linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v7 0/6] mm/memfd: introduce MFD_NOEXEC_SEAL and MFD

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Date:   Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:55:26 -0800
From:   Jeff Xu <jeffxu@...gle.com>
To:     Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>
Cc:     akpm@...ux-foundation.org, jeffxu@...omium.org,
        skhan@...uxfoundation.org, dmitry.torokhov@...il.com,
        dverkamp@...omium.org, hughd@...gle.com, jorgelo@...omium.org,
        linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-kselftest@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-mm@...ck.org, jannh@...gle.com,
        linux-hardening@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-security-module@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH v7 0/6] mm/memfd: introduce MFD_NOEXEC_SEAL and MFD_EXEC

On Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 4:08 PM Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org> wrote:
>
> On Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 03:32:16PM -0800, Jeff Xu wrote:
> > On Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 10:54 AM Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > On Fri, Dec 09, 2022 at 04:04:47PM +0000, jeffxu@...omium.org wrote:
> > > > From: Jeff Xu <jeffxu@...gle.com>
> > > >
> > > > Since Linux introduced the memfd feature, memfd have always had their
> > > > execute bit set, and the memfd_create() syscall doesn't allow setting
> > > > it differently.
> > > >
> > > > However, in a secure by default system, such as ChromeOS, (where all
> > > > executables should come from the rootfs, which is protected by Verified
> > > > boot), this executable nature of memfd opens a door for NoExec bypass
> > > > and enables “confused deputy attack”.  E.g, in VRP bug [1]: cros_vm
> > > > process created a memfd to share the content with an external process,
> > > > however the memfd is overwritten and used for executing arbitrary code
> > > > and root escalation. [2] lists more VRP in this kind.
> > > >
> > > > On the other hand, executable memfd has its legit use, runc uses memfd’s
> > > > seal and executable feature to copy the contents of the binary then
> > > > execute them, for such system, we need a solution to differentiate runc's
> > > > use of  executable memfds and an attacker's [3].
> > > >
> > > > To address those above, this set of patches add following:
> > > > 1> Let memfd_create() set X bit at creation time.
> > > > 2> Let memfd to be sealed for modifying X bit.
> > > > 3> A new pid namespace sysctl: vm.memfd_noexec to control the behavior of
> > > >    X bit.For example, if a container has vm.memfd_noexec=2, then
> > > >    memfd_create() without MFD_NOEXEC_SEAL will be rejected.
> > > > 4> A new security hook in memfd_create(). This make it possible to a new
> > > > LSM, which rejects or allows executable memfd based on its security policy.
> > >
> > > I think patch 1-5 look good to land. The LSM hook seems separable, and
> > > could continue on its own. Thoughts?
> > >
> > Agreed.
> >
> > > (Which tree should memfd change go through?)
> > >
> > I'm not sure, is there a recommendation ?
>
> It looks like it's traditionally through akpm's tree. Andrew, will you
> carry patches 1-5?
>
Hi Andrew, if you are taking this, V8 is the latest that contains patch 1-5.

Thanks
Jeff

> Thanks!
>
> --
> Kees Cook