[PATCH v21 1/6] exec: Add a new AT_EXECVE_CHECK flag to execveat(2)
Jeff Xu
jeffxu at chromium.org
Wed Nov 20 16:06:07 UTC 2024
On Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 1:42 AM Mickaël Salaün <mic at digikod.net> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Nov 19, 2024 at 05:17:00PM -0800, Jeff Xu wrote:
> > On Tue, Nov 12, 2024 at 11:22 AM Mickaël Salaün <mic at digikod.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > Add a new AT_EXECVE_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 from faccessat(2) + X_OK which only checks a subset of
> > > access rights (i.e. inode permission and mount options for regular
> > > files), but not the full context (e.g. all LSM access checks). The main
> > > use case for access(2) is for SUID processes to (partially) check access
> > > on behalf of their caller. The main use case for execveat(2) +
> > > AT_EXECVE_CHECK is to check if a script execution would be allowed,
> > > according to all the different restrictions in place. Because the use
> > > of AT_EXECVE_CHECK follows the exact kernel semantic as for a real
> > > execution, user space gets the same error codes.
> > >
> > > An interesting point of using execveat(2) instead of openat2(2) is that
> > > it decouples the check from the enforcement. Indeed, the security check
> > > can be logged (e.g. with audit) without blocking an execution
> > > environment not yet ready to enforce a strict security policy.
> > >
> > > LSMs can control or log execution requests with
> > > security_bprm_creds_for_exec(). However, to enforce a consistent and
> > > complete access control (e.g. on binary's dependencies) LSMs should
> > > restrict file executability, or mesure executed files, with
> > > security_file_open() by checking file->f_flags & __FMODE_EXEC.
> > >
> > > Because AT_EXECVE_CHECK is dedicated to user space interpreters, it
> > > doesn't make sense for the kernel to parse the checked files, look for
> > > interpreters known to the kernel (e.g. ELF, shebang), and return ENOEXEC
> > > if the format is unknown. Because of that, security_bprm_check() is
> > > never called when AT_EXECVE_CHECK is used.
> > >
> > > It should be noted that script interpreters cannot directly use
> > > execveat(2) (without this new AT_EXECVE_CHECK flag) because this could
> > > lead to unexpected behaviors e.g., `python script.sh` could lead to Bash
> > > being executed to interpret the script. Unlike the kernel, script
> > > interpreters may just interpret the shebang as a simple comment, which
> > > should not change for backward compatibility reasons.
> > >
> > > Because scripts or libraries files might not currently have the
> > > executable permission set, or because we might want specific users to be
> > > allowed to run arbitrary scripts, the following patch provides a dynamic
> > > configuration mechanism with the SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE and
> > > SECBIT_EXEC_DENY_INTERACTIVE securebits.
> > >
> > > This is a redesign of the CLIP OS 4's O_MAYEXEC:
> > > https://github.com/clipos-archive/src_platform_clip-patches/blob/f5cb330d6b684752e403b4e41b39f7004d88e561/1901_open_mayexec.patch
> > > This patch has been used for more than a decade with customized script
> > > interpreters. Some examples can be found here:
> > > https://github.com/clipos-archive/clipos4_portage-overlay/search?q=O_MAYEXEC
> > >
> > > Cc: Al Viro <viro at zeniv.linux.org.uk>
> > > Cc: Christian Brauner <brauner at kernel.org>
> > > Cc: Kees Cook <keescook at chromium.org>
> > > Cc: Paul Moore <paul at paul-moore.com>
> > > Reviewed-by: Serge Hallyn <serge at hallyn.com>
> > > Link: https://docs.python.org/3/library/io.html#io.open_code [1]
> > > Signed-off-by: Mickaël Salaün <mic at digikod.net>
> > > Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20241112191858.162021-2-mic@digikod.net
> > > ---
> > >
> > > Changes since v20:
> > > * Rename AT_CHECK to AT_EXECVE_CHECK, requested by Amir Goldstein and
> > > Serge Hallyn.
> > > * Move the UAPI documentation to a dedicated RST file.
> > > * Add Reviewed-by: Serge Hallyn
> > >
> > > Changes since v19:
> > > * Remove mention of "role transition" as suggested by Andy.
> > > * Highlight the difference between security_bprm_creds_for_exec() and
> > > the __FMODE_EXEC check for LSMs (in commit message and LSM's hooks) as
> > > discussed with Jeff.
> > > * Improve documentation both in UAPI comments and kernel comments
> > > (requested by Kees).
