[virtio-comment] [PATCH RFC 0/3] virtio-rng based entropy leak reporting

[virtio-comment] [PATCH RFC 0/3] virtio-rng based entropy leak reporting

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

Generally, entropy only grows. However, there are cases where
it goes down - for example, consider generating a one time
pad where someone managed to use a side channel to
steal its contents. By combining the seemingly random
pad with the stolen contents we have reversed the entropy.

This actually happens within VMs e.g. when time is reversed due
to snapshoting. Existing approaches for VMs include Microsoft's
VM GEN ID.

This draft proposes a feature in virtio rng for reporting such
leaks.

Patches 1,2 refactor existing draft text. Patch 3 adds new functionality.

TODO:
	document theory of operation
	add conformance clauses


Michael S. Tsirkin (3):
  rng: move to a file of its own
  rng: be specific about the virtqueue
  rng: leak detection support

 content.tex    |  43 +--------------------
 virtio-rng.tex | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 virtio-rng.tex

-- 
MST


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[virtio-comment] [PATCH RFC 1/3] rng: move to a file of its own

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

Will make it easier to edit.

Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
---
 content.tex    | 43 +------------------------------------------
 virtio-rng.tex | 42 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 43 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 virtio-rng.tex

diff --git a/content.tex b/content.tex
index 7111929..332c257 100644
--- a/content.tex
+++ b/content.tex
@@ -5540,48 +5540,7 @@ \subsubsection{Legacy Interface: Framing Requirements}\label{sec:Device
 negotiated VIRTIO_F_ANY_LAYOUT MUST use only a single
 descriptor for all buffers in the control receiveq and control transmitq.
 
-\section{Entropy Device}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device}
-
-The virtio entropy device supplies high-quality randomness for
-guest use.
-
-\subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device ID}
-  4
-
-\subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Virtqueues}
-\begin{description}
-\item[0] requestq
-\end{description}
-
-\subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Feature bits}
-  None currently defined
-
-\subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
-  None currently defined.
-
-\subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Initialization}
-
-\begin{enumerate}
-\item The virtqueue is initialized
-\end{enumerate}
-
-\subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
-
-When the driver requires random bytes, it places the descriptor
-of one or more buffers in the queue. It will be completely filled
-by random data by the device.
-
-\drivernormative{\subsubsection}{Device Operation}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
-
-The driver MUST NOT place device-readable buffers into the queue.
-
-The driver MUST examine the length written by the device to determine
-how many random bytes were received.
-
-\devicenormative{\subsubsection}{Device Operation}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
-
-The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer, but it
-MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
+\input{virtio-rng.tex}
 
 \section{Traditional Memory Balloon Device}\label{sec:Device Types / Memory Balloon Device}
 
diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c26f589
--- /dev/null
+++ b/virtio-rng.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+\section{Entropy Device}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device}
+
+The virtio entropy device supplies high-quality randomness for
+guest use.
+
+\subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device ID}
+  4
+
+\subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Virtqueues}
+\begin{description}
+\item[0] requestq
+\end{description}
+
+\subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Feature bits}
+  None currently defined
+
+\subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
+  None currently defined.
+
+\subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Initialization}
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+\item The virtqueue is initialized
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
+
+When the driver requires random bytes, it places the descriptor
+of one or more buffers in the queue. It will be completely filled
+by random data by the device.
+
+\drivernormative{\subsubsection}{Device Operation}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
+
+The driver MUST NOT place device-readable buffers into the queue.
+
+The driver MUST examine the length written by the device to determine
+how many random bytes were received.
+
+\devicenormative{\subsubsection}{Device Operation}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
+
+The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer, but it
+MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
-- 
MST


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[virtio-comment] [PATCH RFC 2/3] rng: be specific about the virtqueue

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

As we are going to add more virtqueues, when talking
about the requestq be specific and mention it by name
as opposed to just generally "the virtqueue".

Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
---
 virtio-rng.tex | 9 +++++----
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
index c26f589..1ec7164 100644
--- a/virtio-rng.tex
+++ b/virtio-rng.tex
@@ -20,23 +20,24 @@ \subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device
 \subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Initialization}
 
 \begin{enumerate}
-\item The virtqueue is initialized
+\item The \field{requestq} virtqueue is initialized
 \end{enumerate}
 
 \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
 
 When the driver requires random bytes, it places the descriptor
-of one or more buffers in the queue. It will be completely filled
+of one or more buffers in the \field{requestq} virtqueue. It will be completely filled
 by random data by the device.
 
