linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 3/3] vsprintf: Add use-early-random-bytes cmd line option

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Date:   Thu, 3 May 2018 12:56:55 +1000
From:   "Tobin C. Harding" <me@...in.cc>
To:     Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>
Cc:     linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
        Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
        Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@...radead.org>,
        Steven Rostedt <rostedt@...dmis.org>,
        Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>,
        Anna-Maria Gleixner <anna-maria@...utronix.de>,
        Theodore Ts'o <tytso@....edu>,
        Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
        Arnd Bergmann <arnd@...db.de>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 3/3] vsprintf: Add use-early-random-bytes cmd line option

On Wed, May 02, 2018 at 02:56:45PM -0700, Andrew Morton wrote:
> On Wed,  2 May 2018 09:33:40 +1000 "Tobin C. Harding" <me@...in.cc> wrote:
> 
> > Currently if an attempt is made to print a pointer before there is
> > enough entropy then '(____ptrval____)' is printed.  This makes debugging
> > early stage stack traces difficult.  We can relax the requirement for
> > cryptographically secure hashing when debugging while still maintaining
> > pointer hashing behaviour.
> > 
> > Add a command line option 'use-early-random-bytes'.  When enabled get
> > key material from the hw RNG if available.
> 
> Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst, please.
> 
> > This option should NOT be enabled on production kernels.
> 
> And the documentation should explain why this recommendation is made. 
> Here was I scratching my head wondering why this feature isn't just
> permanently enabled.  Still scratching away...

Thanks for the review.  I think v2 covers your concerns, it patches
Documentation/kernel-parameters

If you are still scratching after reading v2 please do say so, I
appreciate the feedback.

thanks,
Tobin.