Stats: Disclosing Vulnerabilities Responsibility? Researcher or Manufacturer

Author: John Honovich, Published on Mar 30, 2018

Getting prompt and appropriate information on vulnerabilities is important for integrators and end users to ensure that their systems are best protected and updated against exploits.

But who should disclose this? Cybersecurity researcher, Bashis, who has found vulnerabilities in numerous video surveillance products, recently asked this. We gathered 150+ integrator responses to see what they believe is the right answer.

A clear theme emerged: Integrators overwhelmingly believe manufacturers are responsible for announcing but almost equally are worried that manufacturers will avoid that responsibility.

Inside we examine the results and share detailed integrator feedback.

******* ****** *** *********** *********** ** *************** ** ********* *** integrators *** *** ***** ** ****** **** ***** ******* *** best ********* *** ******* ******* ********.

*** *** ****** ******** ****? ************* **********, ******, *** *** found *************** ** ******** ***** ************ ********, ******** ***** ****. We ******** ***+ ********** ********* ** *** **** **** ******* is *** ***** ******.

* ***** ***** *******: *********** ************** ******* ************* *** *********** for ********** *** ****** ******* *** ******* **** ************* **** avoid **** **************.

****** ** ******* *** ******* *** ***** ******** ********** ********.

[***************]

Exec ******* - *****

*********** **** ******* ***** ******* ************* **********, *********** ********** *** 'both' **********:

Hiding ** *************

**** *********** ********* ******** **** ************* *** ********* ** **** or ******* ************* ***********:

  • "** ***** ** **** ** *** ************* ***, *** **** would **** ***** **** *** ***** ** ******** ***** ********* liability."
  • "*** ****** **** ******* ** ** **** *** ************ ** they **** ****** ********* ***** ************ ***** **** *** **** it ** ***** ******."
  • "***** ************* *** ********, **** ** *** ******* **** ******* and *** **** ** **** ** *********."
  • "************* ****** ** ******* ** ***** ******** ******* ******** **** the ********** ***** ******. ******** ** *** **** *********."
  • "***** ** ******* **** *********** **** ** **********'* ********** **** I **** ** ***** ** * ******** ****** ** ** issue ****** * **** ** **** *** ************. **** **** you **** ** *** ************ **** *** ***** *** **** it ** *** ****** *** *** **** ** ********* ** the **** ********."
  • "************** ***** ** ** *** ************, *** ** ******* **** would **** ** ** ***** ***** ***** ****** ** ****** due ** *** ******** ****** **** *************** *** ** *** rest ** *** ******."
  • "* ******'* ***** *** ************* ** ** *********** ***** *************** discovered ***** ***** ********."
  • "************* ***'* ** ****** **** ******* *********** ******* **** ** check"

Researchers ********, ** ************ ** ***

******* ** *** ******* ** ************'* ******, *** **** ****** integrator ******** *** **** *** ********** ****** ******** ** ** the ************ ******* ** ** **:

  • "*** ************ ****** *** ************ ***** ** ******** **, **** the ********** *** ***** **!"
  • "** *** ************ *****'* ******* *** **** **** *** ***** then *** ********** ****** **** ******* **** ***** *** *****."
  • "************ ****** ** **, *** ** **** *** “********* **********” then ** ***** ** *** ********** ** **** *** ************ to *** ******."
  • "** *** ************ **** *** ******** ***** ** *** **** found, **** *** ********** ****** ***** * ************ ** ******** and ***** * ***** ****** ** **** **** *** ********."
  • "*** **** ** ** *** ************, *******, ** ** **** known **** **** ***'* ****** ******** *** ************* ***** **** have ******* **. ********* ** **** **** **** ** *** researcher ** ****** **** ****** ******* ** ** * ***** like **** *** ***** ** **** ** ****."
  • "*** ****** *** ***** ** ****** ******* *** ***** ** the ******* *** (********* ** *** ****** ** *** *************) give **** ** *********** **** ** ******* *** *******, **** if ** ****** *****, *** ****** *** ***** ** ****** make ******."
  • "** * ******* *****: *** ************. ******* *** *** * perfect *****, ** * ************* ** ********** *** *** ************ will *** ***** *** ** *** ** **** ** *-* months *** ********** *** ***** ** ****** ******** **."
  • "** ****** ** *** ************* ********** ** ****** ***** ******* and *** ******** ** * ****** ******. ** **** ************ is *** ****, **** * ******* **** *** ********** *** an ************** ** ******* ***** ******** *** **** **** ***** to *** ******."
  • "*** ************ *** * ************** ** ***** *********** ** ******** vunerabilities **** *** ****** ***** ****** ********. ** **** ** not ******* ** ** *****, ** ****** ** **** ******."
  • "*** *** ****** **** ** ******** *** *********** ** ******* the ***** *** ************ ** *** **** ****. ** *** repair *** *** ***** *****, *** ********** ****** ******** *** finding."
  • "********** ****** ****** *** ************ *** ** ************ **** *** make ** ***** ** ****** *** ***** *********** **** ********** need ** *** **** ** ****** **** *****."
  • "** *** ************ ******* **** *** **** *** ******* ****** and ******* ** ******* ** *****'* *****, **** ** ** perfectly ********** *** *** ********** ** ***** ***** **** ************** they **** ***** *** *****, ******** ********* *** *** *********, or *** ********* **** ***** ** *** *********** **** **** will *** ********* **** **************/****** *** ***** ******."

