Re: [PATCH/RFC] don't support %n in printk

From: Pavel Machek
Date: Fri Apr 02 2004 - 03:40:27 EST


Hi!

> The printf man page has this to say about '%n':
>
> "The number of characters written so far is stored into the integer
> indicated by the int * (or variant) pointer argument. No argument
> is converted."
>
> Very little code actually uses %n for that. Now days, %n has a much
> more common use - in printf format string exploits. Since no kernel
> code appears to be using %n (thus said grep), this patch removes
> support for it. To preempt the obvious argument, I agree that printk
> should look and behave as much as possible as printf - except where
> it's harmful. We don't support floating point, for example, and I
> doubt we should support %n - although I don't strongly care one way or
> another.

You probably should search the kernel for any uses of %n and fix
them...
Pavel

--
When do you have a heart between your knees?
[Johanka's followup: and *two* hearts?]
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