> > >
> > > New design since v18:
> > > https://lore.kernel.org/r/20220104155024.48023-3-mic@digikod.net
> > > ---
> > > Documentation/userspace-api/check_exec.rst | 34 ++++++++++++++++++++++
> > > Documentation/userspace-api/index.rst | 1 +
> > > fs/exec.c | 20 +++++++++++--
> > > include/linux/binfmts.h | 7 ++++-
> > > include/uapi/linux/fcntl.h | 4 +++
> > > kernel/audit.h | 1 +
> > > kernel/auditsc.c | 1 +
> > > security/security.c | 10 +++++++
> > > 8 files changed, 75 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
> > > create mode 100644 Documentation/userspace-api/check_exec.rst
> > >
> > > diff --git a/Documentation/userspace-api/check_exec.rst b/Documentation/userspace-api/check_exec.rst
> > > new file mode 100644
> > > index 000000000000..ad1aeaa5f6c0
> > > --- /dev/null
> > > +++ b/Documentation/userspace-api/check_exec.rst
> > > @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
> > > +===================
> > > +Executability check
> > > +===================
> > > +
> > > +AT_EXECVE_CHECK
> > > +===============
> > > +
> > > +Passing the ``AT_EXECVE_CHECK`` flag to :manpage:`execveat(2)` only performs a
> > > +check on a regular file and returns 0 if execution of this file would be
> > > +allowed, ignoring the file format and then the related interpreter dependencies
> > > +(e.g. ELF libraries, script's shebang).
> > > +
> > > +Programs should always perform this check to apply kernel-level checks against
> > > +files that are not directly executed by the kernel but passed to a user space
> > > +interpreter instead. All files that contain executable code, from the point of
> > > +view of the interpreter, should be checked. However the result of this check
> > > +should only be enforced according to ``SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE`` or
> > > +``SECBIT_EXEC_DENY_INTERACTIVE.``.
> > Regarding "should only"
> > Userspace (e.g. libc) could decide to enforce even when
> > SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE=0), i.e. if it determines not-enforcing
> > doesn't make sense.
>
> User space is always in control, but I don't think it would be wise to
> not follow the configuration securebits (in a generic system) because
> this could result to unattended behaviors (I don't have a specific one
> in mind but...). That being said, configuration and checks are
> standalones and specific/tailored systems are free to do the checks they
> want.
>
In the case of dynamic linker, we can always enforce honoring the
execveat(AT_EXECVE_CHECK) result, right ? I can't think of a case not
to, the dynamic linker doesn't need to check the
SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE bit.
script interpreters need to check this though, because the apps might
need to adjust/test the scripts they are calling, so
SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE can be used to opt-out the enforcement.
> > When SECBIT_EXEC_RESTRICT_FILE=1, userspace is bound to enforce.
> >
> > > +
> > > +The main purpose of this flag is to improve the security and consistency of an
> > > +execution environment to ensure that direct file execution (e.g.
> > > +``./script.sh``) and indirect file execution (e.g. ``sh script.sh``) lead to
> > > +the same result. For instance, this can be used to check if a file is
> > > +trustworthy according to the caller's environment.
> > > +
> > > +In a secure environment, libraries and any executable dependencies should also
> > > +be checked. For instance, dynamic linking should make sure that all libraries
> > > +are allowed for execution to avoid trivial bypass (e.g. using ``LD_PRELOAD``).
> > > +For such secure execution environment to make sense, only trusted code should
> > > +be executable, which also requires integrity guarantees.
> > > +
> > > +To avoid race conditions leading to time-of-check to time-of-use issues,
> > > +``AT_EXECVE_CHECK`` should be used with ``AT_EMPTY_PATH`` to check against a
> > > +file descriptor instead of a path.
> > > diff --git a/Documentation/userspace-api/index.rst b/Documentation/userspace-api/index.rst
> > > index 274cc7546efc..6272bcf11296 100644
> > > --- a/Documentation/userspace-api/index.rst
> > > +++ b/Documentation/userspace-api/index.rst
> > > @@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ Security-related interfaces
> > > mfd_noexec
> > > spec_ctrl
> > > tee
> > > + check_exec
> > >
> > > Devices and I/O
> > > ===============
> > > diff --git a/fs/exec.c b/fs/exec.c
> > > index 6c53920795c2..bb83b6a39530 100644
> > > --- a/fs/exec.c
> > > +++ b/fs/exec.c
> > > @@ -891,7 +891,8 @@ static struct file *do_open_execat(int fd, struct filename *name, int flags)
> > > .lookup_flags = LOOKUP_FOLLOW,
> > > };
> > >
> > > - if ((flags & ~(AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW | AT_EMPTY_PATH)) != 0)
> > > + if ((flags &
> > > + ~(AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW | AT_EMPTY_PATH | AT_EXECVE_CHECK)) != 0)
> > > return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
> > > if (flags & AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW)
> > > open_exec_flags.lookup_flags &= ~LOOKUP_FOLLOW;
> > > @@ -1545,6 +1546,21 @@ static struct linux_binprm *alloc_bprm(int fd, struct filename *filename, int fl
> > > }
> > > bprm->interp = bprm->filename;
> > >
> > > + /*
> > > + * At this point, security_file_open() has already been called (with
> > > + * __FMODE_EXEC) and access control checks for AT_EXECVE_CHECK will
> > > + * stop just after the security_bprm_creds_for_exec() call in
> > > + * bprm_execve(). Indeed, the kernel should not try to parse the
> > > + * content of the file with exec_binprm() nor change the calling
> > > + * thread, which means that the following security functions will be
> > > + * not called:
> > > + * - security_bprm_check()
> > > + * - security_bprm_creds_from_file()
> > > + * - security_bprm_committing_creds()
> > > + * - security_bprm_committed_creds()
> > > + */
> > > + bprm->is_check = !!(flags & AT_EXECVE_CHECK);
> > > +
> > > retval = bprm_mm_init(bprm);
> > > if (!retval)
> > > return bprm;
> > > @@ -1839,7 +1855,7 @@ static int bprm_execve(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
> > >
> > > /* Set the unchanging part of bprm->cred */
> > > retval = security_bprm_creds_for_exec(bprm);
> > > - if (retval)
> > > + if (retval || bprm->is_check)
> > > goto out;
> > >
> > > retval = exec_binprm(bprm);
> > > diff --git a/include/linux/binfmts.h b/include/linux/binfmts.h
> > > index e6c00e860951..8ff0eb3644a1 100644
> > > --- a/include/linux/binfmts.h
> > > +++ b/include/linux/binfmts.h
> > > @@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ struct linux_binprm {
> > > * Set when errors can no longer be returned to the
> > > * original userspace.