Both ********

**** *********** ********* **** '****' ** '***' ****** ******** *** disclose ** ******** *** *********** **** ***** ****** *** ***** out ** *********** *** *****:

  • "****** ****, ** **** *** ******** ****** **** ****** **** a ***** ******* *** ******** *** ******** ****** ******* *** loudly."
  • "****. ** ********* ***** **** ** **** *** ********** **** went *****"
  • "****. ****** ************* ** ********** ********* *** *************, *** *** manufacturer ******** *** ** ******* ***** *******."
  • "**** *** *********** *******. ** *** **** ** * *************** to * ******* ** ***** ** ** *** **** ******** of ********* *** *** *** ******* ** ** **** ***** immediately ** *****-******** ******. ********** ****** ****** *** ************ *** if ************ **** *** **** ** ***** ** ****** *** issue *********** **** ********** **** ** *** **** ** ****** area *****."
  • "****. *** *********** ****** ******* *** ************ **** * **** date ****** **** **** ** *** *** ************* *** **** announce *** ******** **** ** ****** **. **** *** ********** will *** ** ********, *** *********** **** ****."
  • "* ***** ****. *** ********** ****** ******* ** ** *** public *** *** ************ *** *** ****** ************** ** ********** their ******* *************** *** ******* ** *** *** ******."
  • "****. *** *** ********** ****** ** *******, ** *** ************'* inherent ******** ** ******** ***** **** ****** ** ********* (** non) **********."
  • "****. ** ***** ** * ****** ********. ************* ***'* ** relied **** ******* *********** ******* **** ** *****, *** ***** researches **** ********** * ************* ** **** * **** *** themselves."

Burden *** ***********

***** ** ** ************** *** *********** ***** **** *********** ** announce / ********, **** *********** *** *********** ** *************, *** marketing ** ****** *********. ****, **** *** ***** **** *** no ************, ** ** *** ** ****** *** **** ********* for **** ** ********** **** ***********.

Marketing ******** *** ************* *********

** *** ***** ****, ************* ********* *** ******** **** *********** can ** ***** ********* *** **** (*.*.,*****'* *** ** ******** ********** ************ *************,****** / ********* ************* *******). **** **** ********** ************* ** ********* ***** **** ********** issues *** **** **** ******* **** ****** ***** ******* ** get ***** ********* ******** ********. **** *** ** ****** ** both *** ************* *** **** *** *************** *** * ******* for *********** *** **** **** ** **** **** *** ************ of *** *********** ****** ** *** ** ********.

Challenging ********* *** ***

**********, *** ********* ** * *********** *** **** (*) **** manufacturers ********* ** ******* ** **** ********, (*) *********** ******** to ****** ****** ********* *** (*) ************* ********* ******* *** vulnerabilities ** ****** ***** *** *********.

Comments (11)

Thumbnail img 9647 nobackground

Jonathan Lewit

03/30/18 05:10pm

******* ************ ** *** ******** ******* ********* ********. **** ******* a **** *** *****, *****'* *********** **** ****** *** ********** it. **** ******* **** *** **** ** ********** ****** ****** remedies *** ** *** ** *****? ** **** ******** **** risk ** *********** ********** **** ********* *** **** **** *********?

****** **** *** *********** ****, * ** * *** ******** of *** ************ ******** ** *** ****** *** ****. *** critical **** ** ** ***** ***** **** ******** ******** *** customers. ***** ******** ** * ******* ***** **** ******** *** parties ** **** ********. ** ****** ****** *** ******** ********** of *** *****, *** ****** ****** **** ****** *******.

bashis mcw

In reply to Jonathan Lewit | 03/30/18 06:00pm

******** ******* ********* ********

***** **** * **** ****, *** **** ***** ** ******.

**** ******* * **** *** *****, *****'* *********** **** ****** was ********** **. **** ******* **** *** **** ** ********** before ****** ******** *** ** *** ** *****? ** **** creating **** **** ** *********** ********** **** ********* *** **** gone *********?

