linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 1/2] security: Change name of CONFIG_DEBUG

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Date:   Wed, 25 Jan 2017 12:21:05 +0100
From:   Laura Abbott <labbott@...hat.com>
To:     Pavel Machek <pavel@....cz>
Cc:     Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>,
        Jason Wessel <jason.wessel@...driver.com>,
        Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>,
        Russell King <linux@...linux.org.uk>,
        Catalin Marinas <catalin.marinas@....com>,
        Will Deacon <will.deacon@....com>,
        "James E.J. Bottomley" <jejb@...isc-linux.org>,
        Helge Deller <deller@....de>,
        Martin Schwidefsky <schwidefsky@...ibm.com>,
        Heiko Carstens <heiko.carstens@...ibm.com>,
        Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>,
        Ingo Molnar <mingo@...hat.com>,
        "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...or.com>, x86@...nel.org,
        Rob Herring <robh@...nel.org>,
        "Rafael J. Wysocki" <rjw@...ysocki.net>,
        Len Brown <len.brown@...el.com>,
        Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@....com>,
        Jessica Yu <jeyu@...hat.com>, linux-doc@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org,
        linux-parisc@...r.kernel.org, linux-s390@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-pm@...r.kernel.org, kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com
Subject: Re: [PATCH 1/2] security: Change name of CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA

On 01/19/2017 08:53 AM, Pavel Machek wrote:
> On Wed 2017-01-18 17:29:05, Laura Abbott wrote:
>>
>> Despite the word 'debug' in CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA, this kernel option
>> provides key security features that are to be expected on a modern
>> system. Change the name to CONFIG_HARDENED_PAGE_MAPPINGS which more
>> accurately describes what this option is intended to do.
>
> I think this is bad change. CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA is describing what it
> does, CONFIG_HARDENED_PAGE_MAPPINGS is advertising.
>
> We don't do advertising, and we don't force people to re-answer the
> config questions without good reason.
>
> CONFIG_HARDENED_RODATA might fix the first problem, but not the second
> one.
>
> 								Pavel
> 								

(Apologies, my SMTP was set up incorrectly so my response didn't
actually get sent out)

CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA isn't describing what it does though. It misses
that this config may handle much more than just rodata. I think
Mark Rutland's suggestion of STRICT_KERNEL_RWX might be more
descriptive.

Thanks,
Laura