Bugtraq mailing list archives

Re: ncurses 4.1 security bug


From: geoffk () DISCUS ANU EDU AU (Geoffrey KEATING)
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 18:34:46 +1000


In C++ _you cant_

C++ global object constructors are called in pretty much arbitary
order before
main() is entererd.

Its an interesting reason not to write setuid apps in C++ 8)

Note that with ELF shared libraries, it is possible to have a shared
library (written in C, C++, or any other language) that also has
constructors that get executed before any code from the executable
(possibly apart from crt0) gets run.  So you can upgrade a
harmless-looking library and make your system insecure because it was
used by a setuid executable...

--
Geoff Keating <Geoff.Keating () anu edu au>



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