I got into YC by hacking it
Source: Obaid.wtf· obaid· July 24, 2026
SynaBot summary
A security researcher discovered a flaw in Y Combinator's founder scoring system, Paxel. The vulnerability allowed unauthorized manipulation of founder scores, potentially impacting the accelerator's selection process. The issue stemmed from an unvalidated HMAC signature.
Key takeaways
- Y Combinator's founder scoring system had a critical security vulnerability.
- The flaw enabled score manipulation and forging of data.
- Unvalidated HMAC signatures were the root cause.
- AI tool security is paramount for reliable evaluations.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the importance of robust security in AI-powered evaluation tools. For businesses and individuals relying on AI for assessments, understanding potential vulnerabilities is crucial to ensure fair and accurate outcomes.
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