Re: extended attributes (need help)

[Emmanuel Dreyfus <manu%netbsd.org@localhost>]

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 07:28:48AM +0200, Bernd Ernesti wrote:
> What will happen if there is a .attribute file/symlink or directory in the
> file system before this attributes will be introduced and then enabled?

If it is somethign else than a directory, nothing happens.
If it a directory, which contains user and/or system directory, then
the kenrel looks up for attributes backing files in user and system
subdirectories. If it find files with valid headers, it loads, otherwise
it skips the file.

Indeed if you mount a foreign filesystem, there is the possibility we have
an exploitable bug somewhere in extended attribute autostart. Therefore
condtionning attribute autoload to the use of a mount otpion such as
-o extattr (see my other post) seems highly desirable. 

-- 
Emmanuel Dreyfus
manu%netbsd.org@localhost