Teen Researcher Who Flagged CBSE OSM Flaws Enters US DoJ Hall of Fame

Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old cybersecurity researcher who identified significant security vulnerabilities in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, has been inducted into the US Department of Justice's Hall of Fame.

The DoJ's Hall of Fame recognises researchers who uncover vulnerabilities in government systems and report them responsibly. Adhikary announced the development on X, stating that he had been added to the list.

The OSM portal is a digital platform used by CBSE-affiliated schools nationwide to upload and manage students' examination marks. It forms part of the board examination process, allowing schools to submit marks online for compilation and result preparation.

Adhikary's recognition follows his appointment in June this year as an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Threat Intelligence Engineer at C3iHub, the cybersecurity-focused technology innovation hub at IIT Kanpur.

Reflecting on his early interest in the field, Adhikary said his fascination with computers began at a young age and that he took up cybersecurity for fun around the age of 13. That curiosity, he added, gradually grew into a serious pursuit.

The induction highlights the role of ethical hacking and responsible vulnerability disclosure in identifying and addressing security weaknesses in digital systems.