[PATCH 0/3] proc,security,selinux: let SELinux block FOLL_FORCE for /proc/self/mem

[PATCH 0/3] proc,security,selinux: let SELinux block FOLL_FORCE for /proc/self/mem

[Jann Horn]

The goal of this series is to let SELinux prevent the use of FOLL_FORCE
when a process writes into /proc/self/mem and the system is configured
with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS (which used to be the default behavior, and
is still used by current Android devices).

Android has SELinux policy that attempts to ensure that only trusted
code can be mapped as executable in several system processes, but this
protection can currently be bypassed by writing into /proc/self/mem.

I wrote this series after discussion with Android security folks about
the state of proc_mem_foll_force() restrictions on Android.

I'm sending this to:

 - maintainers for LSM hooks
 - maintainers for SELinux
 - maintainers for VFS (because I think they generally own procfs?)
 - some MM folks just as FYI since this touches GUP usage
 - the Android folks I talked to about this

I think this should probably go through either the VFS tree or the
LSM tree.

The motivation for this series is that Project Zero managed to write a
remote exploit for Google Pixel partly because of /proc/self/mem, see
<https://projectzero.google/2026/01/pixel-0-click-part-1.html#whats-the-plan-seth-and-jann>.

Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>
---
Jann Horn (3):
      proc: refactor /proc/$pid/mem to use struct as private_data
      proc: query LSMs for introspective mem access (if PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS)
      selinux: require EXECMEM or PTRACE for FOLL_FORCE introspection

 fs/proc/base.c                | 35 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---
 include/linux/lsm_hook_defs.h |  1 +
 include/linux/security.h      |  6 ++++++
 security/security.c           | 15 +++++++++++++++
 security/selinux/hooks.c      | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 5 files changed, 81 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
---
base-commit: 2f1baf1fc8929e6c48370be543ad028ac7ad4131
change-id: 20260814-selinux-pokemem-44625557c4d4

Best regards,
--  
Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>

[PATCH 1/3] proc: refactor /proc/$pid/mem to use struct as private_data

[Jann Horn]

Refactor the handlers for proc_mem_operations to use the new struct
mem_private as ->private_data, rather than directly storing an mm_struct*
in ->private_data.

This is in preparation for adding more state in mem_private in the next
commit.

Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>
---
 fs/proc/base.c | 29 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 26 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fs/proc/base.c b/fs/proc/base.c
index 780f81259052..bec6197329dc 100644
--- a/fs/proc/base.c
+++ b/fs/proc/base.c
@@ -848,11 +848,24 @@ static int __mem_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file, unsigned int mode)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* private_data for proc_mem_operations */
+struct mem_private {
+	struct mm_struct *mm;
+};
+
 static int mem_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
+	struct mem_private *priv __free(kfree) = kmalloc_obj(struct mem_private);
+
+	if (!priv)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!(file->f_op->fop_flags & FOP_UNSIGNED_OFFSET)))
 		return -EINVAL;
-	return __mem_open(inode, file, PTRACE_MODE_ATTACH);
+	priv->mm = proc_mem_open(inode, PTRACE_MODE_ATTACH);
+	if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(priv->mm))
+		return priv->mm ? PTR_ERR(priv->mm) : -ESRCH;
+	file->private_data = no_free_ptr(priv);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static bool proc_mem_foll_force(struct file *file, struct mm_struct *mm)
@@ -880,7 +893,8 @@ static bool proc_mem_foll_force(struct file *file, struct mm_struct *mm)
 static ssize_t mem_rw(struct file *file, char __user *buf,
 			size_t count, loff_t *ppos, int write)
 {
-	struct mm_struct *mm = file->private_data;
+	struct mem_private *priv = file->private_data;
+	struct mm_struct *mm = priv->mm;
 	unsigned long addr = *ppos;
 	ssize_t copied;
 	char *page;
@@ -970,12 +984,21 @@ static int mem_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int mem_release_with_private(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
+{
+	struct mem_private *priv = file->private_data;
+
+	mmdrop(priv->mm);
+	kfree(priv);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static const struct file_operations proc_mem_operations = {
 	.llseek		= mem_lseek,
 	.read		= mem_read,
 	.write		= mem_write,
 	.open		= mem_open,
-	.release	= mem_release,
+	.release	= mem_release_with_private,
 	.fop_flags	= FOP_UNSIGNED_OFFSET,
 };
 

