lkml.org 
[lkml]   [2003]   [Jan]   [17]   [last100]   RSS Feed
Views: [more markup]  [less markup]  [headers]  [forward] 
 
Messages in this thread
/
SubjectRe: [DUMB]: Is kernel oops always a kernel bug ???
From Valdis.Kletnieks@vt ...
DateFri, 17 Jan 2003 01:18:35 -0500
On Fri, 17 Jan 2003 11:33:46 +0530, Linux Geek <bourne@ToughGuy.net>  said:
> If a kernel oops,  then is the problem always with the kernel ? Can't a 
> user proggie ( running as root ) do something insane and make the
> kernel oops ?

At least in theory, there should be *nothing* that can happen in user space
that will kill the kernel.  However, in practice, if a program is running
as root, it can definitely blortch things up.  This is mostly due to the
assumption that the root user has a clue, and that if they are (for instance)
opening /proc/kcore for writing, that they know what they're doing.  Similarly,
if a program opens /dev/hda1 for writing and scribbles over the superblock,
it may be a bit difficult to mount the filesystem.

So in general, yes, the root user can screw things up in the kernel.  On the
other hand, the root user can also 'rm -rf /' which doesn't require any
extraordinary kernel assistance, just the unlink() system call.  The only
solution here is to not give root to clueless bozos, and to take regular
backups. ;)
-- 
				Valdis Kletnieks
				Computer Systems Senior Engineer
				Virginia Tech

[unhandled content-type:application/pgp-signature]
\
 
 \ /
  Last update: 2005-03-22 12:32    [from the cache]
©2003-2008