Subject: Re: removing vulnerable packages vs. marking them BROKEN (was: CVS commit: doc)
To: None <wiz@netbsd.org>
From: Greg A. Woods <woods@weird.com>
List: tech-pkg
Date: 07/15/2002 12:32:41
[ On Sunday, July 14, 2002 at 23:28:44 (+0300), Thomas Klausner wrote: ]
> Subject: CVS commit: doc
>
>
> Module Name: doc
> Committed By: wiz
> Date: Sun Jul 14 20:28:43 UTC 2002
>
> Modified Files:
> doc: pkg-CHANGES
>
> Log Message:
> Removed gnut [vulnerable and no newer version available]
[[ that should be "net/gnut 0.4.20", right? :-) ]]
(and there is a newer version available, 0.4.28 -- but presumably it's
still vulnerable)
"removed" as in "cvs rm"? that seems like the wrong response in general
to a situation like this (though perhaps not for this specific case, now
that I read your full comments for the removed files).
In general I'd like to see something done more along the lines of what
the FreeBSD folks do when a package gets into a situation like this,
which is to mark the package as "BROKEN" (giving a reason in the string
value for this make macro). Support for "BROKEN" is still in NetBSD
pkgsrc.
I agree that keeping such things around can create clutter, but on the
other hand not all vulnerabilities are so black and white -- often the
risks are quite specific and won't necessarily affect everyone who might
use the package. Some of those users might even be able to find a fix
if they know where the vulnerability is documented.
(FYI I don't use gnut, and in fact have never used anything like it ;-)
--
Greg A. Woods
+1 416 218-0098; <g.a.woods@ieee.org>; <woods@robohack.ca>
Planix, Inc. <woods@planix.com>; VE3TCP; Secrets of the Weird <woods@weird.com>