-- 
2.55.0.737.g08866a6d13-goog

Re: [PATCH 1/3] proc: refactor /proc/$pid/mem to use struct as private_data

[sashiko-bot]

> Refactor the handlers for proc_mem_operations to use the new struct
> mem_private as ->private_data, rather than directly storing an mm_struct*
> in ->private_data.
> 
> This is in preparation for adding more state in mem_private in the next
> commit.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>

Sashiko has reviewed this patch and found no issues. It looks great!

-- 
Sashiko AI review · https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260818-selinux-pokemem-v1-0-90cd2357ee05@google.com?part=1

[PATCH 2/3] proc: query LSMs for introspective mem access (if PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS)

[Jann Horn]

If the system is running with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS, LSMs currently have no
good opportunity to block a process from overwriting read-only code in its
own address space through FOLL_FORCE writes via /proc/self/mem.
The security_ptrace_access_check() LSM hook is bypassed when a process
opens /proc/self/mem because this is considered "introspection".

This causes a hole in SELinux EXECMEM enforcement, which tries to ensure
that a process cannot create executable anonymous pages.

PROC_MEM_FORCE_PTRACE prevents that and ensures that such FOLL_FORCE
accesses are only possible when the LSM allows ptrace() attachment; but it
is unclear how quickly PROC_MEM_FORCE_PTRACE can be deployed in
environments running lots of third-party code, such as Android.

So, introduce a new LSM hook that can forbid FOLL_FORCE specifically for
such "introspective" accesses.

Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>
---
 fs/proc/base.c                |  6 ++++++
 include/linux/lsm_hook_defs.h |  1 +
 include/linux/security.h      |  6 ++++++
 security/security.c           | 15 +++++++++++++++
 4 files changed, 28 insertions(+)

diff --git a/fs/proc/base.c b/fs/proc/base.c
index bec6197329dc..3dfaef49bb70 100644
--- a/fs/proc/base.c
+++ b/fs/proc/base.c
@@ -851,6 +851,8 @@ static int __mem_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file, unsigned int mode)
 /* private_data for proc_mem_operations */
 struct mem_private {
 	struct mm_struct *mm;
+	/* Was the ptrace access check bypassed due to introspection? */
+	bool introspection;
 };
 
 static int mem_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
@@ -864,12 +866,14 @@ static int mem_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	priv->mm = proc_mem_open(inode, PTRACE_MODE_ATTACH);
 	if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(priv->mm))
 		return priv->mm ? PTR_ERR(priv->mm) : -ESRCH;
+	priv->introspection = priv->mm == current->mm;
 	file->private_data = no_free_ptr(priv);
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static bool proc_mem_foll_force(struct file *file, struct mm_struct *mm)
 {
+	struct mem_private *priv = file->private_data;
 	struct task_struct *task;
 	bool ptrace_active = false;
 
