as an NIS client. The pw_breakout_yp routines that are used to populate the
_pw_passwd structire only do anything if the bits in the pw_fields member
_pw_passwd are cleared. Unfortunately, we can get into a state where
pw_fields has garbage in it right before the YP lookup functions are
called, which causes the breakout functions to screw up in a big way.
Here's how to duplicate the problem:
- Configure FreeBSD as an NIS client
- Log in as a user who's password database records reside only in
the NIS passwd maps.
- Type ps -aux
Result: your processes appear to be owned by 'root' or 'deamon.'
/bin/ls can exhibit the same problem.
The reason this happens:
- When ps(1) needs to match a username to a UID, it calls getpwuid().
- root is in the local password file, so getpwuid() calls __hashpw()
and __hashpw() populates the _pw_passwd struct, including the pw_fields
member. This happens before NIS lookups take place because, by coincidence,
ps(1) tends to display processes owned by root before it happens upon
a proccess owned by you.
- When your UID comes up, __hashpw() fails to find your entry in the
local password database, so it bails out, BUT THE BITS IN THE pw_fields
STRUCTURE OF _pw_passwd ARE NEVER CLEARED AND STILL CONTAIN INFORMATION
FROM THE PREVIOUS CALL TO __hash_pw()!!
- If we have NIS enabled, the NIS lookup functions are called.
- The pw_breakout_yp routines see that the pw_fields bits are set and
decline to place the data retrieved from the NIS passwd maps into the
_pw_passwd structure.
- getpwuid() returns the results of the last __hashpw() lookup instead
of the valid NIS data.
- Hijinxs ensue when user_from_uid() caches this bogus information and
starts handing out the wrong usernames.
AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!
*Please* don't tell me I'm the only person to have noticed this.
Fixed by having __hashpw() check the state of pw_fields just before
bailing out on a failed lookup and clearing away any leftover garbage.
What a fun way to spend an afternoon.