 \drivernormative{\subsubsection}{Device Operation}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
 
-The driver MUST NOT place device-readable buffers into the queue.
+The driver MUST NOT place device-readable buffers into the \field{requestq} virtqueue.
 
 The driver MUST examine the length written by the device to determine
 how many random bytes were received.
 
 \devicenormative{\subsubsection}{Device Operation}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
 
-The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer, but it
+The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer
+made available to it through \field{requestq}, but it
 MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
-- 
MST


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[virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

Add virtqueues to support reporting entropy leaks (similar to virtio based vmgenid).

Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
---
 virtio-rng.tex | 61 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 60 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
index 1ec7164..4760dfa 100644
--- a/virtio-rng.tex
+++ b/virtio-rng.tex
@@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ \subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device ID}
 \subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Virtqueues}
 \begin{description}
 \item[0] requestq
+\item[1] leakq1 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
+\item[2] leakq2 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
 \end{description}
 
 \subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Feature bits}
-  None currently defined
+\begin{description}
+\item[VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK (0)] Device can report and handle information leaks.
+\end{description}
 
 \subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
   None currently defined.
@@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ \subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Dev
 
 \begin{enumerate}
 \item The \field{requestq} virtqueue is initialized
+\item If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated, \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2} are initialized
 \end{enumerate}
 
 \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
@@ -41,3 +46,57 @@ \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device O
 The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer
 made available to it through \field{requestq}, but it
 MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
+
+\subsubsection{Reporting Information Leaks}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation / Reporting Information Leaks}
+
+The device might, after the fact, detect that some of the entropy
+it supplied to the driver has after the fact degraded in quality
+or leaked to the outside world.  One example is when the device
+is part of the virtual machine undergoing a restore from snapshot
+operation. Another example is when the information leaks from the
+host system through a side-channel.
+
+The driver would typically react by causing regeneration of any
+information that might have leaked and that has to be secret or
+unique.  It is understood that when an information leak has been
+detected it is likely not limited to the entropy received through
+the specific device. In particular, this is the case for
+snapshoting It is thus suggested that the system fully
+regenerate any unique/secret information in this scenario.
+
+If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated the device can report
+such leaks to the driver through a set of dedicated leak
+queues: \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2}.
+
+Buffers added to the leak queues can have one of two forms:
+\begin{enumerate}
+\item A write-only buffer. It will be completely filled by random data by the device.
+\item A buffer consisting of read-only section followed by a
+write-only section, both of identical size. The
+device will copy data from the read-only section to the write-only
+section.
+\end{enumerate}
+
+The steps for operating the virtqueue are:
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+\item At each time, only one of \field{leakq1}, \field{leakq2} is active
+      (has buffers added/used).
+\item After initialization, \field{leakq1} is active.
+\item Driver adds multiple buffers to the active leak queue.
+\item The buffers are not used until an information leak is
+      detected, as long as that is the case driver can
+      add more buffers to the active queue.
+\item Upon detecting an information leak, device starts
+      using buffers in the active leak queue.
+\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
+      switches to another leak queue making it active
+      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
+      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.
+\item Device will keep using buffers in the active leak queue
+      until it detects that both the current leak queue is empty and another
+      leak queue has buffers. At that point device switches to
+      another leak queue, making it active.
+\item After the switch, buffers from the new leak queue are not
+      used until an information leak is detected.
+\end{enumerate}
-- 
MST


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[virtio-dev] Re: [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Babis Chalios]

Hi Michael,

And thanks a lot on the effort on that.

