Boyolali, Indonesia, en.SERU.co.id – A 12-year-old elementary school student from a remote village in Boyolali, Central Java, has stunned the internet after receiving official recognition from NASA for discovering a security vulnerability on the U.S. space agency’s website.
Ibrahim Al Albrar, a sixth-grader at SDN 3 Genengsari in Kemusu district, found a broken link hijacking flaw on NASA’s site around April 2026. He reported it through NASA’s official vulnerability disclosure program on Bugcrowd. On July 9, 2026, the agency sent him a formal Letter of Recognition for his sharp-eyed discovery.
“I started by using Google’s search tools and checking external links one by one. I was inspired by stories of people who found security gaps like this,” Ibrahim said.
What makes his achievement even more remarkable is that Ibrahim is entirely self-taught. His school doesn’t offer programming or coding classes. He learned everything from YouTube tutorials, beginning with a simple interest in games before moving into software development and eventually cybersecurity, guided by online friends.
His father, Aminuddin Salas, a computer and network teacher at a local vocational high school, said he only provided encouragement and basic tools. He bought Ibrahim a second-hand computer and later a laptop so his son could explore more freely.
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“We just motivated him to keep learning and never give up. He studied on his own through YouTube and AI tools. This vulnerability was important, if left unaddressed, it could have been exploited for scams impersonating NASA,” Aminuddin said.
Living in a relatively isolated area near Waduk Kedung Ombo, Ibrahim has never joined any competitions due to limited access and opportunities. Yet his NASA recognition proves that determination and curiosity can overcome barriers of age and location.
The young boy now dreams of becoming a professional cybersecurity expert. His story is already inspiring others, showing that with internet access and strong will, anyone can pursue knowledge and make a real impact, no matter where they come from. (wbn/mzm)
Indonesian Version:
Bocah SD Boyolali Temukan Celah Keamanan NASA, Dapat Penghargaan Letter of Recognition
