diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/security-bugs.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/security-bugs.rst index 30491d91e93d..164bf71149fd 100644 --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/security-bugs.rst +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/security-bugs.rst @@ -26,23 +26,34 @@ information is helpful. Any exploit code is very helpful and will not be released without consent from the reporter unless it has already been made public. -Disclosure ----------- +Disclosure and embargoed information +------------------------------------ -The goal of the Linux kernel security team is to work with the bug -submitter to understand and fix the bug. We prefer to publish the fix as -soon as possible, but try to avoid public discussion of the bug itself -and leave that to others. +The security list is not a disclosure channel. For that, see Coordination +below. -Publishing the fix may be delayed when the bug or the fix is not yet -fully understood, the solution is not well-tested or for vendor -coordination. However, we expect these delays to be short, measurable in -days, not weeks or months. A release date is negotiated by the security -team working with the bug submitter as well as vendors. However, the -kernel security team holds the final say when setting a timeframe. The -timeframe varies from immediate (esp. if it's already publicly known bug) -to a few weeks. As a basic default policy, we expect report date to -release date to be on the order of 7 days. +Once a robust fix has been developed, our preference is to release the +fix in a timely fashion, treating it no differently than any of the other +thousands of changes and fixes the Linux kernel project releases every +month. + +However, at the request of the reporter, we will postpone releasing the +fix for up to 5 business days after the date of the report or after the +embargo has lifted; whichever comes first. The only exception to that +rule is if the bug is publicly known, in which case the preference is to +release the fix as soon as it's available. + +Whilst embargoed information may be shared with trusted individuals in +order to develop a fix, such information will not be published alongside +the fix or on any other disclosure channel without the permission of the +reporter. This includes but is not limited to the original bug report +and followup discussions (if any), exploits, CVE information or the +identity of the reporter. + +In other words our only interest is in getting bugs fixed. All other +information submitted to the security list and any followup discussions +of the report are treated confidentially even after the embargo has been +lifted, in perpetuity. Coordination ------------ @@ -68,7 +79,7 @@ may delay the bug handling. If a reporter wishes to have a CVE identifier assigned ahead of public disclosure, they will need to contact the private linux-distros list, described above. When such a CVE identifier is known before a patch is provided, it is desirable to mention it in the commit -message, though. +message if the reporter agrees. Non-disclosure agreements -------------------------