On 21/11/22 17:30, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
>
> Add virtqueues to support reporting entropy leaks (similar to virtio based vmgenid).
>
> Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
> ---
>   virtio-rng.tex | 61 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
>   1 file changed, 60 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>
> diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
> index 1ec7164..4760dfa 100644
> --- a/virtio-rng.tex
> +++ b/virtio-rng.tex
> @@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ \subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device ID}
>   \subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Virtqueues}
>   \begin{description}
>   \item[0] requestq
> +\item[1] leakq1 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
> +\item[2] leakq2 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
>   \end{description}
>
>   \subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Feature bits}
> -  None currently defined
> +\begin{description}
> +\item[VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK (0)] Device can report and handle information leaks.
> +\end{description}
>
>   \subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
>     None currently defined.
> @@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ \subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Dev
>
>   \begin{enumerate}
>   \item The \field{requestq} virtqueue is initialized
> +\item If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated, \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2} are initialized
>   \end{enumerate}
>
>   \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
> @@ -41,3 +46,57 @@ \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device O
>   The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer
>   made available to it through \field{requestq}, but it
>   MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
> +
> +\subsubsection{Reporting Information Leaks}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation / Reporting Information Leaks}
> +
> +The device might, after the fact, detect that some of the entropy
> +it supplied to the driver has after the fact degraded in quality
> +or leaked to the outside world.  One example is when the device
> +is part of the virtual machine undergoing a restore from snapshot
> +operation. Another example is when the information leaks from the
> +host system through a side-channel.
> +
> +The driver would typically react by causing regeneration of any
> +information that might have leaked and that has to be secret or
> +unique.  It is understood that when an information leak has been
> +detected it is likely not limited to the entropy received through
> +the specific device. In particular, this is the case for
> +snapshoting It is thus suggested that the system fully
> +regenerate any unique/secret information in this scenario.
> +
> +If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated the device can report
> +such leaks to the driver through a set of dedicated leak
> +queues: \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2}.
> +
> +Buffers added to the leak queues can have one of two forms:
> +\begin{enumerate}
> +\item A write-only buffer. It will be completely filled by random data by the device.
> +\item A buffer consisting of read-only section followed by a
> +write-only section, both of identical size. The
> +device will copy data from the read-only section to the write-only
> +section.
> +\end{enumerate}
> +
> +The steps for operating the virtqueue are:
> +
> +\begin{enumerate}
> +\item At each time, only one of \field{leakq1}, \field{leakq2} is active
> +      (has buffers added/used).
> +\item After initialization, \field{leakq1} is active.
> +\item Driver adds multiple buffers to the active leak queue.
> +\item The buffers are not used until an information leak is
> +      detected, as long as that is the case driver can
> +      add more buffers to the active queue.
> +\item Upon detecting an information leak, device starts
> +      using buffers in the active leak queue.
> +\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
> +      switches to another leak queue making it active
> +      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
> +      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.
> +\item Device will keep using buffers in the active leak queue
> +      until it detects that both the current leak queue is empty and another
> +      leak queue has buffers. At that point device switches to
> +      another leak queue, making it active.
> +\item After the switch, buffers from the new leak queue are not
> +      used until an information leak is detected.
> +\end{enumerate}
> --
> MST
>

I am taking now a closer look to trying to see any potential 
race-conditions but in a first glance it looks ok to me.
Curious to see what Jason thinks too.

Cheers,
Babis
Amazon Spain Services sociedad limitada unipersonal, Calle Ramirez de Prado 5, 28045 Madrid. Registro Mercantil de Madrid . Tomo 22458 . Folio 102 . Hoja M-401234 . CIF B84570936

Re: [virtio-dev] Re: [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Babis Chalios]