@@ -886,6 +890,8 @@ static bool proc_mem_foll_force(struct file *file, struct mm_struct *mm)
 		}
 		return ptrace_active;
 	default:
+		if (priv->introspection)
+			return security_introspect_mem_foll_force(file->f_cred) == 0;
 		return true;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/include/linux/lsm_hook_defs.h b/include/linux/lsm_hook_defs.h
index 65c9609ec207..67452f71bedf 100644
--- a/include/linux/lsm_hook_defs.h
+++ b/include/linux/lsm_hook_defs.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ LSM_HOOK(int, 0, binder_transfer_file, const struct cred *from,
 LSM_HOOK(int, 0, ptrace_access_check, struct task_struct *child,
 	 unsigned int mode)
 LSM_HOOK(int, 0, ptrace_traceme, struct task_struct *parent)
+LSM_HOOK(int, 0, introspect_mem_foll_force, const struct cred *subject)
 LSM_HOOK(int, 0, capget, const struct task_struct *target, kernel_cap_t *effective,
 	 kernel_cap_t *inheritable, kernel_cap_t *permitted)
 LSM_HOOK(int, 0, capset, struct cred *new, const struct cred *old,
diff --git a/include/linux/security.h b/include/linux/security.h
index 153e9043058f..f8483be58bc8 100644
--- a/include/linux/security.h
+++ b/include/linux/security.h
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ int security_binder_transfer_file(const struct cred *from,
 				  const struct cred *to, const struct file *file);
 int security_ptrace_access_check(struct task_struct *child, unsigned int mode);
 int security_ptrace_traceme(struct task_struct *parent);
+int security_introspect_mem_foll_force(const struct cred *subject);
 int security_capget(const struct task_struct *target,
 		    kernel_cap_t *effective,
 		    kernel_cap_t *inheritable,
@@ -676,6 +677,11 @@ static inline int security_ptrace_traceme(struct task_struct *parent)
 	return cap_ptrace_traceme(parent);
 }
 
+static inline int security_introspect_mem_foll_force(const struct cred *subject)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static inline int security_capget(const struct task_struct *target,
 				   kernel_cap_t *effective,
 				   kernel_cap_t *inheritable,
diff --git a/security/security.c b/security/security.c
index 71aea8fdf014..d0f790a534eb 100644
--- a/security/security.c
+++ b/security/security.c
@@ -595,6 +595,21 @@ int security_ptrace_traceme(struct task_struct *parent)
 	return call_int_hook(ptrace_traceme, parent);
 }
 
+/**
+ * security_introspect_mem_foll_force() - Check if introspective FOLL_FORCE is allowed
+ * @subject: credentials of the process accessing its own memory
+ *
+ * Check if FOLL_FORCE is allowed for a process accessing its own memory, which
+ * bypasses the security_ptrace_access_check() hook.
+ * This is only used when the system is configured with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS.
+ *
+ * Return: Returns 0 if permission is granted.
+ */
+int security_introspect_mem_foll_force(const struct cred *subject)
+{
+	return call_int_hook(introspect_mem_foll_force, subject);
+}
+
 /**
  * security_capget() - Get the capability sets for a process
  * @target: target process

-- 
2.55.0.737.g08866a6d13-goog

Re: [PATCH 2/3] proc: query LSMs for introspective mem access (if PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS)

[sashiko-bot]

> If the system is running with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS, LSMs currently have no
> good opportunity to block a process from overwriting read-only code in its
> own address space through FOLL_FORCE writes via /proc/self/mem.
> The security_ptrace_access_check() LSM hook is bypassed when a process
> opens /proc/self/mem because this is considered "introspection".
> 
> This causes a hole in SELinux EXECMEM enforcement, which tries to ensure
> that a process cannot create executable anonymous pages.
> 
> PROC_MEM_FORCE_PTRACE prevents that and ensures that such FOLL_FORCE
> accesses are only possible when the LSM allows ptrace() attachment; but it
> is unclear how quickly PROC_MEM_FORCE_PTRACE can be deployed in
> environments running lots of third-party code, such as Android.
> 
> So, introduce a new LSM hook that can forbid FOLL_FORCE specifically for
> such "introspective" accesses.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>

Sashiko has reviewed this patch and found no issues. It looks great!

