Log4j Proved Public Disclosure Still Helps Attackers

On December 9, 2021, a tweet exposed an exploit for the Log4j vulnerability, also known as Log4Shell, sending companies into a frenzy to create patches. This public disclosure of proof-of-concept exploits often benefits threat actors more than companies, forcing them to mitigate the threat without a vendor patch. The disclosure of the Log4j vulnerability was already underway, with a timeline running from November 25 to December 8. Public attitudes towards releasing proof-of-concept exploits have shifted towards criticism, suggesting a need for more robust disclosure processes.