Partial Disclosure

Partial Disclosure is a cybersecurity and vulnerability management concept where only limited or incomplete information about a security flaw is publicly revealed, often to balance responsible disclosure with the need to protect systems while fixes are developed. It involves sharing enough details to alert users about potential risks without providing attackers with enough data to exploit the vulnerability immediately. This approach is commonly used in coordinated disclosure processes between security researchers and vendors.

Also known as: Limited Disclosure, Incomplete Disclosure, Coordinated Disclosure, Responsible Disclosure, Vulnerability Disclosure

Why learn Partial Disclosure?

Developers should understand Partial Disclosure to effectively manage security vulnerabilities in their software, ensuring they can respond to threats while minimizing exploitation risks during patch development. It is crucial in scenarios like zero-day vulnerabilities, where immediate full disclosure could lead to widespread attacks before mitigations are available. Learning this concept helps in adhering to ethical disclosure practices and collaborating with security teams during incident response.

Learning Resources

• docs: OWASP Vulnerability Disclosure Cheat Sheet
• docs: CERT Coordination Center Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
• tutorial: SANS Institute: Responsible Vulnerability Disclosure
• video: YouTube: Partial Disclosure in Cybersecurity Explained
• book: Book: 'The Art of Software Security Assessment' by Dowd et al.