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Re: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init

Started byRussell King - ARM Linux <linux@armlinux.org.uk>
First post2016-08-11 01:10 +0200
Last post2016-08-12 18:30 +0200
Articles 4 — 3 participants

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  Re: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init Russell King - ARM Linux <linux@armlinux.org.uk> - 2016-08-11 01:10 +0200
    Re: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init Arnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de> - 2016-08-11 18:00 +0200
      Re: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init Kees Cook <keescook@chromium.org> - 2016-08-12 00:20 +0200
      Re: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init Russell King - ARM Linux <linux@armlinux.org.uk> - 2016-08-12 18:30 +0200

#1460088 — Re: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init

FromRussell King - ARM Linux <linux@armlinux.org.uk>
Date2016-08-11 01:10 +0200
SubjectRe: [PATCH 2/2] arm: apply more __ro_after_init
Message-ID<s4KNj-3c9-27@gated-at.bofh.it>
On Wed, Aug 10, 2016 at 09:41:23PM +0200, Arnd Bergmann wrote:
> It might be better to start by making the fixed mapping readonly,
> as KASLR doesn't protect that one at all, and change the TLS
> code accordingly.

I think that's impossible, because we gave userspace permission to
read 0xffff0ff0 directly without using __kuser_get_tls.  You're
talking about potentially breaking userspace.

If you disable kuser helpers, then the page becomes read-only and
invisible to userspace anyway.  So, everything is being done there
which can be done - if you have kuser helpers enabled, then you
lose some opportunities for these security improvements.

-- 
RMK's Patch system: http://www.armlinux.org.uk/developer/patches/
FTTC broadband for 0.8mile line: currently at 9.6Mbps down 400kbps up
according to speedtest.net.

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#1460638

FromArnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de>
Date2016-08-11 18:00 +0200
Message-ID<s50yK-5KE-23@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#1460088
On Thursday, August 11, 2016 12:06:45 AM CEST Russell King - ARM Linux wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 10, 2016 at 09:41:23PM +0200, Arnd Bergmann wrote:
> > It might be better to start by making the fixed mapping readonly,
> > as KASLR doesn't protect that one at all, and change the TLS
> > code accordingly.
> 
> I think that's impossible, because we gave userspace permission to
> read 0xffff0ff0 directly without using __kuser_get_tls.  You're
> talking about potentially breaking userspace.
> 
> If you disable kuser helpers, then the page becomes read-only and
> invisible to userspace anyway.  So, everything is being done there
> which can be done - if you have kuser helpers enabled, then you
> lose some opportunities for these security improvements.

What I meant was writing to the page through the linear mapping
rather than the virtual mapping at 0xffff0000 so we can leave that
one read-only (I did not consider whether that might cause cache
aliasing problems when reading from the other address).

Your other point is more important though: if one really cares
about optimizing security here, they probably should disable
kuser helpers completely anyway.

Kees, is that something you have on your radar already?

	Arnd

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#1460833

FromKees Cook <keescook@chromium.org>
Date2016-08-12 00:20 +0200
Message-ID<s56uu-1pD-23@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#1460638
On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 8:54 AM, Arnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de> wrote:
> On Thursday, August 11, 2016 12:06:45 AM CEST Russell King - ARM Linux wrote:
>> On Wed, Aug 10, 2016 at 09:41:23PM +0200, Arnd Bergmann wrote:
>> > It might be better to start by making the fixed mapping readonly,
>> > as KASLR doesn't protect that one at all, and change the TLS
>> > code accordingly.
>>
>> I think that's impossible, because we gave userspace permission to
>> read 0xffff0ff0 directly without using __kuser_get_tls.  You're
>> talking about potentially breaking userspace.
>>
>> If you disable kuser helpers, then the page becomes read-only and
>> invisible to userspace anyway.  So, everything is being done there
>> which can be done - if you have kuser helpers enabled, then you
>> lose some opportunities for these security improvements.
>
> What I meant was writing to the page through the linear mapping
> rather than the virtual mapping at 0xffff0000 so we can leave that
> one read-only (I did not consider whether that might cause cache
> aliasing problems when reading from the other address).
>
> Your other point is more important though: if one really cares
> about optimizing security here, they probably should disable
> kuser helpers completely anyway.
>
> Kees, is that something you have on your radar already?

It wasn't no. I will add it. :)

-Kees

-- 
Kees Cook
Nexus Security

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#1461307

FromRussell King - ARM Linux <linux@armlinux.org.uk>
Date2016-08-12 18:30 +0200
Message-ID<s5nvk-403-15@gated-at.bofh.it>
In reply to#1460638
On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 05:54:08PM +0200, Arnd Bergmann wrote:
> On Thursday, August 11, 2016 12:06:45 AM CEST Russell King - ARM Linux wrote:
> > On Wed, Aug 10, 2016 at 09:41:23PM +0200, Arnd Bergmann wrote:
> > > It might be better to start by making the fixed mapping readonly,
> > > as KASLR doesn't protect that one at all, and change the TLS
> > > code accordingly.
> > 
> > I think that's impossible, because we gave userspace permission to
> > read 0xffff0ff0 directly without using __kuser_get_tls.  You're
> > talking about potentially breaking userspace.
> > 
> > If you disable kuser helpers, then the page becomes read-only and
> > invisible to userspace anyway.  So, everything is being done there
> > which can be done - if you have kuser helpers enabled, then you
> > lose some opportunities for these security improvements.
> 
> What I meant was writing to the page through the linear mapping
> rather than the virtual mapping at 0xffff0000 so we can leave that
> one read-only (I did not consider whether that might cause cache
> aliasing problems when reading from the other address).

Kees original patch was about moving the vector pages into the
read-only area after init, so the linear mapping of them becomes
read-only as well.  So that won't work.  We need at least one
read-write mapping for FIQ, and for context switching for kuser
helpers.

> Your other point is more important though: if one really cares
> about optimizing security here, they probably should disable
> kuser helpers completely anyway.

We could probably predicate moving the vectors page into the RO
section when kuser helpers are enabled.

> Kees, is that something you have on your radar already?

I believe Android already disable kuser helpers as of a few years ago.

-- 
RMK's Patch system: http://www.armlinux.org.uk/developer/patches/
FTTC broadband for 0.8mile line: currently at 9.6Mbps down 400kbps up
according to speedtest.net.

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