This patch-set is the first-cut implementation of write-rare memory protection, as previously agreed [1] Its purpose it to keep data write protected kernel data which is seldom modified. There is no read overhead, however writing requires special operations that are probably unsitable for often-changing data. The use is opt-in, by applying the modifier __wr_after_init to a variable declaration.
As the name implies, the write protection kicks in only after init() is completed; before that moment, the data is modifiable in the usual way. Current Limitations: * supports only data which is allocated statically, at build time. * supports only x86_64 * might not work for very large amount of data, since it relies on the assumption that said data can be entirely remapped, at init. Some notes: - even if the code is only for x86_64, it is placed in the generic locations, with the intention of extending it also to arm64 - the current section used for collecting wr-after-init data might need to be moved, to work with arm64 MMU - the functionality is in its own c and h files, for now, to ease the introduction (and refactoring) of code dealing with dynamic allocation - recently some updated patches were posted for live-patch on arm64 [2], they might help with adding arm64 support here - to avoid the risk of weakening __ro_after_init, __wr_after_init data is in a separate set of pages, and any invocation will confirm that the memory affected falls within this range. I have modified rodata_test accordingly, to check als othis case. - to avoid replicating the code which does the change of mapping, there is only one function performing multiple, selectable, operations, such as memcpy(), memset(). I have added also rcu_assign_pointer() as further example. But I'm not too fond of this implementation either. I just couldn't think of any that I would like significantly better. - I have left out the patchset from Nadav that these patches depend on, but it can be found here [3] (Should have I resubmitted it?) - I am not sure what is the correct form for giving proper credit wrt the authoring of the wr_after_init mechanism, guidance would be appreciated - In an attempt to spam less people, I have curbed the list of recipients. If I have omitted someone who should have been kept/added, please add them to the thread. [1] https://www.openwall.com/lists/kernel-hardening/2018/11/22/8 [2] https://www.mail-archive.com/linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org/msg1793199.html [3] https://www.mail-archive.com/linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org/msg1810245.html Signed-off-by: Igor Stoppa <igor.sto...@huawei.com> CC: Andy Lutomirski <l...@amacapital.net> CC: Nadav Amit <nadav.a...@gmail.com> CC: Matthew Wilcox <wi...@infradead.org> CC: Peter Zijlstra <pet...@infradead.org> CC: Kees Cook <keesc...@chromium.org> CC: Dave Hansen <dave.han...@linux.intel.com> CC: linux-integr...@vger.kernel.org CC: kernel-harden...@lists.openwall.com CC: linux...@kvack.org CC: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Igor Stoppa (6): [PATCH 1/6] __wr_after_init: linker section and label [PATCH 2/6] __wr_after_init: write rare for static allocation [PATCH 3/6] rodata_test: refactor tests [PATCH 4/6] rodata_test: add verification for __wr_after_init [PATCH 5/6] __wr_after_init: test write rare functionality [PATCH 6/6] __wr_after_init: lkdtm test drivers/misc/lkdtm/core.c | 3 + drivers/misc/lkdtm/lkdtm.h | 3 + drivers/misc/lkdtm/perms.c | 29 ++++++++ include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h | 20 ++++++ include/linux/cache.h | 17 +++++ include/linux/prmem.h | 134 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ init/main.c | 2 + mm/Kconfig | 4 ++ mm/Kconfig.debug | 9 +++ mm/Makefile | 2 + mm/prmem.c | 124 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ mm/rodata_test.c | 63 ++++++++++++------ mm/test_write_rare.c | 135 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 13 files changed, 525 insertions(+), 20 deletions(-)
