Re: [boost] RE: Re: Formal Review: FOREACH macro

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