2016-03-10 20:04:58

by Hector Marco-Gisbert

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.

Currently on i386 and on X86_64 when emulating X86_32 in legacy mode, only
the stack and the executable are randomized but not other mmapped files
(libraries, vDSO, etc.). This patch enables randomization for the
libraries, vDSO and mmap requests on i386 and in X86_32 in legacy mode.

By default on i386 there are 8 bits for the randomization of the libraries,
vDSO and mmaps which only uses 1MB of VA.

This patch preserves the original randomness, using 1MB of VA out of 3GB or
4GB. We think that 1MB out of 3GB is not a big cost for having the ASLR.

The first obvious security benefit is that all objects are randomized (not
only the stack and the executable) in legacy mode which highly increases
the ASLR effectiveness, otherwise the attackers may use these
non-randomized areas. But also sensitive setuid/setgid applications are
more secure because currently, attackers can disable the randomization of
these applications by setting the ulimit stack to "unlimited". This is a
very old and widely known trick to disable the ASLR in i386 which has been
allowed for too long.

Another trick used to disable the ASLR was to set the ADDR_NO_RANDOMIZE
personality flag, but fortunately this doesn't work on setuid/setgid
applications because there is security checks which clear Security-relevant
flags.

This patch always randomizes the mmap_legacy_base address, removing the
possibility to disable the ASLR by setting the stack to "unlimited".


Signed-off-by: Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]>
Signed-off-by: Ismael Ripoll Ripoll <[email protected]>
---
arch/x86/mm/mmap.c | 14 +-------------
1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c b/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
index 72bb52f..d2dc043 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
@@ -94,18 +94,6 @@ static unsigned long mmap_base(unsigned long rnd)
}

/*
- * Bottom-up (legacy) layout on X86_32 did not support randomization, X86_64
- * does, but not when emulating X86_32
- */
-static unsigned long mmap_legacy_base(unsigned long rnd)
-{
- if (mmap_is_ia32())
- return TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE;
- else
- return TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE + rnd;
-}
-
-/*
* This function, called very early during the creation of a new
* process VM image, sets up which VM layout function to use:
*/
@@ -116,7 +104,7 @@ void arch_pick_mmap_layout(struct mm_struct *mm)
if (current->flags & PF_RANDOMIZE)
random_factor = arch_mmap_rnd();

- mm->mmap_legacy_base = mmap_legacy_base(random_factor);
+ mm->mmap_legacy_base = TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE + random_factor;

if (mmap_is_legacy()) {
mm->mmap_base = mm->mmap_legacy_base;
--
1.9.1


2016-03-10 20:23:43

by Kees Cook

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.

On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 11:51 AM, Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]> wrote:
> Currently on i386 and on X86_64 when emulating X86_32 in legacy mode, only
> the stack and the executable are randomized but not other mmapped files
> (libraries, vDSO, etc.). This patch enables randomization for the
> libraries, vDSO and mmap requests on i386 and in X86_32 in legacy mode.
>
> By default on i386 there are 8 bits for the randomization of the libraries,
> vDSO and mmaps which only uses 1MB of VA.
>
> This patch preserves the original randomness, using 1MB of VA out of 3GB or
> 4GB. We think that 1MB out of 3GB is not a big cost for having the ASLR.
>
> The first obvious security benefit is that all objects are randomized (not
> only the stack and the executable) in legacy mode which highly increases
> the ASLR effectiveness, otherwise the attackers may use these
> non-randomized areas. But also sensitive setuid/setgid applications are
> more secure because currently, attackers can disable the randomization of
> these applications by setting the ulimit stack to "unlimited". This is a
> very old and widely known trick to disable the ASLR in i386 which has been
> allowed for too long.
>
> Another trick used to disable the ASLR was to set the ADDR_NO_RANDOMIZE
> personality flag, but fortunately this doesn't work on setuid/setgid
> applications because there is security checks which clear Security-relevant
> flags.
>
> This patch always randomizes the mmap_legacy_base address, removing the
> possibility to disable the ASLR by setting the stack to "unlimited".
>
>
> Signed-off-by: Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]>
> Signed-off-by: Ismael Ripoll Ripoll <[email protected]>

Thanks! This has bugged me for a long time. :)

Acked-by: Kees Cook <[email protected]>

Arjan, or other folks, can you remember why x86_32 disabled mmap
randomization here? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for it that
I see.

