A process for reporting security-sensitive issues

[Adam Gundry]

On 03/09/15 08:22, Michael Smith wrote:
> I feel there should be some process for reporting security-sensitive issues
> in GHC -- for example, #9562 and #10826 in Trac. Perhaps something like the
> SensitiveTicketsPlugin [3] could be used?
> 
> [1] https://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/9562
> [2] https://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/10826
> [3] https://trac-hacks.org/wiki/SensitiveTicketsPlugin

Thanks for raising this. While I see where you are coming from, I'm
going to argue against it, because I think it creates a false impression
of the security guarantees GHC provides. Such a process may give the
impression that there are people directly tasked with handling such
security bugs, which is not currently the case.

I think it is unreasonable for the security of a system to depend on GHC
having no type soundness bugs, particularly since GHC is actively used
for developing experimental type system features. #9562 has been open
for a year and we don't have a good solution.

Relatedly, I think the Safe Haskell documentation should prominently
warn about the existence of #9562 and the possibility of other type
soundness bugs, like it does for compilation safety issues.

What do others think?

Adam


-- 
Adam Gundry, Haskell Consultant
Well-Typed LLP, http://www.well-typed.com/