Re: [PATCH v2 2/3] LoadPin: Enable loading from trusted dm-verity devices

From: Kees Cook
Date: Sun May 01 2022 - 02:32:50 EST


On Tue, Apr 26, 2022 at 02:31:09PM -0700, Matthias Kaehlcke wrote:
> I'm still doubting what would be the best way to configure
> the list of trusted digests. The approach in v2 of writing
> a path through sysctl is flexible, but it also feels a bit
> odd. I did some experiments with passing a file descriptor
> through sysctl, but it's also odd and has its own issues.
> Passing the list through a kernel parameter seems hacky.
> A Kconfig string would work, but can be have issues when
> the same config is used for different platforms, where
> some may have trusted digests and others not.

I prefer the idea of passing an fd, since that can just use LoadPin
itself to verify the origin of the fd.

I also agree, though, that it's weird as a sysctl. Possible thoughts:

- make it a new ioctl on /dev/mapper/control (seems reasonable given
that it's specifically about dm devices).
- have LoadPin grow a securityfs node, maybe something like
/sys/kernel/security/loadpin/dm-verify and do the ioctl there (seems
reasonable given that it's specifically about LoadPin, but is perhaps
more overhead to built the securityfs).

--
Kees Cook