-Kees

> ---
> arch/x86/mm/mmap.c | 14 +-------------
> 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 13 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c b/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
> index 72bb52f..d2dc043 100644
> --- a/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
> +++ b/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
> @@ -94,18 +94,6 @@ static unsigned long mmap_base(unsigned long rnd)
> }
>
> /*
> - * Bottom-up (legacy) layout on X86_32 did not support randomization, X86_64
> - * does, but not when emulating X86_32
> - */
> -static unsigned long mmap_legacy_base(unsigned long rnd)
> -{
> - if (mmap_is_ia32())
> - return TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE;
> - else
> - return TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE + rnd;
> -}
> -
> -/*
> * This function, called very early during the creation of a new
> * process VM image, sets up which VM layout function to use:
> */
> @@ -116,7 +104,7 @@ void arch_pick_mmap_layout(struct mm_struct *mm)
> if (current->flags & PF_RANDOMIZE)
> random_factor = arch_mmap_rnd();
>
> - mm->mmap_legacy_base = mmap_legacy_base(random_factor);
> + mm->mmap_legacy_base = TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE + random_factor;
>
> if (mmap_is_legacy()) {
> mm->mmap_base = mm->mmap_legacy_base;
> --
> 1.9.1
>



--
Kees Cook
Chrome OS & Brillo Security

2016-03-10 20:54:03

by Arjan van de Ven

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.

> Arjan, or other folks, can you remember why x86_32 disabled mmap
> randomization here? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for it that
> I see.

for unlimited stack it got really messy with threaded apps.

anyway, I don't mind seeing if this will indeed work, with time running out
where 32 bit is going extinct... in a few years we just won't have enough
testing on this kind of change anymore.


2016-03-10 21:05:37

by Kees Cook

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.

On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 12:53 PM, Arjan van de Ven
<[email protected]> wrote:
>> Arjan, or other folks, can you remember why x86_32 disabled mmap
>> randomization here? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for it that
>> I see.
>
>
> for unlimited stack it got really messy with threaded apps.

Seems like it'd only cause problems for really really giant processes?
(I think it's telling that the other 32-bit archs don't disable ASLR
in this case...)

> anyway, I don't mind seeing if this will indeed work, with time running out
> where 32 bit is going extinct... in a few years we just won't have enough
> testing on this kind of change anymore.

Sounds good. Ingo, can you pull this in and we can try it for -next?

-Kees

--
Kees Cook
Chrome OS & Brillo Security

2016-03-11 08:51:26

by Ingo Molnar

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.


* Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]> wrote:

> Currently on i386 and on X86_64 when emulating X86_32 in legacy mode, only
> the stack and the executable are randomized but not other mmapped files
> (libraries, vDSO, etc.). This patch enables randomization for the
> libraries, vDSO and mmap requests on i386 and in X86_32 in legacy mode.
>
> By default on i386 there are 8 bits for the randomization of the libraries,
> vDSO and mmaps which only uses 1MB of VA.
>
> This patch preserves the original randomness, using 1MB of VA out of 3GB or
> 4GB. We think that 1MB out of 3GB is not a big cost for having the ASLR.
>
> The first obvious security benefit is that all objects are randomized (not
> only the stack and the executable) in legacy mode which highly increases
> the ASLR effectiveness, otherwise the attackers may use these
> non-randomized areas. But also sensitive setuid/setgid applications are
> more secure because currently, attackers can disable the randomization of
> these applications by setting the ulimit stack to "unlimited". This is a
> very old and widely known trick to disable the ASLR in i386 which has been
> allowed for too long.
>
> Another trick used to disable the ASLR was to set the ADDR_NO_RANDOMIZE
> personality flag, but fortunately this doesn't work on setuid/setgid
> applications because there is security checks which clear Security-relevant
> flags.
>
> This patch always randomizes the mmap_legacy_base address, removing the
> possibility to disable the ASLR by setting the stack to "unlimited".
>
>
> Signed-off-by: Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]>
> Signed-off-by: Ismael Ripoll Ripoll <[email protected]>

This signoff line is not valid (primary author is first SOB line, patch submitted
is last SOB line), I've changed the second Signed-off-by to an Acked-by.

Thanks,

Ingo

2016-03-11 08:53:54

by Ingo Molnar

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.


* Kees Cook <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 12:53 PM, Arjan van de Ven
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Arjan, or other folks, can you remember why x86_32 disabled mmap
> >> randomization here? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for it that
> >> I see.
> >
> >
> > for unlimited stack it got really messy with threaded apps.
>
> Seems like it'd only cause problems for really really giant processes?
> (I think it's telling that the other 32-bit archs don't disable ASLR
> in this case...)

IIRC there was some sort of specific breakage with unlimited stack apps - I don't
remember the exact details.

> > anyway, I don't mind seeing if this will indeed work, with time running out
> > where 32 bit is going extinct... in a few years we just won't have enough
> > testing on this kind of change anymore.
>
> Sounds good. Ingo, can you pull this in and we can try it for -next?

