Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!spool.mu.edu!think.com!linus!linus!news!mbunix!blk
From: blk@mitre.org (Brian L. Kahn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Capabilities of DOS co-processor
Message-ID: <BLK.91May9112245@vanity.mitre.org>
Date: 9 May 91 16:22:45 GMT
References: <1991May01.205046.4040@sat.com> <5570623@hpfcdc.HP.COM>
Sender: news@linus.mitre.org (News Service)
Distribution: usa
Organization: The MITRE Corp. Bedford, MA
Lines: 14
In-Reply-To: dougd@hpfcdc.HP.COM's message of 7 May 91 16:24:17 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host: vanity.mitre.org


We are building Unix software for a system that contains the DOS
co-processor board.  Can anyone tell me the risks we face from
contamination or attack by nasty DOS programs?

- Can DOS clobber Unix files?  The Unix file system?
- Can DOS bypass Unix permissions for files?
- Can DOS access disk as a raw device?
- Can DOS use serial I/O ports?  
- Can DOS steal serial ports from Unix processes that "own" them?

ADthanksVANCE,
--
B<   Brian Kahn   blk@security.mitre.org   "may the farce be with you"