OSEC

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RE: [Dailydave] RE: Microsoft silently fixes security vulnerabilities

From: Steve Manzuik (smanzuikeeye.com)
Date: Fri Apr 21 2006 - 14:07:44 CDT


> What if the vendor disclosed in every patch the maximum
> severity level of any vulnerabilities fixed in the patch
> without disclosing specifics? Would this be a good
> middle-ground solution?

They already do this. At least MS does this. We have seen patches that are rated critical but also fix a number of medium and low issues. The point here though, is that most experienced IT Admins do not trust the vendor rating. I am not saying it is right, but it is the way things are.

> issue in Foo Corp's MechaFoo.

MechaFoo. The first product named that I will buy. :P

> Is this a sufficient solution to simultaneously provide the
> poor IT guy with information for risk assessment purposes
> while not providing excessive information that might hasten
> exploitation?

Based on my experience from being an IT guy, a consultant, and now working for a software vendor. No, this isn't enough information. As HD said in his other email -- the silently fixed vulnerabilities are the ones pen-testers love and are equally loved by attackers.