[<prev] [next>] [<thread-prev] [day] [month] [year] [list]
Message-ID: <eec5d097-c70f-365b-3548-66726ad49f04@digikod.net>
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:12:01 +0200
From: Mickaël Salaün <mic@...ikod.net>
To: Pavel Machek <pavel@....cz>
Cc: "Madhavan T. Venkataraman" <madvenka@...ux.microsoft.com>,
kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com, linux-api@...r.kernel.org,
linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org, linux-fsdevel@...r.kernel.org,
linux-integrity@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org, oleg@...hat.com, x86@...nel.org,
luto@...nel.org, David.Laight@...LAB.COM, fweimer@...hat.com,
mark.rutland@....com
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2 0/4] [RFC] Implement Trampoline File Descriptor
On 25/09/2020 00:05, Pavel Machek wrote:
> Hi!
>
>>>>> I believe you should simply delete confusing "introduction" and
>>>>> provide details of super-secure system where your patches would be
>>>>> useful, instead.
>>>>
>>>> This RFC talks about converting dynamic code (which cannot be authenticated)
>>>> to static code that can be authenticated using signature verification. That
>>>> is the scope of this RFC.
>>>>
>>>> If I have not been clear before, by dynamic code, I mean machine code that is
>>>> dynamic in nature. Scripts are beyond the scope of this RFC.
>>>>
>>>> Also, malware compiled from sources is not dynamic code. That is orthogonal
>>>> to this RFC. If such malware has a valid signature that the kernel permits its
>>>> execution, we have a systemic problem.
>>>>
>>>> I am not saying that script authentication or compiled malware are not problems.
>>>> I am just saying that this RFC is not trying to solve all of the security problems.
>>>> It is trying to define one way to convert dynamic code to static code to address
>>>> one class of problems.
>>>
>>> Well, you don't have to solve all problems at once.
>>>
>>> But solutions have to exist, and AFAIK in this case they don't. You
>>> are armoring doors, but ignoring open windows.
>>
>> FYI, script execution is being addressed (for the kernel part) by this
>> patch series:
>> https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20200924153228.387737-1-mic@digikod.net/
>
> Ok.
>
>>> Or very probably you are thinking about something different than
>>> normal desktop distros (Debian 10). Because on my systems, I have
>>> python, gdb and gcc...
>>
>> It doesn't make sense for a tailored security system to leave all these
>> tools available to an attacker.
>
> And it also does not make sense to use "trampoline file descriptor" on
> generic system... while W^X should make sense there.
Well, as said before, (full/original/system-wide) W^X may require
trampfd (as well as other building-blocks).
I guess most Linux deployments are not on "generic systems"
anyway (even if they may be based on generic distros), and W^X
contradicts the fact that users/attackers can do whatever they want on
the system.
>
>>> It would be nice to specify what other pieces need to be present for
>>> this to make sense -- because it makes no sense on Debian 10.
>>
>> Not all kernel features make sense for a generic/undefined usage,
>> especially specific security mechanisms (e.g. SELinux, Smack, Tomoyo,
>> SafeSetID, LoadPin, IMA, IPE, secure/trusted boot, lockdown, etc.), but
>> they can still be definitely useful.
>
> Yep... so... I'd expect something like... "so you have single-purpose
> system
No one talked about a single-purpose system.
> with all script interpreters removed,
Not necessarily with the patch series I pointed out just before.
> IMA hashing all the files
> to make sure they are not modified, and W^X enabled.
System-wide W^X is not only for memory, and as Madhavan said: "this RFC
pertains to converting dynamic [writable] machine code to static
[non-writable] code".
> Attacker can
> still execute code after buffer overflow by .... and trapoline file
> descriptor addrsses that"... so that people running generic systems
> can stop reading after first sentence.
Are you proposing to add a
"[feature-not-useful-without-a-proper-system-configuration]" tag in
subjects? :)
Powered by blists - more mailing lists
Confused about mailing lists and their use?
Read about mailing lists on Wikipedia
and check out these
guidelines on proper formatting of your messages.
