Re: [PATCH bpf-next v1 7/9] bpf: Lift permission check in __sys_bpf when called from kernel.

[Hao Luo]

On Wed, Mar 2, 2022 at 12:02 PM Alexei Starovoitov
<alexei.starovoitov@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> On Fri, Feb 25, 2022 at 03:43:37PM -0800, Hao Luo wrote:
> > After we introduced sleepable tracing programs, we now have an
> > interesting problem. There are now three execution paths that can
> > reach bpf_sys_bpf:
> >
> >  1. called from bpf syscall.
> >  2. called from kernel context (e.g. kernel modules).
> >  3. called from bpf programs.
> >
> > Ideally, capability check in bpf_sys_bpf is necessary for the first two
> > scenarios. But it may not be necessary for the third case.
>
> Well, it's unnecessary for the first two as well.
> When called from the kernel lskel it's a pointless check.
> The kernel module can do anything regardless.
> When called from bpf syscall program it's not quite correct either.
> When CAP_BPF was introduced we've designed it to enforce permissions
> at prog load time. The prog_run doesn't check permissions.
> So syscall progs don't need this secondary permission check.
> Please add "case BPF_PROG_TYPE_SYSCALL:" to is_perfmon_prog_type()
> and combine it with this patch.
>

Sure, will do.

> That would be the best. The alternative below is less appealing.
>
> > An alternative of lifting this permission check would be introducing an
> > 'unpriv' version of bpf_sys_bpf, which doesn't check the current task's
> > capability. If the owner of the tracing prog wants it to be exclusively
> > used by root users, they can use the 'priv' version of bpf_sys_bpf; if
> > the owner wants it to be usable for non-root users, they can use the
> > 'unpriv' version.
>
> ...
>
> > -     if (sysctl_unprivileged_bpf_disabled && !bpf_capable())
> > +     if (sysctl_unprivileged_bpf_disabled && !bpf_capable() && !uattr.is_kernel)
>
> This is great idea. If I could think of this I would went with it when prog_syscall
> was introduced.

Thanks!