*BSD News Article 89246


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From: tqbf@char-star.rdist.org (Thomas H. Ptacek)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.security.unix
Subject: Re: Careless integration of others' code (WAS Re: Why no addusr?)
Date: 16 Feb 1997 08:24:54 GMT
Organization: EnterAct, L.L.C.
Lines: 29
Message-ID: <slrn5gdh3g.cne.tqbf@char-star.rdist.org>
References: <none-ya023480001912962244220001@news.infi.net> <DERAADT.97Feb14205132@zeus.pacifier.com> <5e52dj$c8p@news.bayarea.net> <DERAADT.97Feb15155022@zeus.pacifier.com> <5e5vkb$d89@panix2.panix.com>
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15 Feb 1997 22:40:59 -0500 tls@panix.com:
>You hold OpenBSD up as a paragon of security, and yet integrate critical

It seems to me that by saying "You claim OpenBSD is secure, and yet...",
you're questioning fact. OpenBSD's claim to enhanced security relative to
other 4.4BSD operating system projects is easily verifiable. OpenBSD and
NetBSD share a well understood code base. Compare the number of publically
disclosed 4.4BSD-specific vulnerabilities that the BSDs have been
vulnerable to since the OpenBSD project started. 

>I hate to think just what might be lurking in all those FSF tools that OpenBSD
>ships wholesale, unmodified.  Or any of the other myriad new code that OpenBSD
>has integrated from any number of external sources?

Can you actually document an instance of OpenBSD introducing a security
hole as a result of merging in external changes or programs?

Can you actually document evidence that NetBSD or FreeBSD puts any more
effort into auditing FSF integrations than OpenBSD? 

...or do you simply intend to hurl accusations at the work of the OpenBSD
developers? 

-- 
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Thomas Ptacek at EnterAct, L.L.C., Chicago, IL [tqbf@enteract.com]
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exit(main(kfp->kargc, argv, environ));