Re: [PATCH v2 1/2] mm: Implement memory-deny-write-execute as a prctl

[Catalin Marinas]

On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 05:10:08PM +0100, David Hildenbrand wrote:
> On 23.01.23 17:04, Catalin Marinas wrote:
> > On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 01:53:46PM +0100, David Hildenbrand wrote:
> > > That at least would be then similar to how we handle mmaped files: if the
> > > file is not executable, we clear VM_MAYEXEC. If the file is not writable, we
> > > clear VM_MAYWRITE.
> > 
> > We still allow VM_MAYWRITE for private mappings, though we do clear
> > VM_MAYEXEC if not executable.
> > 
> > It would be nice to use VM_MAY* flags for this logic but we can only
> > emulate MDWE if we change the semantics of 'MAY': only check the 'MAY'
> > flags for permissions being changed (e.g. allow PROT_EXEC if the vma is
> > already VM_EXEC even if !VM_MAYEXEC). Another issue is that we end up
> > with some weird combinations like having VM_EXEC without VM_MAYEXEC
> > (maybe that's fine).
> 
> No, we wouldn't want VM_EXEC if VM_MAYEXEC is not set. I don't immediately
> see how that would happen.

You are right, this shouldn't happen. What I had in mind was the current
MDWE model where after an mmap(PROT_EXEC), any mprotect(PROT_EXEC) is
denied. But this series departs slightly from this since we want to
allow PROT_EXEC if already executable.

-- 
Catalin