Virtual Private Servers

A year ago I decided it’s about time to get a Virtual Private Server for my pet projects. Prior to that I had 2 sites on a shared hosting server and some other non-web network related apps spread around workstations that are always on. But at some point it all started to get messy and [...]

Family’s IT Consultant: The Computer Display

In today’s world of technological wonders few of us wouldn’t welcome some guidance. And since my friends and relatives know I work with computers they often ask me to help solve various issues and help them choose their new electronic devices. Actually it might have been worse… not that I’m not helpful guy (I am [...]

Linux kernel vmsplice root exploit

Two strings walk into a bar. The first says, “Hello, I’d like a ciderO’y?kI’U`,E’*@???’?? ?!>A~Xx?(y’n?.” The second says, “Please excuse my friend, he’s not null-terminated.”

If you are running Linux kernel newer than 2.6.17 but older than 2.6.24.2 or 2.6.23.16 then any local user can easily become root or at least crash your system.
There are [...]