Re: [PATCH 4/4] module: Add hook for security_kernel_post_read_file()

From: Kees Cook
Date: Tue Jul 07 2020 - 23:10:39 EST


On Tue, Jul 07, 2020 at 08:47:20PM -0400, Mimi Zohar wrote:
> On Tue, 2020-07-07 at 01:19 -0700, Kees Cook wrote:
> > Calls to security_kernel_load_data() should be paired with a call to
> > security_kernel_post_read_file() with a NULL file argument. Add the
> > missing call so the module contents are visible to the LSMs interested
> > in measuring the module content. (This also paves the way for moving
> > module signature checking out of the module core and into an LSM.)
> >
> > Cc: Jessica Yu <jeyu@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Fixes: c77b8cdf745d ("module: replace the existing LSM hook in init_module")
> > Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <keescook@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > ---
> > kernel/module.c | 7 ++++++-
> > 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
> >
> > diff --git a/kernel/module.c b/kernel/module.c
> > index 0c6573b98c36..af9679f8e5c6 100644
> > --- a/kernel/module.c
> > +++ b/kernel/module.c
> > @@ -2980,7 +2980,12 @@ static int copy_module_from_user(const void __user *umod, unsigned long len,
> > return -EFAULT;
> > }
> >
> > - return 0;
> > + err = security_kernel_post_read_file(NULL, (char *)info->hdr,
> > + info->len, READING_MODULE);
>
> There was a lot of push back on calling security_kernel_read_file()
> with a NULL file descriptor here.[1]  The result was defining a new
> security hook - security_kernel_load_data - and enumeration -
> LOADING_MODULE.  I would prefer calling the same pre and post security
> hook.
>
> Mimi
>
> [1] http://kernsec.org/pipermail/linux-security-module-archive/2018-May/007110.html

Ah yes, thanks for the pointer to the discussion.

I think we have four cases then, for differing LSM hooks:

- no "file", no contents
e.g. init_module() before copying user buffer
security_kernel_load_data()
- only a "file" available, no contents
e.g. kernel_read_file() before actually reading anything
security_kernel_read_file()
- "file" and contents
e.g. kernel_read_file() after reading
security_kernel_post_read_file()
- no "file" available, just the contents
e.g. firmware platform fallback from EFI space (no "file")
unimplemented!

If an LSM wants to be able to examine the contents of firmware, modules,
kexec, etc, it needs either a "file" or the full contents.

The "file" methods all pass through the kernel_read_file()-family. The
others happen via blobs coming from userspace or (more recently) the EFI
universe.

So, if a NULL file is unreasonable, we need, perhaps,
security_kernel_post_load_data()

?

--
Kees Cook