scenario
hard
Analyze
malicious-alias
2 points
Question 46. CSCD240-E1-C
.bashrc contains alias ls='rm -rf'. Consequence if planted and user opens a new shell?
Work the drill
Answer on paper or in a terminal before revealing the ideal answer.
Ideal answer
Every time the user types ls in a new shell, the shell silently runs rm -rf with whatever arguments follow. A typical "ls ~/Documents" would delete the user's documents. Aliases load on every new interactive shell — persistence + destruction.
Misconception bank
Each row below is a plausible wrong answer, the thinking that produces it, and the remedy that corrects the misconception. These are the foundation of the multiple-choice framing and the targeted feedback a student receives after answering.
Does nothing
Misconception. Misses the alias load-on-shell behavior.
Remedy. Teach .bashrc load timing.
Authority mappings
Hover any chip for the mapping justification; click to open the authority record.
DCWF tasks:
T0250
Course-artifact links
Lectures
- CSCD240-S26-L07. I/O redirection, aliases, source, .bashrc, env