Re: [RFC][PATCH] Randomize kernel base address on boot

From: Valdis . Kletnieks
Date: Thu May 26 2011 - 16:17:14 EST


On Thu, 26 May 2011 16:01:21 EDT, Vivek Goyal said:

> Also randomization of kernel load address at run time will probably have
> some issues with crashkernel=X@Y address syntax. So far user knew what
> address first kernel is booting from and user could speicy where to
> reserve memory. Now it might happen that user specified some memory
> to reserve and kernel decided to occupy that space resulting in failed
> memory reservation for crash kernel.

That is however fixable - the randomizer just needs to make sure it doesn't
overlay the crashkernel= space, and the crashkernel needs to be started with a
'norandomize' parameter. If your threat model includes attacks on the
crashkernel that randomizing will help with, you got bigger problems. ;)

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