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Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:49:15 -0800
From: Casey Schaufler <casey@...aufler-ca.com>
To: Tetsuo Handa <penguin-kernel@...ove.SAKURA.ne.jp>, jmorris@...ei.org
Cc: linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org, selinux@...ho.nsa.gov,
kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com
Subject: Re: Re: [RFC v2 PATCH 1/2] security: introduce
CONFIG_SECURITY_WRITABLE_HOOKS
On 2/16/2017 3:00 AM, Tetsuo Handa wrote:
> Casey Schaufler wrote:
>> I can't say that I'm buying the value of the additional
>> complexity here. Sure, you're protecting part of the data
>> all the time, but you're exposing part all the time, too.
> Will you explain it in detail? As far as I know, __ro_after_init
> annotation makes the kernel to call set_memory_ro() after __init
> functions are completed, by gathering such variables into a section
> so that set_memory_ro() can change page flags for a memory region
> where it is PAGE_ALIGNED and the size is multiple of PAGE_SIZE bytes.
>
> This "struct lsm_entry" is for gathering only LSM related variables which
> would have been marked as __ro_after_init if CONFIG_SECURITY_WRITABLE_HOOKS=n
> into a list of memory regions where they are PAGE_ALIGNED and the size is
> multiple of PAGE_SIZE bytes, so that the kernel can call set_memory_ro() on
> these memory regions even if CONFIG_SECURITY_SELINUX_DISABLE=y or allowing
> LKM based LSMs.
All I'm saying is that it's simpler to mark the entire
structure than it is to mark parts.
>> For now I think that the solution James proposes makes the
>> most sense. In the hypothetical loadable modules case I
>> don't see real value in hardening bits of the data while
>> explicitly making the most important parts dynamic.
> Best solution for environments where it is known to enforce only one specific
> LSM module and no user choices and no LKM based LSMs (including antivirus or
> alike) is to directly embed that LSM module into security/security.c .
There are too few beers on the table in front of me
to start that discussion. :)
> CONFIG_SECURITY_WRITABLE_HOOKS=n depends on CONFIG_SECURITY_SELINUX_DISABLE=n
> but many of distributor's kernels enable multiple LSM modules including
> CONFIG_SECURITY_SELINUX_DISABLE=y. Also, people are using antivirus software
> on distributor's kernels.
I have to limit my comment on that to pointing out
that we can't make decisions based on code that has
never been proposed for the mainline.
> At least one antivirus software (which allows
> anonymous download of LKM source code) is using LSM hooks since Linux 2.6.32
> instead of rewriting syscall tables. We are already allowing multiple concurrent
> LSM modules (up to one fully armored module which uses "struct cred"->security
> field or exclusive hooks like security_xfrm_state_pol_flow_match(), plus
> unlimited number of lightweight modules which do not use "struct cred"->security
> nor exclusive hooks) as long as they are built into the kernel. There is no
> reason to keep LKM based LSM modules from antivirus software or alike away.
We're not to the point where in-kernel modules are stacking fully.
Not everyone is on board for that, but hope springs eternal. Part
of the design criteria I'm working under is that it shouldn't
preclude loadable modules, and I still think that's doable. The
patch James proposed is completely compatible with this philosophy.
You can argue that it requires a loadable module configuration be
less "hardened", but the opponents of loadable modules say that is
inherent to loadable modules.
> For such kernels, this "struct lsm_entry" allows calling set_memory_ro() on LSM
> related variables which would have been marked as __ro_after_init if
> CONFIG_SECURITY_WRITABLE_HOOKS=n.
>
> If you are not happy with using kmalloc() for copying "struct security_hook_list"
> in each LSM module, can we agree with padding "struct security_hook_list" in each
> LSM module PAGE_ALIGNED and the size being multiple of PAGE_SIZE bytes?
I don't understand what that would help without
the rest of your changes.
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