You realize the full term is "bug exploiting"? You're trying to create some separation that doesn't exist. The only separation is that a bug is something unintended which just exists, and (bug) exploiting is actively and knowingly making use of the bug.
Also, the actual bug isn't in the lock reset, but simply, from what you're saying, on the timer being zeroed for a currently ongoing run when the lock reset happens. That's something that should go in the Bug Tracker like Repost said, and people who are abusing this should be reported.
PS: Just for ****s and giggles I checked Wikipedia, and even their page on video game exploit says: "In video games, an exploit is the use of a bug or glitches, game system, rates, hit boxes, speed or level design etc. by a player to their advantage in a manner not intended by the game's designers." Yeah, they say all that about systems, rates, hit boxes, etc., but if they are being used in an unintended way, it being possible to be used like that is still considered a bug.