Re:Timeline of the xz open source attack
by phicoh on Tuesday April 02, 2024 @12:18PM
(#39907499)
We should not think in absolutes, but in terms of tools. What risks come with using a certain tool.
In your Rust example, using C is like using a power tool without any safety measures. That doesn't mean that you are going to get hurt, but there is an expectation that a sizable fraction of users of such tools will get hurt.
Rust is then the same tool with safety measures. Of course it is still a power tool, you can get hurt. But the chances of that happening during normal operation is a lot lower.
I think xz is a good example where open source happened to work as intended. Somebody noticed something weird, alerted and other people could quickly identify what other software might have the same problem.
In your Rust example, using C is like using a power tool without any safety measures. That doesn't mean that you are going to get hurt, but there is an expectation that a sizable fraction of users of such tools will get hurt.
Rust is then the same tool with safety measures. Of course it is still a power tool, you can get hurt. But the chances of that happening during normal operation is a lot lower.
I think xz is a good example where open source happened to work as intended. Somebody noticed something weird, alerted and other people could quickly identify what other software might have the same problem.