linux-kernel - Re: [patch 01/24] x86/speculation: Update the TIF

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Message-ID: <20181122173004.fn4tqoclhcyibxff@treble>
Date:   Thu, 22 Nov 2018 11:30:04 -0600
From:   Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@...hat.com>
To:     Borislav Petkov <bp@...en8.de>
Cc:     Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>,
        Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
        Linux List Kernel Mailing <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        the arch/x86 maintainers <x86@...nel.org>,
        Peter Zijlstra <peterz@...radead.org>,
        Andrew Lutomirski <luto@...nel.org>,
        Jiri Kosina <jkosina@...e.cz>, thomas.lendacky@....com,
        Andrea Arcangeli <aarcange@...hat.com>,
        David Woodhouse <dwmw@...zon.co.uk>,
        Andi Kleen <ak@...ux.intel.com>, dave.hansen@...el.com,
        Casey Schaufler <casey.schaufler@...el.com>,
        "Mallick, Asit K" <asit.k.mallick@...el.com>,
        "Van De Ven, Arjan" <arjan@...ux.intel.com>, jcm@...hat.com,
        longman9394@...il.com, Greg KH <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
        david.c.stewart@...el.com, Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>,
        Tim Chen <tim.c.chen@...ux.intel.com>
Subject: Re: [patch 01/24] x86/speculation: Update the TIF_SSBD comment

On Thu, Nov 22, 2018 at 12:08:54AM +0100, Borislav Petkov wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 21, 2018 at 05:04:50PM -0600, Josh Poimboeuf wrote:
> > Why not just 'user'?  Like SPECTRE_V2_USER_*.
> 
> Sure, a bit better except that it doesn't explain what it does, I'd say.

But it does describe its purpose, especially in relation to the
'spectre_v2=' option.

Previously 'spectre_v2=' might have been more appropriately named
'spectre_v2_kernel=' because it only protected the kernel from Spectre
v2 attacks.  Now with these new patches, 'spectre_v2=on' will protect
the entire system.

Whereas 'spectre_v2_user=' is a subset of that; it helps protect user
space from itself.  Appending "user" to the existing 'spectre_v2='
option helps to communicate that, IMO.

Now off to eat a giant turkey.

-- 
Josh