Key Takeaways
- Transparency doesn’t mean publishing blueprints for attackers.
- Use responsible disclosure: action-first, details-later.
- Pair public changelogs with private security advisories for enterprises.
- Track every fix for compliance and audit readiness.
Introduction
Security fixes are some of your most critical product updates—but also the riskiest to communicate.
Share too little, and you lose customer trust.
Share too much, and you may hand a blueprint to bad actors before your users can patch.
So how should SaaS founders, product managers, and technical leads announce security changes in changelogs?
In this guide, you’ll learn security disclosure best practices, how to handle CVE communications, and exactly how to balance transparency with safety—even for enterprise audit requirements.
Why This Matters
- Pain Point: Customers expect transparency, but full details can actually increase risk if attackers see your changelog before everyone updates.
- Cost of getting it wrong: Public exploit, breached customer, loss of trust, audit failures, or even legal trouble.
- Quick win: You can meet security best practices, boost trust, and satisfy enterprise audits without overexposing sensitive info.
The Framework: How to Share Security Updates in Changelogs
1. Use Security-First Disclosure Principles
- Responsible Disclosure Timing:
Never give technical exploit details or proof-of-concept until after most users have patched. - Need-to-Know:
Give users what’s needed to take action (“Update now for critical security fix”) before you share deep specifics.
Example – Before:
“Patched SQL injection in /user/login endpoint by applying input sanitization with regex pattern X.”
Example – After:
“Fixed a critical vulnerability impacting login. Please update to v2.1.2 ASAP.”
2. CVE Communication: When and How
- CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) Numbers:
If your issue is relevant to public security databases, include the CVE but withhold deep technical details until an embargo period passes. - Reference, Don’t Reveal:
Example: “Resolved CVE-2025-1234. See our security advisory for guidance.” - Security Advisory Linkage:
For severe cases, link out to a private/expert-level advisory or require authentication to access full technical detail.
3. Balancing Transparency with Safety
- For SaaS SMB Users:
Short, clear, action-focused.
Example: “Resolved vulnerability. Please update your app/refresh your session.” - For Enterprise/Compliance:
Offer a private channel or security portal with more detail, behind authentication or NDA. - Audit-Ready Changelog:
Timestamp every fix, log affected components, but do not reveal exploit steps in public changelogs.
Key Principle:
“Public changelogs tell what was fixed and if action is required. Private advisories tell how it worked, once it’s safe.”
4. Enterprise Security Audit Requirements
Audit/compliance teams want proof your security process is mature!
You need to show:
- Timely documentation of all security issues (internal changelog/private logs)
- Disclosure of all major vulnerabilities to affected customers (with evidence)
- No accidental disclosures of sensitive methods in public records
How SimpleDirect Customers Do It:
- Split changelogs: Public for releases; private/security-only for CVE and technical depth.
- Track who was notified, when, and with what recommended action.
- Attach CVE numbers and link to advisories (when safe/allowed).
Practical: Sample Security Update Distribution
| Channel | What to Share | When |
|---|---|---|
| Public Changelog | “Security fix for login endpoint. Update now” | On update release |
| Private Advisory | Full technical details, CVE, patch notes | 1–2 weeks after majority have patched |
| Enterprise Slack | Summary & next steps, link to private notice | On day of release to security admins |
| Audit Report | All timestamps, user comms, NDA backup | Annually or on request |
How to Get Started
- Review your last 5 changelogs—did you overshare? Not enough?
- Set up a two-tier changelog (public vs. security/enterprise-only).
- For upcoming releases, use “what, not how” until safe to disclose more.
- For every CVE, plan: general advisory first; full details only after most customers patch.
What to avoid:
- Never reveal full exploit details in public changelogs on Day 1.
- Avoid vague “improvements” (users need to know when security is involved).
Security Changelog Checklist (For Every Release)
- Used “what, not how” language in public changelog
- Assigned CVE (if applicable) and cited advisory
- Sent private technical details to trusted stakeholders only
- Logged timestamps and notifications for audit trail
- Follow-up: disclosed full details once risk window closes
Need a multi-tier changelog system?
Try SimpleDirect for secure, audit-friendly product communications—without the compliance headache.
