Introduction

This cheatsheet is to help people report vulnerabilities they can find either randomly, either through security research.

Disclaimer: No warranty - consult lawyer!

Prepare

  • define the scope
  • check if company has
    • identified security contacts: typical security@, abuse@, noc@ (RFC2142) or public CERT.
    • a responsible disclosure web page
    • bug bounty program. Example platforms : hackerone, bugcrowd, synack, bountyfactory.io...
    • a security.txt file on one of their websites (website, github repo, ietf draft)

Identify

Remember if they are rules defined by a bounty program or laws applied to your country. Document every step allowing to identify vulnerability, and if acceptable in your context, how to exploit it.

Report

It is recommended to use responsible disclosure when dealing with vulnerabilities

  • alert the company, multiple times and persons if needed.
  • request CVE Identification(RedHat CVE HowTo).
  • alert trusted 3rd party like National CERT, Data Privacy regulator if apply. Eventually, some security researchers like Brian Krebs or Troy Hunt (non-limitative. check your network first) can be intermediate too or provide support.
  • full/public disclosure

Depending on your context, each step may have more or less important time interval. Be flexible. Encourage trust, transparency and openness. Timeline of full disclosure is always a debate especially if there is active exploitation. Be considerate of the work necessary to do the fix while balancing with public interest.

Examples of public disclosure timeline and methodology

Report should include all details necessary to understand vulnerability and reproduce it (exploit code for example). If you identify limiting factors, include them (Non-Admin user, use of Ms EMET, security HTTP headers...).

If possible, use encryption like PGP/GPG to encrypt your report. You can use Encrypt.to to do from a web browser if recipient has a public key. If you want to remain anonymous, it's probably better to use pseudonym and one-time use email on Tor network or similar. Intermediate party might also be available like ZeroDisclo.com but ensure target destination is relevant (In 2017, mostly FR & EU).

Aftermath

If you think your lessons learned would be useful to community, share it (anonymously or not).

Legal

Most western countries have an exception for interoperability and security research but...

  • US: Sec. 103(f) of the DMCA (17 U.S.C. § 1201 (f)) but EULA and contract override law.
  • FR: Art. L. 335-3-1 - article 22 du DADVSI (2006), EU Directive 2009/24
  • CA: Ambiguous... Bill C-32 (2010), Bill C-11 (2011). Criminal code provisions (Bill C-46) for testing without permission: 430(1.1) (“Mischief in relation to computer data”), 342.1 (“Unauthorized use of a computer”), 342.2 (“Possession of device to obtain unauthorized use of computer system or to commit mischief”).

Definitions

  • Full disclosure

Full disclosure is the practice of publishing analysis of software vulnerabilities as early as possible, making the data accessible to everyone without restriction. The primary purpose of widely disseminating information about vulnerabilities is so that potential victims are as knowledgeable as those who attack them., Wikipedia)

  • Responsible disclosure

The issue is reported privately to the vendor and no one else until the vendor issues a patch., Microsoft, 2010

  • Coordinated disclosure

Coordinate public release happens, ideally, when the vendor releases the update. In the case of publicly verifiable active attacks, details may be released prior to an update being released, with emphasis on giving details to protection providers., Microsoft, 2010

  • Private disclosure

The vulnerability is released to a small group of people (not the vendor) or kept private.

Other definitions : CERT/CC

References

Countries specifics

Feel free to provide other countries!

Authors and Primary Editors

OWASP Montréal, v1.0, Jul 2017.

Thanks to OWASP Montréal chapter, @el_d33 and gosecure.ca team for review!

results matching ""

    No results matching ""