* ***'* ** ****, *** ** ***** ** ** *** already **** ********* ** *** *** ** *******.

**** * ** ****** (**** **** *** **********) *** *** things * **** ***** ***** *********** (*** ***** **), *** been ***** *** ***** ** **** ******/************* *** **** *********** itself, * ** *** ** ***** **** * ***** *'* the ***** *** *** **** +* ** **** +** ***** backdoor ***/** ***************.

* *** ** *** ***** *** *** ******** ********, *** that ** ********* *****.

Thumbnail img 9647 nobackground

Jonathan Lewit

In reply to bashis mcw | 03/30/18 06:29pm

* ***** ***** **** *** ******** *** ******** ******* *********. Indeed * **** **** ******* *********** ****** ************* ******** *********, where **** ** ***** ****** ** * *********.

*****, * ***** ** ***** **** ** ***** *** ***** try ** **** ******* ***** **** *********.

bashis mcw

In reply to Jonathan Lewit | 03/30/18 07:43pm

******** *** ******** ******* *********

* **** **** **** ********* ******** ** **** ** '******** through *********', *** ***** **** * ********* ********* ******** * ask ****** '**** *** *** ****** ** **** **** ** so ********* **** *** **** ** ******* *** ********?"

* ***'* *** *** ***** ** ******* ********, ****** ** is ****** **** ***** ** ********** ***** ******** ** ******** to ***** ****** **** *********** ***** *** ******.

*****, * ***** ** ***** **** ** ***** *** ***** try ** **** ******* ***** **** *********.

***** ** ******* ***** **** ***, *** ***** **** ** know **** **** '*****' *** '*************' *** ****?

Rodney Thayer

In reply to bashis mcw | 04/02/18 02:17pm

* ***** ********** ** * ********* ** ******* *********** *********** or ******** **** ** ********* **********.

********** ** ******* **** **** *** ****** ************* ******* *** can't **** *** ****** ****** *** **** ** *** *******.

* **** ***** * ****** ******** ****** ***** ** ******* access ** **** ******* ******* ********* *** ********.

*.*. ******* **** ******* ******* **** ** ******* ****** ***** relate ** **** ***..

Undisclosed #1

03/30/18 05:21pm

***** ****** ** * ****** *** *** *********** **** ******* or *** **** **** *** ********** ** ******* **** ***** to ** **** ** ********* **** * ******* *******. **** of ** ****** ***** ****** *** **** ** ** ****** adopt *** ****. ********* **** ** *** **** *** ********* in **** *** ************** ********* *** ****** **** *** ****** of *** ****** * ******** ** * ******* ********. ***** of *** ******** ******** ***, ** ******* ****** *** **** complex **** ********, ** *** ** **** *** ******** ******* does ** ** ** ********* ******** *** **** **.

** ******* ****** **, ** ******* ** *** ******* ** the ********** ** ******** **** *** *** ***** *** **** could ****** ** * *** ** *** *****, ******* ** caffeine *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/30/18 05:23pm

***** ****** ** * ****** *** *** *********** ****

* ***** ***** ****** ** *** *** ****** **** **? The ***** **** ********** *** *** *************, *** ** *** results ***** ****, *********** *** ********** ********* **** ** *** manufacturer ******* *** **********, **** **** *** **** ** *** vulnerability *** ***** ********* ** ***.

bashis mcw

In reply to John Honovich | 03/30/18 05:51pm

****, **** *** *** ******* ***** **** ** *** (*** Disclosure *********), ***** ****** ** ** ******* ******** **** "***** and/or ********* **** *****" **** ********** *************** *** ****** **** manufacture.

*'* ***% ******* ** **** *** ***, ** **** ****** you *** *** *********** *******.

*******, *** *** ******** * ******** **** **** ***, ** need ** ***** ** ** **** *** ** **** ***** naturally **** *** **** *** **.

bashis mcw

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/30/18 06:23pm

** ******* ****** **, ** ******* ** *** ******* ** the ********** ** ******** **** *** *** ***** *** **** could ****** ** * *** ** *** *****, ******* ** caffeine *****.

** **** ** ********* ** ** *******, ** ** **** help ***** *********** ** ****** *** **** *****, ***/*** *** have ******* ********** ** ***** ***** *******... ***.

