[PATCH v4] KEYS: Protect pkey method checks against type removal
From: Yuansheng Yang
Date: Thu Nov 05 2026 - 14:49:59 EST
keyctl_pkey_params_get() looks up the key, and keyctl_pkey_query(),
keyctl_pkey_e_d_s() and keyctl_pkey_verify() then dereference
key->type->asym_* outside key->sem. A reference keeps the key alive, but
does not pin the module providing its type.
unregister_key_type() calls key_gc_keytype(), which retypes every
remaining key of the type to key_type_dead under key->sem for writing.
The pkey paths read key->type again after their checks, so a concurrent
module unload can turn the checked callback into the NULL key_type_dead
member and call through a NULL function pointer, e.g.:
KEYCTL_PKEY_SIGN task Module unload and key GC
------------------------ ------------------------
keyctl_pkey_e_d_s()
if (!key->type->asym_eds_op) unregister_key_type()
GC: down_write(&key->sem)
GC: retype to key_type_dead
GC: up_write(&key->sem)
free_module()
in = memdup_user(...)
key->type->asym_eds_op(...) -> NULL call
In-tree, turris-signing-key provides such methods.
Remove the key->type->asym_query check from keyctl_pkey_params_get(): it
runs without key->sem, so key_gc_keytype() can retype the key right after
it. Instead, make keyctl_pkey_params_get_2(), keyctl_pkey_query(),
keyctl_pkey_e_d_s() and keyctl_pkey_verify() each take key->sem for
reading, check the key->type->asym_* method they are about to call, call
it and release key->sem. As key_gc_keytype() takes key->sem for writing
before it retypes the key, key->type cannot change between the check and
the call. Drop the asym_eds_op and asym_verify_signature checks that
keyctl_pkey_e_d_s() and keyctl_pkey_verify() did before memdup_user() for
the same reason; -EOPNOTSUPP is now returned from under key->sem.
memdup_user(), kmalloc() and copy_to_user() stay outside key->sem, as in
__keyctl_read_key().
This problem was recently fixed for keyctl_read_key() by 925c84e3cc21
("keys: Protect the read method check against type removal") and for
key_update() by aef3a8a4f988 ("KEYS: Protect the update method check
against type removal").
Fixes: 00d60fd3b932 ("KEYS: Provide keyctls to drive the new key type ops for asymmetric keys [ver #2]")
Cc: stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Signed-off-by: Yuansheng Yang <0xbeac@xxxxxxxxx>
---
Changes in v4:
- Rewrite the commit message: describe what changes in
keyctl_pkey_params_get(), keyctl_pkey_params_get_2() and the three
keyctl handlers and why, and cite the read/update fixes by subject.
- Rename the out_unlock labels to out_up_key_sem.
- Use out_up_key_sem / out_free_in / out_free_params in
keyctl_pkey_verify(); leave the other functions' existing labels alone.
- No functional change relative to v3.
v3: https://lore.kernel.org/all/9d47e202bd11857b3555e6b95694b3c3a4f2460b.1793852399.git.0xbeac@xxxxxxxxx/
v2: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20261104021414.50696-1-0xbeac@xxxxxxxxx/
security/keys/keyctl_pkey.c | 58 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
1 file changed, 42 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-)
diff --git a/security/keys/keyctl_pkey.c b/security/keys/keyctl_pkey.c
index 15b6bf6399..3e3253330c 100644
--- a/security/keys/keyctl_pkey.c
+++ b/security/keys/keyctl_pkey.c
@@ -100,9 +100,6 @@ static int keyctl_pkey_params_get(key_serial_t id,
return PTR_ERR(key_ref);
params->key = key_ref_to_ptr(key_ref);
- if (!params->key->type->asym_query)
- return -EOPNOTSUPP;
-
return 0;
}
@@ -129,7 +126,16 @@ static int keyctl_pkey_params_get_2(const struct keyctl_pkey_params __user *_par
if (ret < 0)
return ret;
+ down_read(¶ms->key->sem);
+ if (!params->key->type->asym_query) {
+ ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ goto out_up_key_sem;
+ }
+
ret = params->key->type->asym_query(params, &info);
+
+out_up_key_sem:
+ up_read(¶ms->key->sem);
if (ret < 0)
return ret;
@@ -185,7 +191,16 @@ long keyctl_pkey_query(key_serial_t id,
if (ret < 0)
goto error;
+ down_read(¶ms.key->sem);
+ if (!params.key->type->asym_query) {
+ ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ goto out_up_key_sem;
+ }
+
ret = params.key->type->asym_query(¶ms, &res);
+
+out_up_key_sem:
+ up_read(¶ms.key->sem);
if (ret < 0)
goto error;
@@ -230,10 +245,6 @@ long keyctl_pkey_e_d_s(int op,
if (ret < 0)
goto error_params;
- ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
- if (!params.key->type->asym_eds_op)
- goto error_params;
-
switch (op) {
case KEYCTL_PKEY_ENCRYPT:
params.op = kernel_pkey_encrypt;
@@ -260,7 +271,16 @@ long keyctl_pkey_e_d_s(int op,
if (!out)
goto error_in;
+ down_read(¶ms.key->sem);
+ if (!params.key->type->asym_eds_op) {
+ ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ goto out_up_key_sem;
+ }
+
ret = params.key->type->asym_eds_op(¶ms, in, out);
+
+out_up_key_sem:
+ up_read(¶ms.key->sem);
if (ret < 0)
goto error_out;
@@ -305,31 +325,37 @@ long keyctl_pkey_verify(const struct keyctl_pkey_params __user *_params,
ret = keyctl_pkey_params_get_2(_params, _info, KEYCTL_PKEY_VERIFY,
¶ms);
if (ret < 0)
- goto error_params;
-
- ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
- if (!params.key->type->asym_verify_signature)
- goto error_params;
+ goto out_free_params;
in = memdup_user(_in, params.in_len);
if (IS_ERR(in)) {
ret = PTR_ERR(in);
- goto error_params;
+ goto out_free_params;
}
in2 = memdup_user(_in2, params.in2_len);
if (IS_ERR(in2)) {
ret = PTR_ERR(in2);
- goto error_in;
+ goto out_free_in;
}
params.op = kernel_pkey_verify;
+ down_read(¶ms.key->sem);
+ if (!params.key->type->asym_verify_signature) {
+ ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ goto out_up_key_sem;
+ }
+
ret = params.key->type->asym_verify_signature(¶ms, in, in2);
+out_up_key_sem:
+ up_read(¶ms.key->sem);
kfree(in2);
-error_in:
+
+out_free_in:
kfree(in);
-error_params:
+
+out_free_params:
keyctl_pkey_params_free(¶ms);
return ret;
}
--
2.43.0