CentOS - Sep 2005 - automount[18592]: failed to mount /home/.hidden

Hi!

My /var/log/messages files are being filled up with the following error...

Sep 15 10:39:53 comp automount[15138]: >> mount: server:/home/.hidden 
failed, reason given by server: Permission denied
Sep 15 10:39:53 comp automount[15138]: mount(nfs): nfs: mount failure 
server:/home/.hidden on /home/.hidden
Sep 15 10:39:53 comp automount[15138]: failed to mount /home/.hidden

What is /home/.hidden?  Why can't it be mounted?  And, can I simply 
delete it? 

Basically, what is this error from and how can I stop it from occurring?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Allison Maury wrote:
> /messages files are being filled up with the following error...
>
> Sep 15 10:39:53 comp automount[15138]: >> mount: server:/home/.hidden
> failed, reason given by server: Permission denied
> Sep 15 10:39:53 comp automount[15138]: mount(nfs): nfs: mount failure 
> server:/home/.hidden on /home/.hidden
> Sep 15 10:39:53 comp automount[15138]: failed to mount /home/.hidden
>
> What is /home/.hidden?  Why can't it be mounted?  And, can I simply 
> delete it?
> Basically, what is this error from and how can I stop it from occurring?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
That looks REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD.  YOUR machine is trying to mount a 
directory from
another machine and is being refused.  If YOU didn't set this up then 
someone else on your machine did.
The name of the directory ".hidden" implies evil intent.  See if you
can
find a check root kit package for
Centos.  Lock down your machine right away and start looking for 
modified RPMs.

I don't use automount, but it doesn't look like a normal user should be 
able to touch the control files involved.
Examine /etc/auto.master, man autofs and man automount.