Re: user guide draft: "SELinux Contexts and Attributes" review

[Murray McAllister <mmcallis@redhat.com>]

Cheers. Comments inline:

Stephen Smalley wrote:
> On Wed, 2008-08-27 at 16:54 +1000, Murray McAllister wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> The following is a draft of the SELinux Contexts and Attributes sections 
>> for the SELinux User Guide. Any comments and corrections are appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> As previously mentioned, on Linux operating systems, files, directories, 
>> sockets, devices, and so on, are called objects, and processes, such as 
>> a user running a command, the Firefox application, and the Apache HTTP 
>> Server, are called subjects.
> 
> As before, this is generally true of operating systems not just Linux.
> 
>>  SELinux provides the Type Enforcement 
>> security model.
> 
> SELinux provides flexible MAC that can support many different security
> models, and the example security server included in SELinux provides a
> combination of role-based access control (RBAC), Type Enforcement (TE),
> and optionally Multi-Level Security (MLS).

How about:

...SELinux provides flexible MAC that supports a variety of different 
security models. On Fedora 10, SELinux provides a combination of 
role-based access control (RBAC), Type Enforcement® (TE), and 
optionally, Multi-Level Security (MLS). Subjects and objects are labeled 
with an SELinux context that contains additional information, such as an 
SELinux user, role, and a type. When running SELinux, all of this 
information is used to make access control decisions.

> 
>>  To enforce this, subjects and objects are labeled with 
>> an SELinux context that contains additional information, such as an 
>> SELinux user, role, and type. When running SELinux, all of this 
>> information is used to make access control decisions.
>>
>> The following is an example of the additional SELinux information used 
>> on Linux operating systems that use SELinux. This information is called 
>> the SELinux context, and is viewed using the ls -Z command:
>>
>> -rwxrw-r--  user1 group1 unconfined_u:object_r:user_home_t:s0      file1
>>
>> SELinux contexts follow the SELinux user:role:type:category syntax:
> 
> That should be :level or :range rather than just :category, where a
> level is a sensitivity followed by an optional list of categories.

How about "...role:type:sensitivity"?

> 
>> SELinux user: The SELinux user identity is an identity known to the 
>> policy that is authorized for a specific set of roles and for a specific 
>> MLS range. Each Linux user account is mapped to an SELinux user identity 
>> when a user login session is created, and the mapped SELinux user 
>> identity is used in the security context for processes in that session 
>> in order to bound what roles and levels they can enter[1]. Run the 
>> /usr/sbin/semanage login -l command to view a list of mappings between 
>> SELinux and Linux user accounts:
>>
>> Login Name                SELinux User              MLS/MCS Range
>>
>> __default__               unconfined_u              s0-s0:c0.c1023
>> root                      unconfined_u              s0-s0:c0.c1023
>> system_u                  system_u                  s0-s0:c0.c1023
>> test2user                 user_u                    s0
>> xguest                    xguest_u                  s0
>>
>> Output may differ from system to system. The Login Name column lists 
>> Linux users, and the the SELinux User column lists which SELinux user is 
>> mapped to which Linux user. The SELinux user does not restrict the 
>> access subjects have to objects.
> 
> Well, it does indirectly, by limiting what roles and levels are
> accessible to the subject.  It also can play a role in the constraints
> portion of the policy configuration, e.g. refpolicy doesn't allow a
> process to relabel a file with a different SELinux user identity unless
> its domain has the can_change_object_identity attribute.

Output may differ from system to system. The Login Name column lists 
Linux users, and the the SELinux User column lists which SELinux user is 
mapped to which Linux user. For subjects, the SELinux user limits which 
roles and levels are accessible. The last column, MLS/MCS Range, are 
levels and categories that are used by Multi-Level Security (MLS) and 
Mutli-Category Security (MCS). MLS and MCS levels and categories are 
discussed briefly later.

Would removing "For subjects" from the 3rd sentence make it accurate?

> 
>>  The last column, MLS/MCS Range, are 
>> categories that are used by Multi-Level Security (MLS) and 
>> Mutli-Category Security (MCS). MLS and MCS categories are discussed 
>> briefly later.
>>
>> role: Part of SELinux is the Role Based Access Control (RBAC) security 
>> model. The role is an attribute of RBAC. Roles are associated with 
>> domain types, and domain types are associated with SELinux users.
> 
> SELinux users are authorized for roles, and roles are authorized for
> domain types.  Domain types are not directly associated with SELinux
> users - the role serves as an intermediary.
> 
>>  Roles 
>> are important when writing policies, as they restrict domain 
>> transitions, but they do not restrict the access subjects have to 
>> objects, and as such, they are not discussed in detail in this guide.
> 
> Not directly, but indirectly since what roles you can enter determines
> what domain types you can enter and thus ultimately what object types
> you can access.  The role is a coarse-grained boundary on privilege
> escalation.

role:
Part of SELinux is the Role Based Access Control (RBAC) security model. 
The role is an attribute of RBAC. SELinux users are authorized for 
roles, and roles are authorized for domain types. The role serves as an 
intermediary between domains types and SELinux users. The roles that can 
be entered determine which domain types can be entered - ultimately, 
this controls which object types can be accessed. This helps reduce 
vulnerability to privileged escalation attacks.