> > > */
> > > - point_of_no_return:1;
> > > + point_of_no_return:1,
> > > + /*
> > > + * Set by user space to check executability according to the
> > > + * caller's environment.
> > > + */
> > > + is_check:1;
> > > struct file *executable; /* Executable to pass to the interpreter */
> > > struct file *interpreter;
> > > struct file *file;
> > > diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/fcntl.h b/include/uapi/linux/fcntl.h
> > > index 87e2dec79fea..2e87f2e3a79f 100644
> > > --- a/include/uapi/linux/fcntl.h
> > > +++ b/include/uapi/linux/fcntl.h
> > > @@ -154,6 +154,10 @@
> > > usable with open_by_handle_at(2). */
> > > #define AT_HANDLE_MNT_ID_UNIQUE 0x001 /* Return the u64 unique mount ID. */
> > >
> > > +/* Flags for execveat2(2). */
> > > +#define AT_EXECVE_CHECK 0x10000 /* Only perform a check if execution
> > > + would be allowed. */
> > > +
> > > #if defined(__KERNEL__)
> > > #define AT_GETATTR_NOSEC 0x80000000
> > > #endif
> > > diff --git a/kernel/audit.h b/kernel/audit.h
> > > index a60d2840559e..8ebdabd2ab81 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/audit.h
> > > +++ b/kernel/audit.h
> > > @@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ struct audit_context {
> > > struct open_how openat2;
> > > struct {
> > > int argc;
> > > + bool is_check;
> > > } execve;
> > > struct {
> > > char *name;
> > > diff --git a/kernel/auditsc.c b/kernel/auditsc.c
> > > index cd57053b4a69..8d9ba5600cf2 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/auditsc.c
> > > +++ b/kernel/auditsc.c
> > > @@ -2662,6 +2662,7 @@ void __audit_bprm(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
> > >
> > > context->type = AUDIT_EXECVE;
> > > context->execve.argc = bprm->argc;
> > > + context->execve.is_check = bprm->is_check;
> > Where is execve.is_check used ?
>
> It is used in bprm_execve(), exposed to the audit framework, and
> potentially used by LSMs.
>
bprm_execve() uses bprm->is_check, not the context->execve.is_check.
> >
> >
> > > }
> > >
> > >
> > > diff --git a/security/security.c b/security/security.c
> > > index c5981e558bc2..456361ec249d 100644
> > > --- a/security/security.c
> > > +++ b/security/security.c
> > > @@ -1249,6 +1249,12 @@ int security_vm_enough_memory_mm(struct mm_struct *mm, long pages)
> > > * to 1 if AT_SECURE should be set to request libc enable secure mode. @bprm
> > > * contains the linux_binprm structure.
> > > *
> > > + * If execveat(2) is called with the AT_EXECVE_CHECK flag, bprm->is_check is
> > > + * set. The result must be the same as without this flag even if the execution
> > > + * will never really happen and @bprm will always be dropped.
> > > + *
> > > + * This hook must not change current->cred, only @bprm->cred.
> > > + *
> > > * Return: Returns 0 if the hook is successful and permission is granted.
> > > */
> > > int security_bprm_creds_for_exec(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
> > > @@ -3100,6 +3106,10 @@ int security_file_receive(struct file *file)
> > > * Save open-time permission checking state for later use upon file_permission,
> > > * and recheck access if anything has changed since inode_permission.
> > > *
> > > + * We can check if a file is opened for execution (e.g. execve(2) call), either
> > > + * directly or indirectly (e.g. ELF's ld.so) by checking file->f_flags &
> > > + * __FMODE_EXEC .
> > > + *
> > > * Return: Returns 0 if permission is granted.
> > > */
> > > int security_file_open(struct file *file)
> > > --
> > > 2.47.0
> > >
> > >
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