From: Giovanni P. Deretta (lordshoo_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-05-05 20:26:27
jarvi wrote:
>
> A program running on a Turing machine can only affect the tape of the
> machine.
> The "tape" of a template metaprogram is quite well isolated from other
> parts of a computer system.
> (OTOH, templates never cease to surprise...)
>
> Jaakko
>
Yes, of course (i was jocking :) ) ...
... but probably templates are not so "quite well" isolated from the
rest of the computer system, consider an extremely convoluted template
that crashes a compiler. Such a crash might be exploitable to run
arbitrary code. Certanly it wouldn't be easy and definitelly it would
be not portable, but certanly it may happen. (of course compilers may
crash not only while handling templates, but this is certanly much more
likely ;) )
This is obviously purely accademic, because makefiles or jamfiles are
certanly a better place to put malicious code :).
-- Giovanni P. Deretta