linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] docs: clarify security-bugs disclosure policy

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Date:   Wed, 7 Mar 2018 13:21:50 -0800
From:   Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>
To:     Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@...ux.intel.com>
Cc:     Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>,
        Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
        One Thousand Gnomes <gnomes@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk>,
        Andrea Arcangeli <aarcange@...hat.com>,
        Andrew Lutomirski <luto@...nel.org>,
        Kees Cook <keescook@...gle.com>,
        Tim Chen <tim.c.chen@...ux.intel.com>,
        Dan Williams <dan.j.williams@...el.com>,
        Al Viro <viro@...iv.linux.org.uk>,
        Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
        "open list:DOCUMENTATION" <linux-doc@...r.kernel.org>,
        Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>,
        Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@....com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] docs: clarify security-bugs disclosure policy

On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 3:31 PM, Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@...ux.intel.com> wrote:
>
> I think we need to soften the language a bit.  It might scare folks
> off, especially the:
>
>          We prefer to fully disclose the bug as soon as possible.
>
> which is not really the case.

Ack. What we do is definitely not full disclosure. In fact, we often
actively try to avoid disclosing details and leave that entirely to
others.

We disclose the *patches*, and the explanation of the patch, but not
necessarily anything else (ie no exploit code or even any exploit
discussion). We also don't explicitly disclose the discussion of the
patches or the report, although part of it mayt obviously become more
or less public for other reasons.

So we should probably avoid using a term that means something else to
a lot of people.

And for similar reasons, I don't think the fixed verbiage should use
"coordinated disclosure" either, like in your patch. That usually
means the kind of embargoes that the security list does not honor.

So I think it merits clarification, but maybe just specify the two
things relevant to our disclosure: the fact that the patch and
explanation for the patch gets made public (but not necessarily other
effects), and that the timeframe is very limited.

It's not full disclosure, it's not coordinated disclosure, and it's
not "no disclosure".

It's more like just "timely open fixes".

                 Linus