linux-kernel - Re: [kernel-hardening] [PATCH 4/6] Protectable Memory

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Date:   Tue, 20 Feb 2018 19:16:38 +0200
From:   Igor Stoppa <igor.stoppa@...wei.com>
To:     Laura Abbott <labbott@...hat.com>,
        Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>
CC:     Boris Lukashev <blukashev@...pervictus.com>,
        Christopher Lameter <cl@...ux.com>,
        Matthew Wilcox <willy@...radead.org>,
        Jann Horn <jannh@...gle.com>,
        Jerome Glisse <jglisse@...hat.com>,
        Michal Hocko <mhocko@...nel.org>,
        Christoph Hellwig <hch@...radead.org>,
        linux-security-module <linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org>,
        Linux-MM <linux-mm@...ck.org>,
        kernel list <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        "Kernel Hardening" <kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com>
Subject: Re: [kernel-hardening] [PATCH 4/6] Protectable Memory

On 13/02/18 20:10, Laura Abbott wrote:
> On 02/13/2018 07:20 AM, Igor Stoppa wrote:
>> Why alterations of page properties are not considered a risk and the physmap is?
>> And how would it be easier (i suppose) to attack the latter?
> 
> Alterations are certainly a risk but with the physmap the
> mapping is already there. Find the address and you have
> access vs. needing to actually modify the properties
> then do the access. I could also be complete off base
> on my threat model here so please correct me if I'm
> wrong.

It's difficult for me to comment on this without knowing *how* the
attack would be performed, in your model.

Ex: my expectation is that the attacked has R/W access to kernel data
and has knowledge of the location of static variables.

This is not just a guess, but a real-life scenario, found in attacks
that, among other things, are capable of disabling SELinux, to proceed
toward gaining full root capability.

At that point, I think that variables which are allocated dynamically,
in vmalloc address space, are harder to locate, because of the virtual
mapping and the randomness of the address chosen (this I have not
confirmed yet, but I suppose there is some randomness in picking the
address to assign to a certain allocation request to vmalloc, otherwise,
it could be added).

> I think your other summaries are good points though
> and should go in the cover letter.

Ok, I'm just afraid it risks becoming a lengthy dissertation :-)

--
igor