linux-kernel - Re: A system for rebootless kernel security updates

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Message-ID: <20080501113802.GC28005@nibiru.local>
Date:	Thu, 1 May 2008 13:38:02 +0200
From:	Enrico Weigelt <weigelt@...ux.de>
To:	linux kernel list <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: A system for rebootless kernel security updates

* Jeff Arnold <jbarnold@....EDU> wrote:

Hi,

> I'm willing to undertake the project of bringing the code up to kernel 
> coding standards so that it can eventually be considered for mainline. 
> I'll plan on undertaking this project if I don't receive feedback that I 
> shouldn't do so.

Great think :)
I'd actually like to see it mainline tree (I prefer vanilla kernel
instead of distro specific). 

> If people have concerns about the high-level design of the system, it 
> would be useful for me to know that information sooner rather than later.

I didn't have the time for an deeper study yet, but as you already
mentioned, there're lots of limitations which can make it harmful:
as soon as interfaces chance, you're in *big* trouble. There should
be a way for finding them (automatically). Maybe extract the 
interface signatures (including structs!) so some appropriate place
next to the kernel, so they can be checked before (re)loading the
module.

Ah, of course you can't change code that's not an dynamic module :(

Even this goes OT now - I'd really prefer more things in userland,
eg. network- or synthetic filesystems, crypt stuff, etc - so 
there would be less to update within the kernel ;-o

cu
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