grep problem

[Dave Davey]

Using grep 2.4.2 and Linux 2.4.18, the command
        grep -lri pattern /dev
run from an xterm causes grep to go into an uninterruptable state that can
only be rectified by rebooting the system.  It looks to me like grep is
capturing all keyboard input and preventing an interrupt.  It is not possible
even to kill the X server.

While asking grep to recurse /dev may not make much sense, problem really is
that it will stray into /dev if asked to search recurse /.  The -I flag does
not prevent the problem.

Looks like some protection against reading special files is needed, either
by default or with an extra flag.

cheers

Dave

-- 
David F. Davey
D'Entrecasteaux    Honorary Associate Professor       Phone: +61 3 6267 4852
378 Manuka Road    Department of Physiology (F13)    Mobile: +61 417 206 368
Kettering          University of Sydney                 Fax: +61 3 6267 4182
Tasmania 7155      NSW 2006
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