linux-kernel - Re: Linux Security *Module* Framework (Was: LSM conversion to static interface

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Message-ID: <472EBB5A.8030402@crispincowan.com>
Date:	Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:42:34 -0800
From:	Crispin Cowan <crispin@...spincowan.com>
To:	Tetsuo Handa <penguin-kernel@...ove.SAKURA.ne.jp>
CC:	simon@...e.lp0.eu, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Linux Security *Module* Framework (Was: LSM conversion to static
 interface

Tetsuo Handa wrote:
> I think there are two other problems regarding LSM.
>
> (1) There is only one "struct security_ops" structure in the system.
>
> (2) There is only one "void *security" field in "struct task_struct".
>
>
> Years ago, there was only one MAC implementation (i.e. SELinux)
> in the mainline kernel.
> But now, there are many MAC (or access control/tracking) implementations
> waiting for inclusion into the mainline kernel.
> The competition for occupying "struct security_ops" has started.
>
> My idea is that, why not create chains of "struct security_ops"
> (i.e. linked list of "struct security_ops")
> and allow choosing which chain to use for per a "struct task_struct" basis
> (i.e. add "struct security_ops" to "struct task_struct").
>   
That idea was in the Stacker module, and it was tabled until there is
more than one upstream LSM. In particular, it requires 2 or more LSMs
that actually make sense to stack together. IMHO TOMOYO/AppArmor/SELinux
are all exclusive of one another (in a running kernel) and real stacking
is still pending useful component intrusion prevention modules. Such
modules can be built, they just have not yet been built.

> TOMOYO Linux is having difficulty that TOMOYO Linux unlikely be able to use
> "struct security_ops" since SELinux is occupying it.
>   
Just disable SELinux and load TOMOYO. Oh, you can't because someone has
made modules not be loadable :(  Hmmm, perhaps someone could fix that by
reverting the static interface patch ... :)

> May be we should consider stackable LSM again?
>   
Exactly. Stacker was shelved, so to speak :) because of the lack of
in-kernel modules. Soon it will be time to reconsider that.

Crispin

-- 
Crispin Cowan, Ph.D.               http://crispincowan.com/~crispin
CEO, Mercenary Linux		   http://mercenarylinux.com/
	       Itanium. Vista. GPLv3. Complexity at work

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