Re:VirtualBox E1000 Guest-to-Host Escape
by jstanley on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @01:54AM
(#18397513)
That's starting to sound quite close to blackmail.
"I have remote code execution in your product, pay me XXX or I'll tell everyone".
I don't actually know if it is blackmail, but if it is, hiding behind a union isn't enough to make it not-blackmail.
Sequence looks something like: Security researcher submits exploit to the union. Union verifies it and decides it's worth $x. They inform software firm of the exploit and a deadline for payment. If payment is received before deadline, they get full, private disclosure. If not, then exploit is made public. Union takes a cut.
Security researchers don't really need a market maker. (It's not a real market: Actually converting exploits into money is typically antisocial and illegal.) They need someone to negotiate for them.