alt Hacker News1) It is semantics to dispute this and certainly fits "downplaying."
It's not semantics. A true bitlocker backdoor would let you in even if it's passworded.
And is it really downplaying? The ability to shove in a USB stick and get control over the drive is mostly equivalent to a bitlocker exploit when it comes to laptop theft. But for quick access to a desktop without bitlocker, and without the ability to open it and pull the drive, it's actually more damaging than a bitlocker exploit.
2) I am not personally being dismissive of the claim. I'm saying it's fine to hold off, and even if we assume the PIN version is real we shouldn't assume we know exactly what it looks like.
3) Saying it's not a backdoor distracts from the point? Can't agree with you there at all. The comments saying it's definitely a backdoor are the ones I point to as distracted.
4) Maybe it's downplaying but it's true. Replying on TPM-based bitlocker is a lot more dangerous than having a secure password. It's chosen because it's easier to enforce.
If the device doesn't have BitLocker, this exploit is pointless because you can already boot any OS USB and immediately have full access to the unencrypted disk.
This exploit is only ever relevant with BitLocker enabled (as a method to "bypass" BitLocker's security premise [categorically classifying this as, dare I say, a "BitLocker bypass"]).
To avoid typing 1)2)3)4) a bunch of more times, I'll just say 2/3/4) all still fit the definition of downplaying the situation.