Slashdot Mirror
Researcher Resigns Over New Cisco Router Flaw
An anonymous reader writes "Michael Lynn, formerly a researcher for Internet Security Systems resigned today rather than conceal his research into serious new flaws in Cisco routers, according to stories at Washingtonpost.com and CRN.
Interestingly, Cisco says the the problem is not a security vulnerability, although it chided Lynn for not going through proper vulnerability disclosure channels. Both stories note that Lynn is in danger of being sued by Cisco for revealing the information, details of which were pulled at the last minute from the materials handed out to Black Hat attendees." Update: 07/28 12:23 GMT by Z : SimilarityEngine writes "Cisco and ISS are filing a law suit against Michael Lynn and the management of the Black Hat Conference, following Lynn's presentation discussing a vulnerability in IOS."
but couldn't he at least have waited a few weeks to see how Cisco responds
Cisco seems to suffer from the same stupidity that most other large corporations do. They'll take a report, and sit on it for weeks, and sometimes months. Full Disclosure is usually the only way to get them to actually fix the issues in a timely manner.
In TFA, Cisco themselves said that he did not disclose any new vulnerabilies... so... what is the BFD?
Later, Cisco said it was all bent out of shape because they follow an "industry established disclosure process" and because Mr. Lynn "illegally" obtained the information...
Hey, Cisco, I have news for you. "Industry established disclosure process" != "Law"
Get over yourselves, admit that you're a bunch of fuckups that can't make secure networking equipment, and move along..
Companies like Cisco, Microsoft, etc. are generally made to look really bad when security flaws are exposed in their products.
The way they prefer it to go is that someone contacts them secretly, tells them the hole, and they can have it fixed all up by the time the vulnerability is published.
Then they get to look super-secure, since they were "too quick" for the bad hackers.
Some people, however, think that the only thing that'll get companies to take security more seriously is if they are actually made to look really bad, and maybe some of their products actually get hacked.
Unfortunately, when you're dealing with some giant businesses cost/benefit analysis, the only thing that can get them to take notice is a little carnage.
Is it worth it? I dunno, but it's certainly arguable.
I can't help but wonder, if this in the end really about gaining some publicity and in the end making more money.
Cisco is actually very upfront and cooperative when you report things which might be a vulnerability (I have personally dealt with PSIRT). The people who work there are actually so polite, it's kind of annoying (I have been thanked about 2 dozen times for reporting a very minor finding).
They do however expect you to play by the rules. Even if you are the person who found a bug, you are expected to let Engineers fix the bug before you release the information.
Also, there is policy in place, which makes sure major ISPs (Carriers) are informed first, so they can do upgrades before the PSIRT release is made public.
All that makes sense, since we are really talking about essential infrastructure.
Of course, all that kind of takes away the coolness of reporting a vulnerability and you will get a lot less publicity (cisco credits you) than what you would get, if you just post to some mailing list.
If he really released information he researched at ISS without consent, well, he should face consequences. Because I obviously was to gain from it (getting a new job, making a name or himself). Hopefully he wasn't just doing it for the publicity.
"Mommy, mommy! The garbage man is here!" "Well, tell him we don't want any!" -- Groucho Marx
Okay, this sounds pretty simple. Michael Lynn finds a (new) explit of Cisco routers and its a doosey. He informs ISS, who informs Cisco. Cisco management can't believe that such a serious flaw exists, since they've know about the possibility, but its been written off as minor in the past. Lynn presses his case to his supers, and they get down and dirty with Cicso. Cisco craps its pants because the flaw is everywhere, and it's going to cost real money to fix, and could hurt company Q results.
Cisco agrees with ISS taht they're going to do something about it, but it's going to take a bunch of resesarch and time. They'll keep it quiet for a few years while they put th fix in the pipline for new models. They'll work on a firmware fix, but its back burner as long as the explot isn't public. If ISS keeps its mouth shut, they can still do work for Cisco.
Lynn hears that his research is to be hush-hush, and that Cisco will work on it, but it could be a while before there's an actual patch. No arguing that the flaw is critical will make ISS management, with a financial gun to its head, budge.
Lynn flips ISS the bird, 'cause he thinks its a major security issue, and presents his research anyway. Cisco and ISS claim they're working ont it, and that its and old flaw, and nothing really serious. And they're quietly looking for a man to fir Lynn with concrete shoes for blowing their cover.
Seems pretty clear to me.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
I'm always amazed that companies think they have, or do have the right to sue someone for pointing out a flaw in their product. "Only in the software industry". If Chevy sells a new pickup that has seatbelts that don't work properly in a crash, and I find out, damn straight i'm telling the whole world. And if chevy tried to sue me for it they'd get laughed out of court. There should be absolutely no legal grounds for a company to sue someone over pointing out the flaws in their product. It's their own damn fault for not making a secure product in the first place.