ldd arbitrary code execution (2009)
I get that it's important that we call out exploitable situations like this, but it's also kind of moot. There are so many ways to exploit modern systems you can just rustle around in a bag of exploits and one will work. Known executable, unknown, doesn't matter. Not even using a VM will keep you safe. Not even RBAC.<p>What's easier and more reliable is to work in terms of risks. It's fine if you get exploited, as long as the access you have to sensitive systems is limited, and those sensitive systems have backups, and you can't delete those backups, you can re-deploy systems from scratch using automation if you get compromised, automatically rotate credentials, etc.<p>Lower the overall risk by setting everything up so the worst case scenario isn't that bad. Then you don't have to worry so much about an "unknown executable" because even if it gets exploited the attacker can't cause too much damage.