Re: [PATCH] x86, msr: Allow read access to /dev/cpu/X/msr

[Prarit Bhargava]

On 06/26/2015 03:23 PM, Brian Gerst wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 1:52 PM, Prarit Bhargava <prarit@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Customers write system monitoring software for single systems as well as
>> clusters.  In load-balancing software it is useful to know how "busy" a
>> core is.  Unfortunately the only way to get this data is to run as root,
>> or use setcap to allow userspace access for particular programs.  Both of
>> these options are clunky at best.
>>
>> This patch allows read access to the msr dev files which should be okay.
>> No damage can be done by reading the MSR values and it allows non-root
>> users to run system monitoring software.
>>
>> The turbostat code specifically checks for CAP_SYS_RAWIO, which it
>> shouldn't have to and I've removed that code.  Additionally I've modified
>> the turbostat man page to remove documentation about configuring
>> CAP_SYS_RAW_IO.
>>
>> Note: Write access to msr is still restricted with this patch.
> 
> Allowing unrestricted read access to all MSRs is wrong.  Some MSRs
> contain addresses of kernel data structures, which can be used in
> security exploits.
> 
> The proper way to do this is to write a driver to only expose the MSRs
> that the user tools need, and nothing else.

Will do -- At least I got everyone's attention with this :).

P.

> 
> --
> Brian Gerst
> 
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