>> I once tried to define what it is about things like
>> 	dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/mem
>> that exempt them from the "userland should never be able to crash the
>> kernel" dictum.  I never really got anywhere.  Any thoughts?
> The superuser has the same level of authority as the kernel, maybe a
> fraction more.  Hence the superuser can crash the kernel.  The
> "dictum" merely does not apply to "root".

What if /dev/mem is mode 666?  I didn't say root ran that command.

Why is it then unacceptable for, say, syslogd provoke a panic, even if
it's running as root?  Or is that fine, not an indication of a bug?

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