Re: [PATCH v12 6/7] x86/arch_prctl: Add ARCH_[GET|SET]_CPUID

From: Andy Lutomirski
Date: Fri Nov 18 2016 - 12:33:15 EST


On Nov 18, 2016 12:14 AM, "Ingo Molnar" <mingo@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> * Kyle Huey <me@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Intel supports faulting on the CPUID instruction beginning with Ivy Bridge.
> > When enabled, the processor will fault on attempts to execute the CPUID
> > instruction with CPL>0. Exposing this feature to userspace will allow a
> > ptracer to trap and emulate the CPUID instruction.
> >
> > When supported, this feature is controlled by toggling bit 0 of
> > MSR_MISC_FEATURES_ENABLES. It is documented in detail in Section 2.3.2 of
> > https://bugzilla.kernel.org/attachment.cgi?id=243991
> >
> > Implement a new pair of arch_prctls, available on both x86-32 and x86-64.
> >
> > ARCH_GET_CPUID: Returns the current CPUID faulting state, either
> > ARCH_CPUID_ENABLE or ARCH_CPUID_SIGSEGV. arg2 must be 0.
> >
> > ARCH_SET_CPUID: Set the CPUID faulting state to arg2, which must be either
> > ARCH_CPUID_ENABLE or ARCH_CPUID_SIGSEGV. Returns EINVAL if arg2 is
> > another value or CPUID faulting is not supported on this system.
>
> So the interface is:
>
> > +#define ARCH_GET_CPUID 0x1005
> > +#define ARCH_SET_CPUID 0x1006
> > +#define ARCH_CPUID_ENABLE 1
> > +#define ARCH_CPUID_SIGSEGV 2
>
> Which maps to:
>
> prctl(ARCH_SET_CPUID, 0); /* -EINVAL */
> prctl(ARCH_SET_CPUID, 1); /* enable CPUID [i.e. make it work without faulting] */
> prctl(ARCH_SET_CPUID, 2); /* disable CPUID [i.e. make it fault] */
>
> ret = prctl(ARCH_GET_CPUID, 0); /* return current state: 1==on, 2==off */
>
> This is a very broken interface that makes very little sense.
>
> It would be much better to use a more natural interface where 1/0 means on/off and
> where ARCH_GET_CPUID returns the current natural state:
>
> prctl(ARCH_SET_CPUID, 0); /* disable CPUID [i.e. make it fault] */
> prctl(ARCH_SET_CPUID, 1); /* enable CPUID [i.e. make it work without faulting] */
>
> ret = prctl(ARCH_GET_CPUID); /* 1==enabled, 0==disabled */
>
> See how natural it is? The use of the ARCH_CPUID_SIGSEGV/ENABLED symbols can be
> avoided altogether. This will cut down on some of the ugliness in the kernel code
> as well - and clean up the argument name as well: instead of naming it 'int arg2'
> it can be named the more natural 'int cpuid_enabled'.
>
> > The state of the CPUID faulting flag is propagated across forks, but reset
> > upon exec.
>
> I don't think this is the natural API for propagating settings across exec().
> We should reset the flag on exec() only if security considerations require it -
> i.e. like perf events are cleared.
>
> If binaries that assume a working CPUID are exec()-ed then CPUID can be enabled
> explicitly.

I disagree. I'd rather not create more weird state that's carried
across exec. We already have the iopl screwup IIRC. I think exec
should stay as close to just working as possible.

Also, if we keep it disabled across exec, we have to come up with a
usable API that respects security considerations. We could use
no_new_privs or we could auto-clear it on privilege changes. The
former is IMO overcomplicated and the latter is really ugly especially
when LSMs are involved.

>
> Clearing it automatically loses the ability of a pure no-CPUID environment to
> exec() a CPUID-safe binary.

If we really want this, let's wait until a user appears and add a
"sticky" no-CPUID mode that requires no_new_privs to enable.

--Andy