Re: Defense in depth: LSM *modules*, not a static interface

Simon Arlott
2007-10-30T12:30:32Z

On Tue, October 30, 2007 07:14, Cliffe wrote:
> And while I acknowledge that many of these layers are currently buried
> within the kernel (netfilter...) they are security layers which in many
> cases would probably make sense as stackable security modules.
>
> Making the interface static forces mammoth solutions which then must
> attempt to solve all of the above in one ls*m*. What happened to
> dividing tasks into easy to manage chunks?

Would it be possible to have Kconfig select which LSM should handle each
area of security? Selecting LSM A would automatically disable LSM B and
C since they both implement the same security functions, while LSM D
would still be selectable since it implements something else. The default
capabilities code would then turn off parts of itself that another LSM
is handling.

Alternatively the M in LSM can be restored and modules can be stacked.
It should be possible for the primary LSM to check the security_ops of the
secondary LSM(s) and complain if it considers there to be an incompatiblity.

--
Simon Arlott