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The History of a Security Hole

posted by martyb on Thursday September 06 2018, @03:28PM   Printer-friendly
from the Security-is-hard,-mmmmkay? dept.

DavePolaschek writes:

Back when Intel introduced the 80286, they didn't quite document everything right away. Errata were needed. Then the 80386 changed things. And then someone convinced them to add just one more feature at the last minute, which didn't get documented properly again.

The History of a Security Hole takes a look at the problems introduced by the I/O Permission Bitmap (IOPB) in the 80286, and how fallout from the implementation caused a security hole in all versions of OpenBSD up to 6.3 and NetBSD up to 4.4.

Conclusion? This programming thing is hard.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by martyb on Thursday September 06 2018, @11:07PM (2 children)

    by martyb (76) Subscriber Badge on Thursday September 06 2018, @11:07PM (#731558) Journal

    > FOOF! I say to that!

    Which is pretty much the right word [wikipedia.org] [wikipedia.org] when talking about dangerous things.
    CIF [wikipedia.org] [wikipedia.org] just doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

    If you want to read a truly interesting description of FOOF, check out Derek Lowe's "Things I Won't Work With" blog entry [sciencemag.org].

    NOTE: you can easily find the article again by searching for what he described would result from reacting FOOF with sulfur hexafluoride: "Satan's kimchi". It is a vast understatement to way Derek has a way with words! If you have even a slight interest and knowledge of chemistry, I can think of few more enjoyable ways to lose a few hours than reading the other entries on his blog!

    --
    Wit is intellect, dancing.
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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday September 06 2018, @11:12PM (1 child)

    by bob_super (1357) on Thursday September 06 2018, @11:12PM (#731562)

    Love that blog. Went for the Wiki this time, but I've posted the Lowe version here before.
    Interestingly, the quote in the Wiki about ClF3 (the pair of running shoes) is the exact same as on the blog.

    • (Score: 2) by martyb on Friday September 07 2018, @12:01AM

      by martyb (76) Subscriber Badge on Friday September 07 2018, @12:01AM (#731572) Journal

      Love that blog. Went for the Wiki this time, but I've posted the Lowe version here before. Interestingly, the quote in the Wiki about ClF3 (the pair of running shoes) is the exact same as on the blog.

      Thanks for the reply!

      A minor nit, if I may? The quote you are referencing actually came from "Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants" written by John Drury Clark [wikipedia.org]. That said, (written?), that work is also a most interesting read! Highly recommended, as well!

      --
      Wit is intellect, dancing.