Re: [PATCH 1/2] security: Change name of CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA

From: Laura Abbott
Date: Wed Jan 25 2017 - 06:21:21 EST


On 01/19/2017 08:53 AM, Pavel Machek wrote:
On Wed 2017-01-18 17:29:05, Laura Abbott wrote:

Despite the word 'debug' in CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA, this kernel option
provides key security features that are to be expected on a modern
system. Change the name to CONFIG_HARDENED_PAGE_MAPPINGS which more
accurately describes what this option is intended to do.

I think this is bad change. CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA is describing what it
does, CONFIG_HARDENED_PAGE_MAPPINGS is advertising.

We don't do advertising, and we don't force people to re-answer the
config questions without good reason.

CONFIG_HARDENED_RODATA might fix the first problem, but not the second
one.

Pavel


(Apologies, my SMTP was set up incorrectly so my response didn't
actually get sent out)

CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA isn't describing what it does though. It misses
that this config may handle much more than just rodata. I think
Mark Rutland's suggestion of STRICT_KERNEL_RWX might be more
descriptive.

Thanks,
Laura