Re: [PATCH] Blacklist binary-only modules lying about their license

[Matthias Schniedermeyer <ms@citd.de>]

> You have pointed out an interesting point in another email.  I have to 
> agree that, technically, thunking to BIOS code also taints the kernel, 
> because it, too, is a black box which could corrupt the kernel.  What do 
> others have to say about that?

There is more.

Not executing external code, but trusting external data.

e.g. The symbios(*1)-SCSI-driver only shows devices enabled in its BIOS.
This information is stored in a little NVRAM-chip(*2) and the driver
uses this data, including bus-speed settings and the like.
At least i (had/have*3) trouble with this "feature"!



*1: NCR, Symbios-Logic, LSI-Logic, whatever they are called today
*2: You need anything "bigger" than the 810-model
*3: I'm not sure if i still have trouble with this feature because i
haven't changed the setup in my computer for 3 years, it MAY be that i
still use a workaround for this feature. My next computer won't have
SCSI anymore, so i don't care if i still use a workaround.



Bis denn

-- 
Real Programmers consider "what you see is what you get" to be just as 
bad a concept in Text Editors as it is in women. No, the Real Programmer
wants a "you asked for it, you got it" text editor -- complicated, 
cryptic, powerful, unforgiving, dangerous.