Re: batman-adv: design suggestions

From: Vasiliy Kulikov
Date: Fri Aug 13 2010 - 14:19:29 EST


On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 00:34 +0400, Vasiliy Kulikov wrote:
> 2) It seems to me that NF_HOOK() at hard-interface.c:458 is misused:
>
> ...
> ret = NF_HOOK(PF_BRIDGE, NF_BR_LOCAL_IN, skb, dev, NULL,
> batman_skb_recv_finish);
> if (ret != 1)
> goto err_out;
>
> /* packet should hold at least type and version */
> if (unlikely(skb_headlen(skb) < 2))
> goto err_free;
>
> /* expect a valid ethernet header here. */
> if (unlikely(skb->mac_len != sizeof(struct ethhdr)
> || !skb_mac_header(skb)))
> goto err_free;
> ...
>
> static int batman_skb_recv_finish(struct sk_buff *skb)
> {
> return NF_ACCEPT;
> }
>
> As I understand, if there is any hook that returns NF_STOLEN, then skb
> is leaked.

New ideas ;)

a) Currently processing of tables does not confirm to its names.

From `man ebtables`:
...
filter is the default table and contains three built-in
chains: INPUT (for frames destined for the bridge itself,
on the level of the MAC destination address), OUTPUT (for
locally-generated or (b)routed frames) and FORWARD (for
frames being forwarded by the bridge).
nat is mostly used to change the mac addresses and contains
three built-in chains: PREROUTING (for altering frames as
soon as they come in), OUTPUT (for altering locally generâ
ated or (b)routed frames before they are bridged) and
POSTROUTING (for altering frames as they are about to go
out). A small note on the naming of chains PREROUTING and
POSTROUTING: it would be more accurate to call them PREFORâ
WARDING and POSTFORWARDING, but for all those who come from
the iptables world to ebtables it is easier to have the
same names. Note that you can change the name (-E) if you
don't like the default.
...

Second argument to this NF_HOOK() should be NF_BR_PRE_ROUTING as it is not
know yet whether this packet is for local machine.

NF_BR_LOCAL_IN should locate in interface_rx just before netif_rx [*] - see below
NF_BR_LOCAL_OUT in interface_tx before big 'if (is_bcast ...)' [*]
NF_BR_POST_ROUTING in send_skb_packet instead of current NF_BR_LOCAL_OUT
NF_BR_FORWARD somewhere in recv_{bat,icmp,unicast,bcast}_packet() if
packet is being forwarded [*]


b) Why do you use bridge tables at all? This layer does not know
anything about batman layer, only ethernet that is only a tunnel for
batman. So, it is able to hook traffic from concrete prev-hop routers,
but not from original sources of packets. I think it is not enough for
network filter.
Also if you want to process [*] cases you have to append fake
ethernet headers before network header as NF_HOOK() would use ethernet
header.

So, I see 2 solutions:
1) write your own table layer similar to ebtables & userland tool :) It
is costly, but you'll be able to fully filter/hook of batman traffic.
2) write ebtables module to check batman header fields. It is slightly
slower, but potentially may do the same as (1).

However, I think it is not so important and may be rated as feature.


c) Maybe it's better to give user an ability to tune some network
parameters? Like ttl, whether answer to icmp, ratelimit of generating
output icmps, etc.


d) Why do you send icmp TTL exceeded for the icmp itself? E.g. in case
of loop or/and small default TTL you'll probably get a storm of icmps.
Exactly in this case IP silently drops TTL exceeded icmps ;)


Hope this information will be usefull.


Thanks,
Vasiliy.
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