-- 
Sashiko AI review · https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260818-selinux-pokemem-v1-0-90cd2357ee05@google.com?part=2

[PATCH 3/3] selinux: require EXECMEM or PTRACE for FOLL_FORCE introspection

[Jann Horn]

On systems configured with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS, ensure that a process can
only create anonymous executable memory via /proc/self/mem if it has one
of:

 - EXECMEM (like for other methods of creating anonymous executable pages)
 - PTRACE (like when using /proc/$pid/mem of another process)

This closes a hole in EXECMEM enforcement that Project Zero has used in a
remote Android exploit chain:
It was possible to use a memory corruption bug in a service without EXECMEM
permission to overwrite executable code via /proc/self/mem, which made it
possible to load and run shellcode with a kernel exploit.

Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>
---
 security/selinux/hooks.c | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+)

diff --git a/security/selinux/hooks.c b/security/selinux/hooks.c
index 18dd28b2bb13..905137c47321 100644
--- a/security/selinux/hooks.c
+++ b/security/selinux/hooks.c
@@ -2157,6 +2157,32 @@ static int selinux_ptrace_traceme(struct task_struct *parent)
 			    SECCLASS_PROCESS, PROCESS__PTRACE, NULL);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Decide whether it should be possible to read non-readable VMAs and write
+ * non-writable VMAs via /proc/self/mem.
+ * This only applies to systems configured with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS, and only
+ * triggers on accesses that are not visible to selinux_ptrace_access_check().
+ *
+ * This allows a process to overwrite read-only code in its own address space.
+ *
+ * Creating an audit record on denial doesn't make sense here, since we can't
+ * tell whether FOLL_FORCE matters for the accessed VMAs.
+ */
+static int selinux_introspect_mem_foll_force(const struct cred *subject)
+{
+	struct av_decision avd;
+	int rc;
+	u32 sid = cred_sid(subject);
+
+	/* Allow if the process is generally allowed to have executable anonymous memory. */
+	rc = avc_has_perm_noaudit(sid, sid, SECCLASS_PROCESS, PROCESS__EXECMEM, 0, &avd);
+
+	/* Also allow if selinux_ptrace_access_check() would allow it. */
+	if (rc)
+		rc = avc_has_perm_noaudit(sid, sid, SECCLASS_PROCESS, PROCESS__PTRACE, 0, &avd);
+	return rc;
+}
+
 static int selinux_capget(const struct task_struct *target, kernel_cap_t *effective,
 			  kernel_cap_t *inheritable, kernel_cap_t *permitted)
 {
@@ -7558,6 +7584,7 @@ static struct security_hook_list selinux_hooks[] __ro_after_init = {
 
 	LSM_HOOK_INIT(ptrace_access_check, selinux_ptrace_access_check),
 	LSM_HOOK_INIT(ptrace_traceme, selinux_ptrace_traceme),
+	LSM_HOOK_INIT(introspect_mem_foll_force, selinux_introspect_mem_foll_force),
 	LSM_HOOK_INIT(capget, selinux_capget),
 	LSM_HOOK_INIT(capset, selinux_capset),
 	LSM_HOOK_INIT(capable, selinux_capable),

-- 
2.55.0.737.g08866a6d13-goog

Re: [PATCH 3/3] selinux: require EXECMEM or PTRACE for FOLL_FORCE introspection

[sashiko-bot]

> On systems configured with PROC_MEM_FORCE_ALWAYS, ensure that a process can
> only create anonymous executable memory via /proc/self/mem if it has one
> of:
> 
>  - EXECMEM (like for other methods of creating anonymous executable pages)
>  - PTRACE (like when using /proc/$pid/mem of another process)
> 
> This closes a hole in EXECMEM enforcement that Project Zero has used in a
> remote Android exploit chain:
> It was possible to use a memory corruption bug in a service without EXECMEM
> permission to overwrite executable code via /proc/self/mem, which made it
> possible to load and run shellcode with a kernel exploit.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>

Sashiko has reviewed this patch and found no issues. It looks great!

-- 
Sashiko AI review · https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260818-selinux-pokemem-v1-0-90cd2357ee05@google.com?part=3