Re: [stable] Linux 2.6.25.10

From: Linus Torvalds
Date: Tue Jul 15 2008 - 12:08:32 EST




On Tue, 15 Jul 2008, pageexec@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> by 'cover up' i meant that even when you know better, you quite
> consciously do *not* report the security impact of said bugs

Yes. Because the only place I consider appropriate is the kernel
changelogs, and since those get published with the sources, there is no
way I can convince myself that it's a good idea to say "Hey script
kiddies, try this" unless it's already very public indeed.

> see my comment about reality above. heck, even linux vendors do track
> and announce them, it's part of the support they provide to paying
> customers (and even non-paying users).

Umm. And they mostly do a crap job at it, only focusing on a small
percentage (the ones that were considered to be "big issues"), and because
they do the reporting they also feel they have to have embargoes in place.

That's why I don't do reporting - it almost inevitably leads to embargoes.

So as far as I'm concerned, "disclosing" is the fixing of the bug. It's
the "look at the source" approach.

Linus
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