Reporting 0days in Third-Party Components

TL;DR

Yes, you should generally report zero-day vulnerabilities (0days) found in third-party components used by your software. However, the process is more complex than reporting directly to your own project. Prioritize responsible disclosure, coordinate with all affected parties, and understand legal implications.

1. Understand the Scope

A zero-day vulnerability is a flaw unknown to the vendor, meaning there’s no patch available. Reporting 0days in third-party components requires careful consideration because multiple entities are involved:

• Your Project: You use the component and need to protect your users.
• The Component Vendor: They created the vulnerable code and need to fix it.
• Potentially other projects: Other software might also be using this component.

Determine if the vulnerability impacts only your project or others as well.

2. Responsible Disclosure Process

1. Initial Assessment: Verify the vulnerability is genuine and reproducible. Document everything thoroughly.
2. Contact the Component Vendor First: This is crucial. Most vendors have a security disclosure policy (often found on their website). Follow their guidelines precisely.

   Example: Check vendor's 'security@example.com' email or bug bounty program page

3. Provide Detailed Information: Include:
   • Component name and version
   • Detailed steps to reproduce the vulnerability
   • Proof-of-concept (PoC) code if possible, but be careful not to publicly disclose it prematurely.
   • Potential impact of the vulnerability
4. Coordinate Disclosure Timeline: Work with the vendor on a reasonable timeframe for them to fix the issue and release a patch. Agree on a coordinated disclosure date.

3. Legal Considerations

Reporting vulnerabilities can have legal implications, especially if you’re testing without explicit permission (though good-faith security research is often protected). Consider these points:

• Terms of Service: Review the component vendor’s terms of service and any licensing agreements.
• Bug Bounty Programs: If the vendor has a bug bounty program, follow its rules carefully to ensure eligibility for rewards.
• Legal Counsel: For high-impact vulnerabilities or complex situations, consult with legal counsel specializing in cyber security law.

4. Notifying Your Users

Once the vendor releases a patch, you must update your project to use it promptly.

1. Update Dependencies: Use your package manager (e.g., npm, pip, Maven) to upgrade to the patched version.

   Example (npm): npm update vulnerable-component

2. Communicate with Users: Inform your users about the vulnerability and the steps you’ve taken to address it. Be transparent and provide clear instructions for them to update their systems if necessary.
3. Monitor for Exploitation: After patching, monitor your systems for any signs of exploitation related to the vulnerability.

5. Public Disclosure (Carefully)

Public disclosure should happen after a patch is available and users have had time to update.

• Coordinate with Vendor: Ensure they are comfortable with the timing and details of your public disclosure.
• Provide Technical Details: Share enough information for others to understand the vulnerability and protect themselves, but avoid providing overly detailed PoC code that could be easily exploited.
• Responsible Reporting Platforms: Consider reporting through platforms like NVD (National Vulnerability Database) or CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).