Full Disclosure: it's all about timing

[full-disclosure () lists netsys com (Timothy J.Miller)]

On Wednesday, July 31, 2002, at 04:26 PM, Florin Andrei wrote:

>                                                       But every security problem
> (especially when it's accompanied by an exploit) should be reported
> first to the vendor! There should be no exception from this rule. The
> person doing the reporting should give the vendor a reasonable period of
> time to fix it; say, a few weeks or so.
I can't agree.  In my day job I maintain systems for a defense agency, 
and I *have* to know what my exposures are *at all times*, whether a fix 
exists or not, since lives can be dependent (directly or indirectly) on 
the availability and integrity of my systems.

Without this information, I can't mitigate my risk.  Leaving *my* risk 
in the hands of a vendor-- who has a vested interest in *not* letting me 
know-- is wrong.

-- Cerebus