Re: [PATCH 2/2] ASLR: add possibility for more fine-grainedtweaking

From: Ingo Molnar
Date: Wed Feb 06 2008 - 08:51:23 EST



* Jiri Kosina <jkosina@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> ASLR: add possibility for more fine-grained tweaking
>
> Some prehistoric binaries don't like when start of brk area is located
> anywhere else than just after code+bss.
>
> This patch adds possibility to configure the default behavior of
> address space randomization. In addition to that, randomize_va_space
> now can have value of '2', which means full randomization including
> brk space.

i've already added the patch below to x86.git.

Ingo

-------------------->
Subject: brk randomization: introduce CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK
From: Ingo Molnar <mingo@xxxxxxx>

based on similar patch from: Pavel Machek <pavel@xxxxxx>

Introduce CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK. If disabled then the kernel is free
(but not obliged to) randomize the brk area.

Heap randomization breaks ancient binaries, so we keep COMPAT_BRK
enabled by default.

Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@xxxxxxx>
---
fs/binfmt_elf.c | 2 +-
init/Kconfig | 12 ++++++++++++
mm/memory.c | 13 ++++++++++++-
3 files changed, 25 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

Index: linux-x86.q/fs/binfmt_elf.c
===================================================================
--- linux-x86.q.orig/fs/binfmt_elf.c
+++ linux-x86.q/fs/binfmt_elf.c
@@ -1077,7 +1077,7 @@ static int load_elf_binary(struct linux_
current->mm->start_stack = bprm->p;

#ifdef arch_randomize_brk
- if (current->flags & PF_RANDOMIZE)
+ if ((current->flags & PF_RANDOMIZE) && (randomize_va_space > 1))
current->mm->brk = current->mm->start_brk =
arch_randomize_brk(current->mm);
#endif
Index: linux-x86.q/init/Kconfig
===================================================================
--- linux-x86.q.orig/init/Kconfig
+++ linux-x86.q/init/Kconfig
@@ -541,6 +541,18 @@ config ELF_CORE
help
Enable support for generating core dumps. Disabling saves about 4k.

+config COMPAT_BRK
+ bool "Disable heap randomization"
+ default y
+ help
+ Randomizing heap placement makes heap exploits harder, but it
+ also breaks ancient binaries (including anything libc5 based).
+ This option changes the bootup default to heap randomization
+ disabled, and can be overriden runtime by setting
+ /proc/sys/kernel/randomize_va_space to 2.
+
+ On non-ancient distros (post-2000 ones) Y is usually a safe choice.
+
config BASE_FULL
default y
bool "Enable full-sized data structures for core" if EMBEDDED
Index: linux-x86.q/mm/memory.c
===================================================================
--- linux-x86.q.orig/mm/memory.c
+++ linux-x86.q/mm/memory.c
@@ -82,7 +82,18 @@ void * high_memory;
EXPORT_SYMBOL(num_physpages);
EXPORT_SYMBOL(high_memory);

-int randomize_va_space __read_mostly = 1;
+/*
+ * Randomize the address space (stacks, mmaps, brk, etc.).
+ *
+ * ( When CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK=y we exclude brk from randomization,
+ * as ancient (libc5 based) binaries can segfault. )
+ */
+int randomize_va_space __read_mostly =
+#ifdef CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK
+ 1;
+#else
+ 2;
+#endif

static int __init disable_randmaps(char *s)
{
--
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