[PATCH v2 1/5] crypto: fips: add fips_exception kernel boot parameter and fips_allows() helper

[Jose Ignacio Tornos Martinez]

Add a new kernel boot parameter fips_exception=<bitmap> to allow
documented exceptions to strict FIPS compliance when full compliance
is not achievable due to hardware/firmware limitations but
functionality is required.

The parameter is stored in a static variable and accessed through the
exported fips_allows() helper function, which returns true if FIPS is
not enabled or the requested exception bit is set. It is not meant
for fully FIPS-compliant features.

For !CONFIG_CRYPTO_FIPS, fips_allows() is a trivial static inline
returning true.

The parameter is exposed as a read-only sysctl at
/proc/sys/crypto/fips_exception for runtime inspection. As with
fips_enabled, it is intentionally not writable at runtime so that
enabling exceptions requires a deliberate boot-time decision,
visible in /proc/cmdline.

The bitmap design allows individual subsystem exceptions to be
defined independently. Currently defined bits:
  - Bit 0 (FIPS_EXCEPTION_WIFI_MFP): Allow WiFi MFP (802.11w)
    in FIPS mode despite firmware sending some unprotected
    management frames on TX

Without this parameter (or with fips_exception=0), all existing
FIPS restrictions remain in effect.

Signed-off-by: Jose Ignacio Tornos Martinez <jtornosm@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
v2: new, add crypto exception for fips
v1: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260629121213.597038-1-jtornosm@xxxxxxxxxx/

 crypto/fips.c        | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 include/linux/fips.h | 14 ++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 41 insertions(+)

diff --git a/crypto/fips.c b/crypto/fips.c
index c59711248d95..0f075e61a657 100644
--- a/crypto/fips.c
+++ b/crypto/fips.c
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(fips_enabled);
 ATOMIC_NOTIFIER_HEAD(fips_fail_notif_chain);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(fips_fail_notif_chain);
 
+static unsigned long fips_exception;
+
+int fips_allows(unsigned long feature)
+{
+	return !fips_enabled ||
+	       (fips_exception & feature);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(fips_allows);
+
 /* Process kernel command-line parameter at boot time. fips=0 or fips=1 */
 static int __init fips_enable(char *str)
 {
@@ -34,6 +43,17 @@ static int __init fips_enable(char *str)
 
 __setup("fips=", fips_enable);
 
+static int __init fips_exception_setup(char *str)
+{
+	if (kstrtoul(str, 0, &fips_exception))
+		return 0;
+
+	pr_info("fips exceptions: 0x%lx\n", fips_exception);
+	return 1;
+}
+
+__setup("fips_exception=", fips_exception_setup);
+
 #define FIPS_MODULE_NAME CONFIG_CRYPTO_FIPS_NAME
 #ifdef CONFIG_CRYPTO_FIPS_CUSTOM_VERSION
 #define FIPS_MODULE_VERSION CONFIG_CRYPTO_FIPS_VERSION
@@ -52,6 +72,13 @@ static const struct ctl_table crypto_sysctl_table[] = {
 		.mode		= 0444,
 		.proc_handler	= proc_dointvec
 	},
+	{
+		.procname	= "fips_exception",
+		.data		= &fips_exception,
+		.maxlen		= sizeof(unsigned long),
+		.mode		= 0444,
+		.proc_handler	= proc_doulongvec_minmax
+	},
 	{
 		.procname	= "fips_name",
 		.data		= &fips_name,
diff --git a/include/linux/fips.h b/include/linux/fips.h
index c6961e932fef..61fe58b0762c 100644
--- a/include/linux/fips.h
+++ b/include/linux/fips.h
@@ -2,17 +2,31 @@
 #ifndef _FIPS_H
 #define _FIPS_H
 
+#include <linux/bits.h>
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_CRYPTO_FIPS
 extern int fips_enabled;
 extern struct atomic_notifier_head fips_fail_notif_chain;
 
 void fips_fail_notify(void);
+/*
+ * fips_allows - check if a not fully FIPS-compliant feature is allowed
+ * via an explicit boot-time exception (fips_exception=).
+ * Not for fully FIPS-compliant features.
+ */
+int fips_allows(unsigned long feature);
 
 #else
 #define fips_enabled 0
 
 static inline void fips_fail_notify(void) {}
+static inline int fips_allows(unsigned long feature)
+{
+	return 1;
+}
 
 #endif
 
+#define FIPS_EXCEPTION_WIFI_MFP	BIT(0)
+
 #endif
-- 
2.55.0