linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v5 5/5] sidechannel: Linux Security Module for sidechannel

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Date:   Fri, 28 Sep 2018 01:47:39 +0200
From:   Jann Horn <jannh@...gle.com>
To:     James Morris <jmorris@...ei.org>
Cc:     Casey Schaufler <casey.schaufler@...el.com>,
        Casey Schaufler <casey@...aufler-ca.com>,
        kristen@...ux.intel.com,
        Kernel Hardening <kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com>,
        deneen.t.dock@...el.com,
        kernel list <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@...el.com>,
        linux-security-module <linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org>,
        selinux@...ho.nsa.gov, Arjan van de Ven <arjan@...ux.intel.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v5 5/5] sidechannel: Linux Security Module for sidechannel

On Fri, Sep 28, 2018 at 1:43 AM James Morris <jmorris@...ei.org> wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Sep 2018, Schaufler, Casey wrote:
> > > > On 9/27/2018 2:45 PM, James Morris wrote:
> > > > > On Wed, 26 Sep 2018, Casey Schaufler wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> +      /*
> > > > >> +       * Namespace checks. Considered safe if:
> > > > >> +       *      cgroup namespace is the same
> > > > >> +       *      User namespace is the same
> > > > >> +       *      PID namespace is the same
> > > > >> +       */
> > > > >> +      if (current->nsproxy)
> > > > >> +              ccgn = current->nsproxy->cgroup_ns;
> > > > >> +      if (p->nsproxy)
> > > > >> +              pcgn = p->nsproxy->cgroup_ns;
> > > > >> +      if (ccgn != pcgn)
> > > > >> +              return -EACCES;
> > > > >> +      if (current->cred->user_ns != p->cred->user_ns)
> > > > >> +              return -EACCES;
> > > > >> +      if (task_active_pid_ns(current) != task_active_pid_ns(p))
> > > > >> +              return -EACCES;
> > > > >> +      return 0;
> > > > > I really don't like the idea of hard-coding namespace security semantics
> > > > > in an LSM.  Also, I'm not sure if these semantics make any sense.
> > > >
> > > > Checks on namespaces where explicitly requested.
> > >
> > > By whom and what is the rationale?
> >
> > The rationale is to protect containers. Since those closest thing
> > there is to a definition of containers is "uses namespaces" that
> > becomes the focus. Separating them out does not make too much
> > sense as I would expect someone concerned with one to be concerned
> > with all.
>
> A lot of people will not be using user namespaces due to security
> concerns,

Ugh.

> so with this hard-coded logic, you are saying this case is
> 'safe' in a sidechannel context.
>
> Which hints at the deeper issue that containers are a userland
> abstraction.  Protection of containers needs to be defined by userland
> policy.

Or just compare mount namespaces additionally/instead. I think that
containers will always use those, because AFAIK nobody uses chroot()
for containers, given that the kernel makes absolutely no security
guarantees about chroot().