Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 13:49:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Daniel Eischen <deischen@freebsd.org> To: Colin Percival <cperciva@freebsd.org> Cc: "freebsd-arch@freebsd.org" <freebsd-arch@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: RFC: Removing file(1)+libmagic(3) from the base system Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.64.0705231346400.9867@sea.ntplx.net> In-Reply-To: <46546E16.9070707@freebsd.org> References: <46546E16.9070707@freebsd.org>
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On Wed, 23 May 2007, Colin Percival wrote: > FreeBSD architects and file(1) maintainer, > > I'd like to remove file(1) and libmagic(3) from the FreeBSD base system > for the following reasons: > 1. I don't see it as being a necessary component of a UNIX-like operating > system. > 2. It's available in the ports tree. > 3. Due to its nature as a program which parses multiple data formats, it > poses an unusually high risk of having security problems in the future > (cf. ethereal/wireshark). > > The one redeeming feature of file/libmagic as far as security is concerned > is that it doesn't act as a daemon, i.e., other code or user intervention > is required for an attacker to exploit security issues. This is why I'm > asking here rather than wielding the "Security Officer can veto code which > he doesn't like" stick. :-) > > Can anyone make a strong argument for keeping this code in the base system? Yes, because other OS's have it (file) in their base, and because it is a POSIX-defined utility. Please consider this a strong no. -- DE
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