linux-kernel - Re: [malware-list] [RFC 0/5] [TALPA] Intro to a linuxinterfaceforon access scanning

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Message-Id: <20080813151952.5D9A13764DF@pmx1.sophos.com>
Date:	Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:19:45 +0100
From:	tvrtko.ursulin@...hos.com
To:	Arjan van de Ven <arjan@...radead.org>
Cc:	"Adrian Bunk" <bunk@...nel.org>, davecb@....com,
	"Greg KH" <greg@...ah.com>,
	"Press, Jonathan" <Jonathan.Press@...com>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org,
	malware-list@...ts.printk.net,
	"Mihai Don??u" <mdontu@...defender.com>,
	"Pavel Machek" <pavel@...e.cz>
Subject: Re: [malware-list] [RFC 0/5] [TALPA] Intro to a linuxinterfaceforon access
 scanning

Arjan van de Ven wrote on 13/08/2008 15:28:59:

> On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:16:12 +0100
> tvrtko.ursulin@...hos.com wrote:
> 
> > Arjan van de Ven <arjan@...radead.org> wrote on 13/08/2008 14:54:01:
> > 
> > > > I am not sure what you are suggesting, and I may have missed the
> > > > libmalware proposal (I don't see any mention of that specific
> > > > idea in any other message).  However, just to be clear...  At no
> > > > point did we suggest that the kernel would do any scanning.  What
> > > > we have been interested in is a mechanism that can allow a
> > > > scanning application to be notified by the kernel of specific i/o
> > > > events, for those events to be blocked by the kernel until a
> > > > user-space scan is done, and then the user-space scan sends back
> > > > allow or deny, at which point the i/o event returns to the caller
> > > > -- either success or error.  This is the only way that malware
> > > > can be guaranteed of being detected when it is used (for local
> > > > application purposes or for transmission to another platform) or
> > > > created. 
> > > 
> > > this is a very broad statement that ignores the LD_PRELOAD approach,
> > > and thus not true.
> > 
> > LD_PRELOAD does not solve at least knfsd and suid binaries. But we
> > are going in circles. :)
> > 
> > > > Also, a solution that requires applications to be modified will
> > > > not work, because there is no way that we would be able to get ALL
> > > > applications on the machines to be modified in the required
> > > > ways.  If ANY applications are not so modified, then you have an
> > > > unacceptable
> > > 
> > > you don't need to modify applications to make them use a library...
> > 
> > Same is true for a kernel solution. Plus, it also works for those who
> > make system calls directly, knfsd and suid binaries, and we can have
> > cheap and ultra-efficient caching. Not much kernel code, even less
> > complex kernel code and unmeasurable impact when not used and
> > compiled in. What are the big technical objections to that?
> > 
> 
> the biggest objection is the lack of security model description.
> STILL nobody has answered Ted's questions.
> 
> And still the AV side of the argument keeps making circular arguments.
> 
> 
> I'm not saying the kernel shouldn't be involved at all.
> I can totally see a solution where we have a
> sys_virus_scan(int fd)
> that glibc calls at appropriate places (say every read() and mmap())
> and that on the kernel side uses a cache to store which virus signature
> version it was last scanned with, and if not new enough.. punts to some
> userspace scanner for vetting.
> 
> but first someone needs to answer Ted's very basic questions or the
> TALPA side really does look like a donkey in this argument.

I think that the english saying is "It takes two to tangle". As much as I 
am "guilty" for stepping out on Pavel's dejavu comments while at this 
stage I agree we should be making a more coherent and systematic threat 
model, you also haven't really contributed anything new and constructive 
by jumping into my (or was it Jonathans?) reply to him. So I disagree that 
"AV side" is the only side making circular argument and looking as a 
donkey (thanks), especially in todays exchange.


So lets finish this thread now and hopefully we will have something real 
to discuss soon.

--
Tvrtko A. Ursulin
Senior Software Engineer, Sophos

"Views and opinions expressed in this email are strictly those of the 
author.
 The contents has not been reviewed or approved by Sophos."


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OX14 3YP, United Kingdom.

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