1. Data that is written to be interpreted and takes over program flow
when triggered by some un-obvious operation, such as viewing it. One
use of such hacks is to break security. For example, some smart
terminals have commands that allow one to download strings to program
keys; this can be used to write live data that, when listed to the
terminal, infects it with a security-breaking {virus} that is
triggered the next time a hapless user strikes that key. For another,
there are some well-known bugs in {vi} that allow certain texts to
send arbitrary commands back to the machine when they are simply
viewed.
2. In C code, data that includes pointers to function {hook}s
(executable code).
3. An object, such as a {trampoline}, that is constructed on the fly
by a program and intended to be executed as code.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {letterbomb}{trampoline}]