Ubuntu
pam package

forkbomb can crash system in default installation

Bug #76013 reported by Carsten Agger
8
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
pam (Ubuntu)
Confirmed
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

If you enter this command:

:(){ :|:& };:

in a terminal with a default Ubuntu configuration, Ubuntu
dies instantly as the fork bomb creates process after process.

Proposed fix: Impose some sanity level in /etc/security/limits.conf

Note: On each machine, this is easily fixed by entering a default hard limit
of (say) 5000 processes per user in limits.conf.

I'm arguing this should be the DEFAULT behaviour of a fresh Ubuntu install.
Right now, a default installation dies if the fork bomb is launched (at least
Xubuntu 6.10 does).

Revision history for this message
Vassilis Pandis (pandisv) wrote :

 Thanks for the bug report. This particular bug has already been reported, but feel free to report any other bugs you find.

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