We've all been there - making quick edits to configuration files and accidentally breaking something critical. When you add an "exit" command to your .bashrc without physical server access, you create a particularly nasty scenario where SSH connections terminate immediately upon login.

Most conventional approaches won't work because:

ssh user@host "command"  # Still sources .bashrc first
ssh user@host -t bash    # Also sources .bashrc
scp/sftp operations     # Require shell access

The breakthrough comes from exploiting the tiny window between shell initialization and .bashrc execution:

1. Open multiple terminal windows
2. Run ssh user@host simultaneously in all
3. Spam Ctrl+C the moment connection establishes

Sample success pattern:

$ ssh user@host
^C
$ # Now you're in!
$ vi ~/.bashrc  # Remove the offending line

If the timing method fails, try these:

# 1. Force non-interactive shell
ssh user@host "env -i /bin/bash --noprofile --norc"

# 2. Use SSH command chaining
ssh user@host "mv .bashrc .bashrc.bak && bash"

# 3. Special SSH flags
ssh -tt user@host "exec bash --noprofile"

To avoid future issues:

• Always test .bashrc changes with bash --noprofile --norc
• Keep backup copies: cp .bashrc .bashrc.bak
• Use conditional statements for critical commands:

  if [ -z "$PS1" ]; then
      return # Don't exit in non-interactive shells
  fi

For enterprise environments where these methods don't work:

• Contact your system administrator
• Request temporary account access
• Ask for .bashrc reset from backup

We've all been there - making that one tiny edit to .bashrc that completely locks us out of remote access. The classic exit command placed in .bashrc creates an immediate termination of any SSH session, creating a frustrating catch-22 situation where you can't even get a shell to fix the problem.

Typical workarounds like these don't work because the shell exits too quickly:

ssh user@host "bash --noprofile --norc"
ssh user@host "mv .bashrc .bashrc.bak"
ssh user@host -t "exec /bin/sh"

Through extensive testing, I discovered an interrupt-based solution that exploits the tiny window between SSH connection and .bashrc execution:

1. Initiate SSH connection: ssh user@host
2. Spam Ctrl+C during the connection phase
3. If successful, you'll get a shell before .bashrc loads

Sample success case:

$ ssh user@example.com
^C^C^C^C^C
user@example.com:~$ 

If you have another account:

ssh otheruser@host "sudo mv /home/brokenuser/.bashrc /home/brokenuser/.bashrc.bak"

For systems with special shells:

ssh user@host -t /bin/dash

Always test .bashrc changes safely:

# Test changes without permanent effect
bash --noprofile --norc -c "source ~/.bashrc"

Consider adding this safeguard at the top of your .bashrc:

# Prevent catastrophic exits
if [[ $- != *i* ]]; then
    return
fi