[PATCH] x86/alternatives: Make FineIBT mode Kconfig selectable

From: Kees Cook
Date: Tue Apr 30 2024 - 20:02:34 EST


Since FineIBT performs checking at the destination, it is weaker against
attacks that can construct arbitrary executable memory contents. As such,
some system builders want to run with FineIBT disabled by default. Allow
the "cfi=kcfi" boot param mode to be selectable through Kconfig via the
newly introduced CONFIG_CFI_AUTO_DEFAULT.

Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <keescook@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
Cc: Peter Zijlstra <peterz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Thomas Gleixner <tglx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Ingo Molnar <mingo@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Borislav Petkov <bp@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: x86@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Alexei Starovoitov <ast@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Sami Tolvanen <samitolvanen@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Nathan Chancellor <nathan@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
arch/x86/Kconfig | 9 +++++++++
arch/x86/include/asm/cfi.h | 2 +-
arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c | 8 ++++----
3 files changed, 14 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/Kconfig b/arch/x86/Kconfig
index 4fff6ed46e90..d5cf52d2f6a8 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/Kconfig
@@ -2424,6 +2424,15 @@ config STRICT_SIGALTSTACK_SIZE

Say 'N' unless you want to really enforce this check.

+config CFI_AUTO_DEFAULT
+ bool "Attempt to use FineIBT by default at boot time"
+ depends on FINEIBT
+ default y
+ help
+ Attempt to use FineIBT by default at boot time. If enabled,
+ this is the same as booting with "cfi=auto". If disabled,
+ this is the same as booting with "cfi=kcfi".
+
source "kernel/livepatch/Kconfig"

endmenu
diff --git a/arch/x86/include/asm/cfi.h b/arch/x86/include/asm/cfi.h
index 7cd752557905..31d19c815f99 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/asm/cfi.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/asm/cfi.h
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
*
*/
enum cfi_mode {
- CFI_DEFAULT, /* FineIBT if hardware has IBT, otherwise kCFI */
+ CFI_AUTO, /* FineIBT if hardware has IBT, otherwise kCFI */
CFI_OFF, /* Taditional / IBT depending on .config */
CFI_KCFI, /* Optionally CALL_PADDING, IBT, RETPOLINE */
CFI_FINEIBT, /* see arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c */
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
index 45a280f2161c..e8d0892d89cf 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
@@ -902,8 +902,8 @@ void __init_or_module apply_seal_endbr(s32 *start, s32 *end) { }

#endif /* CONFIG_X86_KERNEL_IBT */

-#ifdef CONFIG_FINEIBT
-#define __CFI_DEFAULT CFI_DEFAULT
+#ifdef CONFIG_CFI_AUTO_DEFAULT
+#define __CFI_DEFAULT CFI_AUTO
#elif defined(CONFIG_CFI_CLANG)
#define __CFI_DEFAULT CFI_KCFI
#else
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ static __init int cfi_parse_cmdline(char *str)
}

if (!strcmp(str, "auto")) {
- cfi_mode = CFI_DEFAULT;
+ cfi_mode = CFI_AUTO;
} else if (!strcmp(str, "off")) {
cfi_mode = CFI_OFF;
cfi_rand = false;
@@ -1271,7 +1271,7 @@ static void __apply_fineibt(s32 *start_retpoline, s32 *end_retpoline,
"FineIBT preamble wrong size: %ld", fineibt_preamble_size))
return;

- if (cfi_mode == CFI_DEFAULT) {
+ if (cfi_mode == CFI_AUTO) {
cfi_mode = CFI_KCFI;
if (HAS_KERNEL_IBT && cpu_feature_enabled(X86_FEATURE_IBT))
cfi_mode = CFI_FINEIBT;
--
2.34.1