***, ** ****** ** **** **** ********** **** ** **** devices *********** **** **** / *******, ** **** ************* *********, but * ********* ***** **** ********** ** *** **** ****** in *******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to bashis mcw | 04/02/18 01:35am

***** *** ****** ***. ********** *** **** ******. * ****** viewed **** *** ******* *** ********* *** ****, ******* *** internal *********** ********* ** *** ************** *** ******** **** ******* reaction ** ***** *** ********.

********** ******, ******* * **** ****** ****** ****, ****, **** reduced ** * ****** *******. **** ** ** ********* ******* to ******* *** ********* ******* ** *** ********.

*****, ***** *** ******. * **** *** *** *** ******** store ****** ******* **** **** ***** ***** ********** ** ******** with *****.

Michael Glasser

04/01/18 09:46am

*** ***** **********, **** ** **** *********** ** **** *****. No *********** *******.

"***/*** *****:**** ***** ********** *** *** ********** ** ********* *************** in ******** *** ****** ********. ** ******* *** ******* * vendor ****** *** ** ******* ****** ******* ** ************* **********. ISO/IEC *****:****"

********* - ******* ******

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

ISS VMS / Video Analytics Company Profile on Aug 16, 2018
Who is ISS? In the past few months, they had one of the craziest ISC West promo items in years. Then, they hired industry veteran and ex-Dahua...
RealNetworks Free School Facial Recognition on Aug 03, 2018
The company that created RealPlayer is moving beyond media delivery and into the security space with a new facial recognition platform they have...
Sony Gen 5 IP Cameras Critical Vulnerabilities on Jul 26, 2018
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities remain prevalent in video surveillance devices. Now Talos researchers have discovered multiple vulnerabilities in...
$25 Million US COPS SVPP School Security Funding Examined on Jul 24, 2018
The US Congress has authorized the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) to fund various security measures and training to mitigate active...
Fail: Dahua "Didn't Check The Lux Levels but It Was Dark" on Jul 20, 2018
Dahua UK has been promoting their camera quality on LinkedIn: I, and others, asked what the lux level of the scene was. (background: Lux Rating...
Improved Security And Surveillance Bidding - 2018 MasterFormat Divisions Examined) on Jul 19, 2018
Navigating the world of system specifications and bidding work can be complex and confusing, but a standard format exists, and understanding it...
Directory of Video Surveillance Startups on Jul 18, 2018
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see and research what companies are new or not yet broadly known entity...
July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jul 12, 2018
Registration is closed. This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals.  Lots of network training...
4 Most Difficult Camera Installs (Statistics) on Jul 12, 2018
Heavy housings, cumbersome brackets, heavy ladders required, and tricky field of view requirements will cause difficulties no matter the camera...
Drops Dahua, Fenner Becomes ISS CMO on Jul 09, 2018
Hired to improve Dahua's miserable marketing just last year, Janet Fenner has quit Dahua, joining VMS manufacturer ISS as Chief Marketing...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Backup Power For Maglocks Guide on Aug 20, 2018
When the main power fails, many believe maglocks must leave doors unlocked. However, battery backed up maglocks are allowed according to IBC /...
Axis Strong Q2 2018 Results on Aug 20, 2018
Axis reported strong Q2 2018 financial results and, for the first time in many years, Axis grew faster than Hikvision. However, the company's...
2Gig Gun Lock / Motion Detector Tested on Aug 17, 2018
Safer guns for families and an opportunity for security dealers to sell more services? That is the aim of Nortek's 2GIG 'Gun Motion Detector'...
Video Analytics Integration Guide on Aug 16, 2018
Video analytics is hot again (at least conceptually) but integrating video analytics with VMSes can be challenging. This is especially significant...
Hikvision IP Camera Critical Vulnerability 2018 Disclosed on Aug 16, 2018
The same day that the US government passed a prohibition on Hikvision cameras, Hikvision disclosed a critical vulnerability for its IP...
ISS VMS / Video Analytics Company Profile on Aug 16, 2018
Who is ISS? In the past few months, they had one of the craziest ISC West promo items in years. Then, they hired industry veteran and ex-Dahua...
Chinese OEM Avycon Gets ADI Push on Aug 15, 2018
Who is Avycon? An American company? A Korean company? A couple of guys relabelling Chinese products? The latter is the best explanation. While...
Backboxes for Video Surveillance Tutorial on Aug 15, 2018
Backboxes are a necessity in surveillance, whether for managing cable whips, recessing cameras, adding wireless radios. But it can be confusing to...
Genetec Stratocast / Comcast 'Motion Insights' Examined on Aug 15, 2018
Comcast recently announced "SmartOffice Motion Insights", an extension to their Genetec OEMed cloud video service (covered by IPVM here). This...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact