[RFC PATCH v19 1/5] exec: Add a new AT_CHECK flag to execveat(2)

[Mickaël Salaün]

On Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 06:29:54PM -0700, Jeff Xu wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 5:24 AM Mickaël Salaün <mic at digikod.net> wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, Jul 17, 2024 at 07:08:17PM -0700, Jeff Xu wrote:
> > > On Wed, Jul 17, 2024 at 3:01 AM Mickaël Salaün <mic at digikod.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 11:33:55PM -0700, Jeff Xu wrote:
> > > > > On Thu, Jul 4, 2024 at 12:02 PM Mickaël Salaün <mic at digikod.net> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Add a new AT_CHECK flag to execveat(2) to check if a file would be
> > > > > > allowed for execution.  The main use case is for script interpreters and
> > > > > > dynamic linkers to check execution permission according to the kernel's
> > > > > > security policy. Another use case is to add context to access logs e.g.,
> > > > > > which script (instead of interpreter) accessed a file.  As any
> > > > > > executable code, scripts could also use this check [1].
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is different than faccessat(2) which only checks file access
> > > > > > rights, but not the full context e.g. mount point's noexec, stack limit,
> > > > > > and all potential LSM extra checks (e.g. argv, envp, credentials).
> > > > > > Since the use of AT_CHECK follows the exact kernel semantic as for a
> > > > > > real execution, user space gets the same error codes.
> > > > > >
> > > > > So we concluded that execveat(AT_CHECK) will be used to check the
> > > > > exec, shared object, script and config file (such as seccomp config),

> > > > > I think binfmt_elf.c in the kernel needs to check the ld.so to make
> > > > > sure it passes AT_CHECK, before loading it into memory.
> > > >
> > > > All ELF dependencies are opened and checked with open_exec(), which
> > > > perform the main executability checks (with the __FMODE_EXEC flag).
> > > > Did I miss something?
> > > >
> > > I mean the ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 which is loaded by binfmt in the kernel.
> > > The app can choose its own dynamic linker path during build, (maybe
> > > even statically link one ?)  This is another reason that relying on a
> > > userspace only is not enough.
> >
> > The kernel calls open_exec() on all dependencies, including
> > ld-linux-x86-64.so.2, so these files are checked for executability too.
> >
> This might not be entirely true. iiuc, kernel  calls open_exec for
> open_exec for interpreter, but not all its dependency (e.g. libc.so.6)

Correct, the dynamic linker is in charge of that, which is why it must
be enlighten with execveat+AT_CHECK and securebits checks.

> load_elf_binary() {
>    interpreter = open_exec(elf_interpreter);
> }
> 
> libc.so.6 is opened and mapped by dynamic linker.
> so the call sequence is:
>  execve(a.out)
>   - open exec(a.out)
>   - security_bprm_creds(a.out)
>   - open the exec(ld.so)
>   - call open_exec() for interruptor (ld.so)
>   - call execveat(AT_CHECK, ld.so) <-- do we want ld.so going through
> the same check and code path as libc.so below ?

open_exec() checks are enough.  LSMs can use this information (open +
__FMODE_EXEC) if needed.  execveat+AT_CHECK is only a user space
request.

>   - transfer the control to ld.so)
>   - ld.so open (libc.so)
>   - ld.so call execveat(AT_CHECK,libc.so) <-- proposed by this patch,
> require dynamic linker change.
>   - ld.so mmap(libc.so,rx)

Explaining these steps is useful. I'll include that in the next patch
series.

> > > A detailed user case will help demonstrate the use case for dynamic
> > > linker, e.g. what kind of app will benefit from
> > > SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE = 1, what kind of threat model are we
> > > dealing with , what kind of attack chain we blocked as a result.
> >
> > I explained that in the patches and in the description of these new
> > securebits.  Please point which part is not clear.  The full threat
> > model is simple: the TCB includes the kernel and system's files, which
> > are integrity-protected, but we don't trust arbitrary data/scripts that
> > can be written to user-owned files or directly provided to script
> > interpreters.  As for the ptrace restrictions, the dynamic linker
> > restrictions helps to avoid trivial bypasses (e.g. with LD_PRELOAD)
> > with consistent executability checks.
> >
> On elf loading case, I'm clear after your last email. However, I'm not
> sure if everyone else follows,  I will try to summarize here:
> - Problem:  ld.so /tmp/a.out will happily pass, even /tmp/a.out is
> mounted as non-exec.
>   Solution: ld.so call execveat(AT_CHECK) for a.out before mmap a.out
> into memory.
> 
> - Problem: a poorly built application (a.out) can have a dependency on
> /tmp/a.o, when /tmp/a.o is on non-exec mount,
>   Solution: ld.so call execveat(AT_CHECK) for a.o, before mmap a.o into memory.
> 
> - Problem: application can call mmap (/tmp/a.out, rx), where /tmp is
> on non-exec mount

I'd say "malicious or non-enlightened processes" can call mmap without
execveat+AT_CHECK...

>   This is out of scope, i.e. will require enforcement on mmap(), maybe
> through LSM

Cool, I'll include that as well. Thanks.