Hunting a 34 year old pointer bug in EtherSlip

https://www.brutman.com/Adventures_In_Code/EtherSlip_ARP/EtherSlip_ARP.html

Article

  • Deep dive into tracking down a pointer bug in EtherSlip, a 1990s DOS network driver
  • EtherSlip emulates Ethernet packet driver over SLIP serial connection
  • Bug lurked undetected for 34 years in rarely-executed ARP code path

Discussion

  • Commenter notes SLIP-over-serial pattern persists in modern WiFi and GSMA mobile protocol stacks

Discuss on HN


Type Link
Added Apr 22, 2026
Modified Apr 22, 2026