Navigating vulnerability markets and bug bounty programs: A public policy perspective>
Internet Policy Review – Aviram Zrahia
Encouraging secure development and penetration testing has benefits like integrating security from the start and allowing thorough testing.
However, it relies on limited internal resources.
Regulations could help but may overburden small companies.
Acquiring zero-days carries risks like keeping vulnerabilities secret for offensive use instead of patching.
It also depends on a limited supply traded in the grey market.
Greater transparency is needed given national security implications.
Supporting bug bounty programs seems most promising.
It crowdsources testing from ethical hackers, facilitates legal disclosure, and incentivizes white market transactions.
Platforms provide structure and trust.
Compliance issues could be addressed through regulations referencing best practices.
Overall, bug bounties produce the highest predicted impact across discovery and disclosure goals.
Platforms help match researchers to programs and reduce risks for buyers and sellers.
While no option is perfect, bounties appear most practical and aligned with vulnerability sharing objectives.
Continued research on incentives and optimizing programs could further strengthen this policy approach.
The analysis comprehensively evaluated each alternative using qualitative criteria grounded in relevant literature.
Considering trade-offs and tensions illuminated challenges with different stakeholder interests.
Subjectivity was acknowledged, but a rigorous process supported the policy recommendation.
Continued exploration of implementation details would strengthen the practical application of this work.
Here are some additional factors to consider when selecting a policy alternative:
Resources: The cost of implementing each policy alternative will vary.
For example, acquiring zero-day vulnerabilities can be very expensive.
Expertise: Implementing each policy alternative will require different levels of expertise.
For example, secure development and penetration tests will require a team of qualified security professionals.
Culture: The culture of the organization will also play a role in determining which policy alternative is most effective.
For example, a culture of innovation may be more conducive to bug bounty programs and platforms.
By considering all of these factors, organizations can select a policy alternative that is most likely to be successful in their specific circumstances.
It is also important to note that these policy alternatives are not mutually exclusive.
For example, an organization could implement both secure development and penetration tests and a bug bounty program.
This approach would provide multiple layers of protection and could help to identify and fix vulnerabilities more quickly.
I hope this comparative impact matrix and additional information is helpful.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Link: https://policyreview.info/articles/analysis/navigating-vulnerability-markets-and-bug-bounty-programs