Kerneltrükk

Kerneltrükk is a term that emerged in the context of operating system development and security, particularly related to the Linux kernel. It refers to a technique or a series of actions that exploit vulnerabilities or misconfigurations within the operating system kernel to achieve elevated privileges or bypass security mechanisms. The literal translation of "kerneltrükk" from German is "kernel trick."

The primary goal of a kerneltrükk is often to gain root access, the highest level of privilege on a Unix-like system. This can be achieved by various means, such as exploiting buffer overflows, race conditions, or other memory corruption bugs that allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the kernel space. Once an attacker controls the kernel, they effectively control the entire operating system, with the ability to modify files, access sensitive data, disable security features, and install malicious software.

While the term can encompass a wide range of exploits, it generally implies a clever or subtle method of achieving a significant security compromise. Security researchers and developers actively work to identify and patch these vulnerabilities to prevent unauthorized access and maintain system integrity. The discovery and patching of kerneltrükk vulnerabilities are crucial for the ongoing security of operating systems.