Re: [PATCH 2 of 4] ima: related Makefile compile order change and Readme

From: Pavel Machek
Date: Wed May 25 2005 - 17:01:12 EST


Hi!

> > >
> > > If I understand you, then you are claiming that steps (ii) to (v)
> > > introduce buffer overflows in bash or show_etc_issue. How?
> >
> > No, I'm not claiming that. You are certainly *not* introducing any new
> > problems.
> >
> > But some problems that used to be harmless (buffer overrun in
> > show_etc_issue command) are not harmless any more.
>
> How is a buffer overrun in a script/application less "harmless" with IMA?
> Please be specific. Preliminary IMA patches are out on the mailing lists.
>
> The only thing that IMA does with respect to existing known buffer
> overruns is that it enables remote parties to know that there is an application
> with a known buffer overrun if this application/script was measured. Such
> information is sensitive and this is one reason why direct access to the
> measurements are restricted to authorized/trusted parties.

Well, you'll have to add measurement of any security-sensitive config
file, any script, and will have to make sure that all parsing of
system config files does not contain buffer-overrun problems. That's
lot of work before IMA is usefull. It is true you do not make
situation any worse.

Good luck and go ahead.
Pavel
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