RE: [PATCH v3 2/3] ima: Return int in the functions to measure a buffer

[Roberto Sassu]

> From: Mimi Zohar [mailto:zohar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 10:28 PM
> Hi Roberto,
> 
> On Mon, 2021-07-05 at 11:09 +0200, Roberto Sassu wrote:
> > ima_measure_critical_data() and process_buffer_measurement() currently
> > don't return a result. A caller wouldn't be able to know whether those
> > functions were executed successfully.
> 
> Missing is an explanation as to why these functions aren't currently
> returning a result.   The LSM/IMA hooks only return a negative result
> for failure to appraise a file's integrity, not measure a file.  Only
> failure to appraise a file's integrity results in preventing the file
> from being read/executed/mmaped.  Other failures are only audited.

Hi Mimi

ok, will add it.

> > This patch modifies the return type from void to int, and returns 0 if the
> > buffer has been successfully measured, a negative value otherwise.
> 
> Needed here is an explanation as to why ima_measure_critical_data() is
> special.

We don't want to unnecessarily calculate the digest twice.

> > Also, this patch does not modify the behavior of existing callers by
> > processing the returned value. For those, the return value is ignored.
> 
> I agree that the existing behavior shouldn't change, but will this
> result in the bots complaining?

If I remember correctly, I didn't get any error even with W=1.

Thanks

Roberto

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES Duesseldorf GmbH, HRB 56063
Managing Director: Li Peng, Li Jian, Shi Yanli

> thanks,
> 
> Mimi