Hi Michael,

On 25/11/22 13:41, Babis Chalios wrote:
> Hi Michael,
>
> And thanks a lot on the effort on that.
>
> On 21/11/22 17:30, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
>> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do 
>> not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender 
>> and know the content is safe.
>>
>>
>>
>> Add virtqueues to support reporting entropy leaks (similar to virtio 
>> based vmgenid).
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
>> ---
>>   virtio-rng.tex | 61 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
>>   1 file changed, 60 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>>
>> diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
>> index 1ec7164..4760dfa 100644
>> --- a/virtio-rng.tex
>> +++ b/virtio-rng.tex
>> @@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ \subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / 
>> Entropy Device / Device ID}
>>   \subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / 
>> Virtqueues}
>>   \begin{description}
>>   \item[0] requestq
>> +\item[1] leakq1 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
>> +\item[2] leakq2 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
>>   \end{description}
>>
>>   \subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / 
>> Feature bits}
>> -  None currently defined
>> +\begin{description}
>> +\item[VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK (0)] Device can report and handle 
>> information leaks.
>> +\end{description}
>>
>>   \subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / 
>> Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
>>     None currently defined.
>> @@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ \subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device 
>> Types / Entropy Device / Dev
>>
>>   \begin{enumerate}
>>   \item The \field{requestq} virtqueue is initialized
>> +\item If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated, \field{leakq1} and 
>> \field{leakq2} are initialized
>>   \end{enumerate}
>>
>>   \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy 
>> Device / Device Operation}
>> @@ -41,3 +46,57 @@ \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device 
>> Types / Entropy Device / Device O
>>   The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer
>>   made available to it through \field{requestq}, but it
>>   MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
>> +
>> +\subsubsection{Reporting Information Leaks}{Device Types / Entropy 
>> Device / Device Operation / Reporting Information Leaks}
>> +
>> +The device might, after the fact, detect that some of the entropy
>> +it supplied to the driver has after the fact degraded in quality
>> +or leaked to the outside world.  One example is when the device
>> +is part of the virtual machine undergoing a restore from snapshot
>> +operation. Another example is when the information leaks from the
>> +host system through a side-channel.
>> +
>> +The driver would typically react by causing regeneration of any
>> +information that might have leaked and that has to be secret or
>> +unique.  It is understood that when an information leak has been
>> +detected it is likely not limited to the entropy received through
>> +the specific device. In particular, this is the case for
>> +snapshoting It is thus suggested that the system fully
>> +regenerate any unique/secret information in this scenario.
>> +
>> +If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated the device can report
>> +such leaks to the driver through a set of dedicated leak
>> +queues: \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2}.
>> +
>> +Buffers added to the leak queues can have one of two forms:
>> +\begin{enumerate}
>> +\item A write-only buffer. It will be completely filled by random 
>> data by the device.
>> +\item A buffer consisting of read-only section followed by a
>> +write-only section, both of identical size. The
>> +device will copy data from the read-only section to the write-only
>> +section.
>> +\end{enumerate}
>> +
>> +The steps for operating the virtqueue are:
>> +
>> +\begin{enumerate}
>> +\item At each time, only one of \field{leakq1}, \field{leakq2} is 
>> active
>> +      (has buffers added/used).
>> +\item After initialization, \field{leakq1} is active.
>> +\item Driver adds multiple buffers to the active leak queue.
>> +\item The buffers are not used until an information leak is
>> +      detected, as long as that is the case driver can
>> +      add more buffers to the active queue.
>> +\item Upon detecting an information leak, device starts
>> +      using buffers in the active leak queue.
>> +\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
>> +      switches to another leak queue making it active
>> +      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
>> +      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.
>> +\item Device will keep using buffers in the active leak queue
>> +      until it detects that both the current leak queue is empty and 
>> another
>> +      leak queue has buffers. At that point device switches to
>> +      another leak queue, making it active.
I assume by "using" here you mean that the device will perform directly 
the action
described by the buffers once they become available to it. Is my 
understanding correct?

Also, what happens if at this point (there are buffers on the "old" 
active leak queue) and a
new information leak is detected? Should we clarify this case?

>> +\item After the switch, buffers from the new leak queue are not
>> +      used until an information leak is detected.
>> +\end{enumerate}
>> -- 
>> MST
>>
>
> I am taking now a closer look to trying to see any potential 
> race-conditions but in a first glance it looks ok to me.
> Curious to see what Jason thinks too.
>
> Cheers,
> Babis
> Amazon Spain Services sociedad limitada unipersonal, Calle Ramirez de 
> Prado 5, 28045 Madrid. Registro Mercantil de Madrid . Tomo 22458 . 
> Folio 102 . Hoja M-401234 . CIF B84570936


Cheers,
Babis

Amazon Spain Services sociedad limitada unipersonal, Calle Ramirez de Prado 5, 28045 Madrid. Registro Mercantil de Madrid . Tomo 22458 . Folio 102 . Hoja M-401234 . CIF B84570936

[virtio-dev] Re: [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Babis Chalios]

