GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug [LWN.net]

GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug

Posted Mar 7, 2008 22:03 UTC (Fri) by i3839 (subscriber, #31386)
Parent article: GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug

> The DF issue may turn out to be harmless from a security standpoint,
> but it should not be assumed.

If so, then why is this subscriber-only content?

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Subscriber-only

Posted Mar 7, 2008 22:07 UTC (Fri) by corbet (editor, #1) [Link]

Are you taking the position that any article which talks about security should be automatically free for all?

By the time any distributor is carrying 4.3.x, the article will have long since become free...

Subscriber-only

Posted Mar 7, 2008 22:39 UTC (Fri) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330) [Link]

Security updates that advise people to install replacement packages, or that contain other urgent information, would reach people via other channels.

Subscriber-only

Posted Mar 8, 2008 13:59 UTC (Sat) by i3839 (subscriber, #31386) [Link]

No, I'm not. I just thought that 4.3.0 was released, and was already in use by distros, so
that the matter was more urgent than it is. 4.3.0 is the upcoming release and not yet
released, so ignore me.

To clarify, if it's an urgent case I would find it strange if there was a subscribers-only
article with background info, but not a generic article informing people about the problem.
I'm not saying LWN should notify people of every security event, nor open all security related
articles.

GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug

Posted Mar 8, 2008 12:00 UTC (Sat) by darwish07 (subscriber, #49520) [Link]

This is an __insult__ to the lovely LWN's extremely open way of news reporting with also
extremely low-cost subscription cost. 

LWN is not a security advisory website!

GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug

Posted Mar 9, 2008 17:44 UTC (Sun) by Max.Hyre (subscriber, #1054) [Link]

A couple of notes:

This is not a security announcement. It's an analysis of interactions between the kernel and the GCC, and
Anyone reading LWN will notice the title GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug. Those interested can go to any security site to get the details.

GCC 4.3.0 exposes a kernel bug

Posted Mar 9, 2008 20:12 UTC (Sun) by i3839 (subscriber, #31386) [Link]

True, but keep in mind that this is an unusual case, as just upgrading gcc won't fix it. All
applications compiled with gcc 4.3.0 running on Linux or BSD are prone to this potential
problem, including those that are compiled by the users themselves.