Ok, we can certainly try. If there's breakage with old distros then we might need
to put this behind a legacy Kconfig switch.

Thanks,

Ingo

2016-03-11 16:19:53

by Kees Cook

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] x86: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32.

On Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 12:53 AM, Ingo Molnar <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> * Kees Cook <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 12:53 PM, Arjan van de Ven
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >> Arjan, or other folks, can you remember why x86_32 disabled mmap
>> >> randomization here? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for it that
>> >> I see.
>> >
>> >
>> > for unlimited stack it got really messy with threaded apps.
>>
>> Seems like it'd only cause problems for really really giant processes?
>> (I think it's telling that the other 32-bit archs don't disable ASLR
>> in this case...)
>
> IIRC there was some sort of specific breakage with unlimited stack apps - I don't
> remember the exact details.
>
>> > anyway, I don't mind seeing if this will indeed work, with time running out
>> > where 32 bit is going extinct... in a few years we just won't have enough
>> > testing on this kind of change anymore.
>>
>> Sounds good. Ingo, can you pull this in and we can try it for -next?
>
> Ok, we can certainly try. If there's breakage with old distros then we might need
> to put this behind a legacy Kconfig switch.

Okay, sounds good. Thanks!

-Kees

--
Kees Cook
Chrome OS & Brillo Security

Subject: [tip:x86/mm] x86/mm/32: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32

Commit-ID: 8b8addf891de8a00e4d39fc32f93f7c5eb8feceb
Gitweb: http://git.kernel.org/tip/8b8addf891de8a00e4d39fc32f93f7c5eb8feceb
Author: Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]>
AuthorDate: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 20:51:00 +0100
Committer: Ingo Molnar <[email protected]>
CommitDate: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:53:19 +0100

x86/mm/32: Enable full randomization on i386 and X86_32

Currently on i386 and on X86_64 when emulating X86_32 in legacy mode, only
the stack and the executable are randomized but not other mmapped files
(libraries, vDSO, etc.). This patch enables randomization for the
libraries, vDSO and mmap requests on i386 and in X86_32 in legacy mode.

By default on i386 there are 8 bits for the randomization of the libraries,
vDSO and mmaps which only uses 1MB of VA.

This patch preserves the original randomness, using 1MB of VA out of 3GB or
4GB. We think that 1MB out of 3GB is not a big cost for having the ASLR.

The first obvious security benefit is that all objects are randomized (not
only the stack and the executable) in legacy mode which highly increases
the ASLR effectiveness, otherwise the attackers may use these
non-randomized areas. But also sensitive setuid/setgid applications are
more secure because currently, attackers can disable the randomization of
these applications by setting the ulimit stack to "unlimited". This is a
very old and widely known trick to disable the ASLR in i386 which has been
allowed for too long.

Another trick used to disable the ASLR was to set the ADDR_NO_RANDOMIZE
personality flag, but fortunately this doesn't work on setuid/setgid
applications because there is security checks which clear Security-relevant
flags.

This patch always randomizes the mmap_legacy_base address, removing the
possibility to disable the ASLR by setting the stack to "unlimited".

Signed-off-by: Hector Marco-Gisbert <[email protected]>
Acked-by: Ismael Ripoll Ripoll <[email protected]>
Acked-by: Kees Cook <[email protected]>
Acked-by: Arjan van de Ven <[email protected]>
Cc: Linus Torvalds <[email protected]>
Cc: Peter Zijlstra <[email protected]>
Cc: Thomas Gleixner <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]
Cc: kees Cook <[email protected]>
Link: http://lkml.kernel.org/r/[email protected]
Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <[email protected]>
---
arch/x86/mm/mmap.c | 14 +-------------
1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c b/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
index 96bd1e2..389939f 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/mmap.c
@@ -94,18 +94,6 @@ static unsigned long mmap_base(unsigned long rnd)
}

/*
- * Bottom-up (legacy) layout on X86_32 did not support randomization, X86_64
- * does, but not when emulating X86_32
- */
-static unsigned long mmap_legacy_base(unsigned long rnd)
-{
- if (mmap_is_ia32())
- return TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE;
- else
- return TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE + rnd;
-}
-
-/*
* This function, called very early during the creation of a new
* process VM image, sets up which VM layout function to use:
*/
@@ -116,7 +104,7 @@ void arch_pick_mmap_layout(struct mm_struct *mm)
if (current->flags & PF_RANDOMIZE)
random_factor = arch_mmap_rnd();

- mm->mmap_legacy_base = mmap_legacy_base(random_factor);
+ mm->mmap_legacy_base = TASK_UNMAPPED_BASE + random_factor;

if (mmap_is_legacy()) {
mm->mmap_base = mm->mmap_legacy_base;