> 
>> type: The type is an attribute of Type Enforcement. The type defines a 
>> domain type for subjects, and a type for objects. SELinux policy rules 
>> define how types access each other, whether it be a domain accessing a 
>> type, or a domain accessing another domain. Access is only allowed if a 
>> specific rule exists that allows it.
>>
>> category: The category is an attribute of Multi-Level Security (MLS) and 
>> Multi-Category Security (MCS). Categories are used to categorize data, 
>> and identify its sensitivity or security level. Standard SELinux policy 
>> supports MCS; however, it is not heavily used. MCS allows users, at 
>> their own discretion, to add a category to a piece of data, for example, 
>> PatientRecord or CompanyConfidential. There is only a single security 
>> level, s0. MLS labels data with both categories (CompanyConfidential) 
>> and a sensitivity level. MLS enforces the Bell-LaPadula Mandatory Access 
>> Model, and is used in Labeled Security Protection Profile (LSPP) 
>> environments.
> 
> Again, this should be level or range rather than just category, where a
> level is a sensitivity and an optional list of categories and a range is
> a current/low level and a clearance/high level.  You may wish to note
> that people who wish to use the MLS restrictions need to install a
> separate -mls policy package and make it the default.

This part is in progress. I do not understand the difference between 
levels/categories and ranges. Can you recommend any papers or books on 
this? This is what is there now, keeping in mind I don't understand:

The level is an attribute of MLS and Multi-Category Security (MCS). 
There is a single sensitivity level, s0, which is the only sensitivity 
level used. This level is used when running the SELinux MLS policy, but 
not when running the SELinux targeted policy. An optional list of 
categories can be used to categorize data. Standard SELinux policy 
supports MCS; however, it is not heavily used. MCS allows users, at 
their own discretion, to add a category to a piece of data, for example, 
CompanyConfidential or PatientRecord. MLS labels data with both a 
sensitivity level and categories (such as CompanyConfidential). MLS 
enforces the Bell-LaPadula Mandatory Access Model, and is used in 
Labeled Security Protection Profile (LSPP) environments. To use MLS 
restrictions, install the selinux-policy-mls package, and configure MLS 
to be the default SELinux policy.

> 
>> Domain Transitions
>>
>> On Linux operating systems that run SELinux, processes, such as a user 
>> running the less command, or an Apache HTTP server, are called subjects. 
> 
> Not sure you need to keep repeating this.

Removed.

> 
>> An executable object transitions to a subject, and a subject runs in a 
>> domain. This transition is called a domain transition.
> 
> A process in one domain transitions to another domain by executing a new
> program with the entrypoint type for the new domain.

How about:

A subject in one domain transitions to another domain by executing an 
object that is labeled with a file type that has entrypoint permission 
for the new domain. The entrypoint permission is used in SELinux policy, 
and controls which domains an object can enter. The following example...

> 
>>  The following 
>> example demonstrates a domain transition:
>>
>> 1. A users wants to change their password. To change their password, 
>> they run the /usr/bin/passwd command. The /usr/bin/passwd file object is 
>> labeled with the passwd_exec_t file type:
>>
>> $ ls -Z /usr/bin/passwd
>> -rwsr-xr-x  root root system_u:object_r:passwd_exec_t:s0 /usr/bin/passwd
>>
>> The passwd application needs to access the /etc/shadow object, which is 
>> labeled with the shadow_t file type:
>>
>> $ ls -Z /etc/shadow
>> -r--------  root root system_u:object_r:shadow_t:s0    /etc/shadow
>>
>> 2. An SELinux policy rule states that subjects running in the passwd_t 
>> domain type are allowed to read and write to objects that are labeled 
>> with the shadow_t file type. The /etc/shadow object is the only object 
>> that is labeled with the shadow_t file type.
> 
> Also /etc/gshadow.  And the backup copies of both files created whenever
> they are updated (e.g. /etc/shadow-).  And any intermediate files
> created during the update transaction that contain any shadow password
> data - the point is that any file containing such data ought to be
> labeled with the shadow_t type so that it can be consistently protected
> throughout.

An SELinux policy rule states that subjects running in the passwd_t 
domain type are allowed to read and write to objects that are labeled 
with the shadow_t file type. Only objects and their back up copies that 
are required for a password change, such as /etc/gshadow, /etc/gshadow- 
and /etc/shadow, are labeled with the shadow_t file type.

> 
>> 3. When a user runs the /usr/bin/passwd command, the application 
>> transitions to a subject (a process), which is running in the passwd_t 
>> domain type.
> 
> The user shell process transitions to the passwd_t domain upon executing
> the /usr/bin/passwd command.

