Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 20th Mar 2009 13:51 UTC, submitted by google_ninja
Fresh from winning the PWN2OWN contest yesterday, Charlie Miller has been interviewed by ZDNet. He talks about how Mac OS X is a very simple operating system to exploit due to the lack of any form of anti-exploit features. He also explains that the underlying operating system is much more important in creating a successful exploit than the bowser, why Chrome is so hard to hack, and many other things.
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Member since:2006-09-18
Right, he held on the bug until the price was worth it. I'll rephrase my comment: "I know a way into your machine and I will sell it for the right price". Still doesn't make it the right approach.
The right price would have been to hackers for 10K a year ago. He waited until a white hat would pay him.
RE[6]: Comment by sadyc
by soonerproud on Fri 20th Mar 2009 19:14
in reply to "RE[5]: Comment by sadyc"
Member since:2008-03-05
" He didn't sell it to the highest bidder.
Right, he held on the bug until the price was worth it.
I'll rephrase my comment:
"I know a way into your machine and I will sell it for the right price".
Still doesn't make it the right approach. "
No, he held onto the bug to display his talent and to promote the company he works for. The price was free advertisement with a MacBook and $5000 as icing on the cake.
What’s the ballpark value of that Safari bug?
It was probably more than that $5,000 prize I won. It’s much less than the IE 8 vulnerability (exploited separately by Nils) by about a factor of ten. I could get more than $5,000 for it but I like the idea of coming here and showcasing what I can do and get some headlines for the company I work for (Independent Security Evaluators).
It was probably more than that $5,000 prize I won. It’s much less than the IE 8 vulnerability (exploited separately by Nils) by about a factor of ten. I could get more than $5,000 for it but I like the idea of coming here and showcasing what I can do and get some headlines for the company I work for (Independent Security Evaluators).
To answer the assertion that there is something inherently wrong with wanting to charge for the exploit charlie says this:
Did you consider reporting the vulnerability to Apple?
I never give up free bugs. I have a new campaign. It’s called NO MORE FREE BUGS. Vulnerabilities have a market value so it makes no sense to work hard to find a bug, write an exploit and then give it away. Apple pays people to do the same job so we know there’s value to this work. No more free bugs.
I never give up free bugs. I have a new campaign. It’s called NO MORE FREE BUGS. Vulnerabilities have a market value so it makes no sense to work hard to find a bug, write an exploit and then give it away. Apple pays people to do the same job so we know there’s value to this work. No more free bugs.
Apple already pays people to do this. Charlie is right in saying Apple needs to pony up some cash for the exploit. He doesn't say the exploit is for sell to the highest bidder nor does he imply it whatsoever.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2941
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Member since:
2005-11-10
Right, he held on the bug until the price was worth it.
I'll rephrase my comment:
"I know a way into your machine and I will sell it for the right price".
Still doesn't make it the right approach.
Edited 2009-03-20 18:05 UTC