linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] MIPS: usercopy: Implement stack frame object validation

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Date:   Thu, 10 Aug 2017 10:32:22 -0700
From:   Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>
To:     Matt Redfearn <matt.redfearn@...tec.com>
Cc:     Ralf Baechle <ralf@...ux-mips.org>,
        Linux MIPS Mailing List <linux-mips@...ux-mips.org>,
        "kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com" 
        <kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com>,
        LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        James Hogan <james.hogan@...tec.com>,
        Paul Burton <paul.burton@...tec.com>,
        Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@...hat.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] MIPS: usercopy: Implement stack frame object validation

On Thu, Aug 10, 2017 at 1:24 AM, Matt Redfearn <matt.redfearn@...tec.com> wrote:
> Hi Kees,
>
>
> On 08/08/17 20:11, Kees Cook wrote:
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 5:23 AM, Matt Redfearn <matt.redfearn@...tec.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> This implements arch_within_stack_frames() for MIPS that validates if an
>>> object is wholly contained by a kernel stack frame.
>>>
>>> With CONFIG_HARDENED_USERCOPY enabled, MIPS now passes the LKDTM tests
>>> USERCOPY_STACK_FRAME_TO, USERCOPY_STACK_FRAME_FROM and
>>> USERCOPY_STACK_BEYOND on a Creator Ci40.
>>>
>>> Since the MIPS kernel does not use frame pointers, we re-use the MIPS
>>> kernels stack frame unwinder which uses instruction inspection to deduce
>>> the stack frame size. As such it introduces a larger performance penalty
>>> than on arches which use the frame pointer.
>>
>> Hmm, given x86's plans to drop the frame pointer, I wonder if the
>> inter-frame checking code should be gated by a CONFIG. This (3%) is a
>> rather high performance hit to take for a relatively small protection
>> (it's mainly about catching too-large-reads, since most
>> too-large-writes will be caught by the stack canary).
>>
>> What do you think?
>
>
> If x86 is going to move to a more expensive stack unwinding method than the
> frame pointer then I guess it may end up seeing a similar performance hit to
> what we see on MIPS. In that case it might make sense to add a CONFIG for
> this such that only those who wish to make the trade off of performance for
> the added protection need enable it.

Sounds good. Can you send a v2 that adds a CONFIG, maybe something
like CONFIG_HARDENED_USERCOPY_UNWINDER with a description of the
trade-offs? Then x86 can do this too when it drops frame pointers.

Thanks!

-Kees


-- 
Kees Cook
Pixel Security