Re: access(2)--a security hole?

Jeremy Epstein -C2 PROJECT (jepstein@cordant.com)
Fri, 21 Oct 1994 08:40:41 -0400 (EDT)

> the FreeBSD man page for access(2) includes a section titled "CAVEAT" 
> which says that "Access() is a potential security hole and should never 
> be used."
> 
> i looked into libc source and access is a typical system call--no real 
> source at all, just enough assembler wrapper to generate a system call 
> with the correct arguments.  the assembler is generated when libc is 
> compiled through defines and other macros--real slick.
> 
> the actual syscall is executed in /sys/kern/vfs_syscalls.c, but i cant 
> see why this is a hole.
> 
> can you enlighten me?
> 
> jmb 
> 
> Jonathan M. Bresler  jmb@kryten.atinc.com         | Analysis & Technology, Inc.  
>                                                             | 2341 Jeff Davis Hwy
> play go.                                          | Arlington, VA 22202
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> 
>