What is Bash fork() bomb? or Expalin the following code

:(){ :|:& };:

This is a bash function. It gets called recursively. This is most horrible code for any Unix / Linux box. It is often used by sys admin to test user processes limitations (Linux process limits can be configured via /etc/security/limits.conf and PAM).

Explanation:

:|: - Next it call itself using programming technique called recursion and pipes the output to another call of the function ‘:’. The worst part is function get called two times to bomb your system.

& - Puts the function call in the background so child cannot die at all and start eating system resources.

; - Terminate the function definition

: - Call (run) the function aka set the fork() bomb.

Properly configured Linux / UNIX box should not go down when fork() bomb sets off.