Publicly Disclosing A Vulnerability

["Josh Perrymon" <perrymonj () networkarmor com>]

Ok,

 

I believe in working with the Vendor to inform then of vulnerable
software upon finding it in the wild so on...

But I have a question...

 

While performing a pen-test for a large company I found a directory
transversal vulnerability in a search program-

I used Achilles and inserted the DT attack in a hidden field and posted
it to the web server. This returned the win.ini..

Cool..

 

Well... I called the company up and got the lead engineer on the phone..
He seemed a little pissed.

He told me that they found the hole internally a couple months ago but
they don't want it public and they said I should not tell anyone about
it because they don't want their customers at risk.

 

So I ask the list- what is more beneficial to the customer? Not publicly
disclosing the risk and hoping that they follow the suggestions of the
vendor to upgrade?  Or waiting 30 days and send it out?

 

 

 

Joshua Perrymon

Sr. Security Consultant

Network Armor

A Division of Integrated Computer Solutions

perrymonj( at <mailto:perrymonj () networkarmor com>  )networkarmor.com

Cell. 850.345.9186

Office: 850.205.7501 x1104

 

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