When a user runs the /usr/bin/passwd command, the user's shell process 
transitions to the passwd_t domain type.

> 
>>  With SELinux, since the default action is to deny, and a 
>> rule exists that allows (among other things) applications running in the 
>> passwd_t domain type to access objects labeled with the shadow_t file 
>> type, the passwd application is allowed to access /etc/shadow, and 
>> update the user's password.
>>
>> This example is not exhaustive, and is used as a basic example to 
>> explain domain transition. Although there is an actual rule that allows 
>> subjects running in the passwd_t domain type to access objects labeled 
>> with the shadow_t file type, other rules must be met before the object 
>> can successfully transition.
> 
> Not sure what you mean by "the object can successfully transition" -
> processes transition from one domain to another upon executing a new
> program.

...other SELinux policy rules must be met before the subject can 
transition to a new domain.

> 
> In the passwd example, the guarantees we are getting from Type
> Enforcement are:
> - Only authorized domains (e.g. passwd_t) can write to shadow password
> data (shadow_t).  Other processes, even superuser ones, cannot do so.
> - The passwd_t domain can only be entered by executing a program labeled
> with passwd_exec_t, can only execute from authorized shared libraries
> (e.g. lib_t) and cannot execute any other programs.  Thus, we can have
> some confidence that only authorized code is ever executed in passwd_t.
> - Only authorized domains (e.g. user_t) can transition to passwd_t.
> Thus, a daemon like sendmail_t that has no legitimate reason to ever run
> passwd cannot ever reach passwd_t.
> - passwd_t can only read and write authorized types (e.g. etc_t,
> shadow_t).  Thus, it cannot be tricked into reading or writing arbitrary
> files.

In this example, Type Enforcement ensures:

* The passwd_t domain can only be entered by executing an object labeled 
with the passwd_exec_t file type; can only execute from authorized 
shared libraries, such as the lib_t file type; and can not execute any 
other objects.

* Only authorized domains, such as passwd_t, can write to objects 
labeled with the shadow_t file type. Even if other subjects are running 
with superuser privileges, those subject can not write to objects 
labeled with the shadow_t file type, as they are not running in the 
passwd_t domain.

* Only authorized domains can transition to the passwd_t domain. For 
example, the sendmail subject running in the sendmail_t domain does not 
have a legitimate reason to run /usr/bin/passwd; therefore, it can never 
transition to the passwd_t domain.

* Subjects running in the passwd_t domain type can only read and write 
authorized types, such as objects labeled with the etc_t or shadow_t 
file types. This prevents the passwd application from being tricked into 
reading or writing arbitrary files.

> 
>> SELinux Contexts for Subjects
>>
>> On Linux operating systems the run SELinux, when an application is 
>> executed, that application transitions to a subject and runs in a 
>> domain.
> 
> Again, not sure you need to keep repeating this, and technically it is
> "the process transitions to a new domain upon executing a program with
> the entrypoint type for that domain".

Removed.

> 
>>  The SELinux context for subjects is viewed using the pstree -Z 
>> command.
> 
> Or just ps -eZ.

Changed examples to use ps -eZ.

> 
>>  For example:
>>
>> 1. Open a terminal, such as Applications → System Tools → Terminal.
>>
>> 2. Run the /usr/bin/passwd command. Do not enter a new password.
>>
>> 3. Open a new tab, or another terminal, and run the pstree -Z | grep 
>> passwd command. The output is similar to the following:
>>
>> |  |        `-passwd(`unconfined_u:unconfined_r:passwd_t:s0-s0:c0.c1023')
>>
>> 4. In the first tab, cancel passwd application.
>>
>> In this example, when the /usr/bin/passwd object, which is labeled with 
>> the passwd_exec_t file type, is executed, it transitions to a subject 
>> that runs in the passwd_t domain type. Remember: the type defines a 
>> domain type for subjects, and a type for objects.
>>
>> To view the SELinux contexts for all subjects, run the pstree -Z 
>> command. The following is an example of the pstree -Z output, and may 
>> differ on your system:
>>
>> ├─NetworkManager(`system_u:system_r:NetworkManager_t:s0')
>> │  └─{NetworkManager}(`system_u:system_r:NetworkManager_t:s0')
>> ├─acpid(`system_u:system_r:apmd_t:s0')
>> ├─anacron(`system_u:system_r:system_crond_t:s0')
>> ├─atd(`system_u:system_r:crond_t:s0-s0:c0.c1023')
>> ├─auditd(`system_u:system_r:auditd_t:s0')
>>
>>
>> By default, the SELinux targeted policy is used. When using targeted 
>> policy, most subjects (processes) use the system_r role. Type 
>> enforcement then separates each domain.
> 
> system_r is for system processes like daemons.  Targeted policy used to
> use system_r for everything and not use any user roles.  In F9, it uses
> unconfined_r for unconfined users.

The system_r role is used for system processes, such as daemons. Type 
enforcement then separates each domain.

I left user roles (unconfined_r, user_r) out, as they explained later.

Thanks again :)


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