[PATCH v3 2/8] ima: Switch to ima_hash_algo for boot aggregate

[Mimi Zohar]

> > > > On Mon, 2020-02-10 at 11:00 +0100, Roberto Sassu wrote: 
> > My initial patch attempted to use any common TPM and kernel hash
> > algorithm to calculate the boot_aggregate.  The discussion with James
> > was pretty clear, which you even stated in the Changelog.  Either we
> > use the IMA default hash algorithm, SHA256 for TPM 2.0 or SHA1 for TPM
> > 1.2 for the boot-aggregate.
> 
> Ok, I didn't understand fully. I thought we should use the default IMA
> algorithm and select SHA256 as fallback choice for TPM 2.0 if there is no
> PCR bank for default algorithm.

Yes, preference is given to the IMA default algorithm, but it should
fall back to using SHA256 or SHA1, based on the TPM.

> I additionally implemented the logic to
> select the first PCR bank if the SHA256 PCR bank is not available but I can
> remove it.
> 
> SHA256 should be the minimum requirement for boot aggregate. The
> advantage of using the default IMA algorithm is that it will be possible to
> select stronger algorithms when they are supported by the TPM. We might
> introduce a new option to specify only the algorithm for boot aggregate,
> like James suggested to support embedded systems. Let me know which
> option you prefer.

I don't remember James saying that, but if the community really wants
that support, then it should be upstreamed independently, as a
separate patch.  Let's first get the basics working.

thanks,

Mimi