users have time to update before criminals weaponize newly discovered flaws.