VIS-Cipher Advanced: Security Policy for Demonstration Project

Important: VIS-Cipher Advanced is a demonstration for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for production use. It has not undergone professional security auditing and should NOT be used to protect real-world sensitive data. This security policy reflects the nature of this project as a demonstration and not as a production-ready security product.

As VIS-Cipher Advanced is a demonstration project, there are no formally "supported versions" in the traditional sense of ongoing security updates and patches for different releases.

Explanation:

• Limited Support: "Supported" in this context means that the current version of VIS-Cipher Advanced available in this repository is provided "as-is" as a demonstration. While I appreciate feedback and vulnerability reports (see below), there is no guarantee of security updates or fixes in the way you would expect for a production security library or application.
• No Backwards Compatibility/Older Versions: There are no officially supported older versions. I do not maintain backwards compatibility for security fixes across different versions of this demonstration project.
• Focus on Educational Value: The primary goal of this project is educational. Any efforts to address reported vulnerabilities will be focused on improving the demonstration and learning experience, not on providing production-grade security.

For Production Use:

Again, I strongly reiterate: DO NOT use VIS-Cipher Advanced in any production environment or to protect real-world sensitive data. For production security, you MUST use well-established, vetted, and actively maintained cryptographic libraries and protocols.

I welcome and appreciate responsible disclosure of potential vulnerabilities in VIS-Cipher Advanced. While this is a demonstration project, reporting vulnerabilities helps improve the educational value and understanding of secure coding practices.

How to Report:

Please report any potential security vulnerabilities via GitHub Issues in this repository.

Steps to Report:

1. Create a new Issue: Go to the "Issues" tab in this GitHub repository and click "New issue."
2. Choose a descriptive title: Use a clear and informative title that summarizes the vulnerability (e.g., "Potential Timing Attack Vulnerability in Key Derivation").
3. Provide detailed information: In the issue description, please include:
   • Description of the vulnerability: Explain the potential security issue in detail.
   • Steps to reproduce: If possible, provide clear steps to reproduce the vulnerability. Code snippets or examples are highly helpful.
   • Potential impact: Describe the potential security impact of the vulnerability.
   • Affected code: Point to the specific code sections that are relevant to the vulnerability.
   • Your contact information (optional): If you wish to be contacted for further clarification, please provide your email address or GitHub username.

What to Expect:

• Acknowledgement: I will acknowledge receipt of your vulnerability report as soon as possible, typically within a few business days.
• Evaluation: I will evaluate the reported vulnerability to understand its nature and potential impact within the context of this demonstration project.
• Response Time: Due to the nature of this project as a demonstration and not a production system, I cannot provide a guaranteed timeline for response or fixes. My ability to address vulnerabilities will depend on available time and resources.
• Fixes (Best Effort): If a reported vulnerability is confirmed and deemed relevant to the educational goals of the project, I will make a best-effort attempt to address it in the demonstration code. However, fixes are not guaranteed.
• Public Disclosure: I prefer responsible coordinated disclosure. Please allow me reasonable time to evaluate and potentially address the vulnerability before public disclosure. I will discuss disclosure timelines with you after evaluating the report.
• No Monetary Rewards/Bug Bounties: As this is an educational demonstration project, I do not offer monetary rewards or bug bounties for vulnerability reports. I appreciate your contribution to improving the project's educational value.

Important Disclaimer:

By reporting a vulnerability, you understand and agree that VIS-Cipher Advanced is a demonstration project and not intended for production use. You acknowledge that any fixes provided are for educational purposes and do not constitute a guarantee of security for real-world applications.

Thank you for helping me improve VIS-Cipher Advanced as an educational resource!