CCing Amit

On 21/11/22 17:30, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
>
> Add virtqueues to support reporting entropy leaks (similar to virtio based vmgenid).
>
> Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
> ---
>   virtio-rng.tex | 61 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
>   1 file changed, 60 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>
> diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
> index 1ec7164..4760dfa 100644
> --- a/virtio-rng.tex
> +++ b/virtio-rng.tex
> @@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ \subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device ID}
>   \subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Virtqueues}
>   \begin{description}
>   \item[0] requestq
> +\item[1] leakq1 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
> +\item[2] leakq2 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
>   \end{description}
>
>   \subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Feature bits}
> -  None currently defined
> +\begin{description}
> +\item[VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK (0)] Device can report and handle information leaks.
> +\end{description}
>
>   \subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
>     None currently defined.
> @@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ \subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Dev
>
>   \begin{enumerate}
>   \item The \field{requestq} virtqueue is initialized
> +\item If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated, \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2} are initialized
>   \end{enumerate}
>
>   \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
> @@ -41,3 +46,57 @@ \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device O
>   The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer
>   made available to it through \field{requestq}, but it
>   MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
> +
> +\subsubsection{Reporting Information Leaks}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation / Reporting Information Leaks}
> +
> +The device might, after the fact, detect that some of the entropy
> +it supplied to the driver has after the fact degraded in quality
> +or leaked to the outside world.  One example is when the device
> +is part of the virtual machine undergoing a restore from snapshot
> +operation. Another example is when the information leaks from the
> +host system through a side-channel.
> +
> +The driver would typically react by causing regeneration of any
> +information that might have leaked and that has to be secret or
> +unique.  It is understood that when an information leak has been
> +detected it is likely not limited to the entropy received through
> +the specific device. In particular, this is the case for
> +snapshoting It is thus suggested that the system fully
> +regenerate any unique/secret information in this scenario.
> +
> +If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated the device can report
> +such leaks to the driver through a set of dedicated leak
> +queues: \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2}.
> +
> +Buffers added to the leak queues can have one of two forms:
> +\begin{enumerate}
> +\item A write-only buffer. It will be completely filled by random data by the device.
> +\item A buffer consisting of read-only section followed by a
> +write-only section, both of identical size. The
> +device will copy data from the read-only section to the write-only
> +section.
> +\end{enumerate}
> +
> +The steps for operating the virtqueue are:
> +
> +\begin{enumerate}
> +\item At each time, only one of \field{leakq1}, \field{leakq2} is active
> +      (has buffers added/used).
> +\item After initialization, \field{leakq1} is active.
> +\item Driver adds multiple buffers to the active leak queue.
> +\item The buffers are not used until an information leak is
> +      detected, as long as that is the case driver can
> +      add more buffers to the active queue.
> +\item Upon detecting an information leak, device starts
> +      using buffers in the active leak queue.
> +\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
> +      switches to another leak queue making it active
> +      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
> +      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.
> +\item Device will keep using buffers in the active leak queue
> +      until it detects that both the current leak queue is empty and another
> +      leak queue has buffers. At that point device switches to
> +      another leak queue, making it active.
> +\item After the switch, buffers from the new leak queue are not
> +      used until an information leak is detected.
> +\end{enumerate}
> --
> MST
>

Cheers,
Babis

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[virtio-dev] Re: [PATCH RFC 0/3] virtio-rng based entropy leak reporting

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 11:30:19AM -0500, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> Generally, entropy only grows. However, there are cases where
> it goes down - for example, consider generating a one time
> pad where someone managed to use a side channel to
> steal its contents. By combining the seemingly random
> pad with the stolen contents we have reversed the entropy.
> 
> This actually happens within VMs e.g. when time is reversed due
> to snapshoting. Existing approaches for VMs include Microsoft's
> VM GEN ID.
> 
> This draft proposes a feature in virtio rng for reporting such
> leaks.
> 
> Patches 1,2 refactor existing draft text. Patch 3 adds new functionality.
> 
> TODO:
> 	document theory of operation
> 	add conformance clauses

Guys any input on this? Anyone going to use this?

> 
> Michael S. Tsirkin (3):
>   rng: move to a file of its own
>   rng: be specific about the virtqueue
>   rng: leak detection support
> 
>  content.tex    |  43 +--------------------
>  virtio-rng.tex | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
>  create mode 100644 virtio-rng.tex
> 
> -- 
> MST
> 


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Re: [virtio-dev] Re: [PATCH RFC 0/3] virtio-rng based entropy leak reporting

[Babis Chalios]

Hi Michael,

On 12/1/23 08:02, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 11:30:19AM -0500, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
>> Generally, entropy only grows. However, there are cases where
>> it goes down - for example, consider generating a one time
>> pad where someone managed to use a side channel to
>> steal its contents. By combining the seemingly random
>> pad with the stolen contents we have reversed the entropy.
>>
>> This actually happens within VMs e.g. when time is reversed due
>> to snapshoting. Existing approaches for VMs include Microsoft's
>> VM GEN ID.
>>
>> This draft proposes a feature in virtio rng for reporting such
>> leaks.
>>
>> Patches 1,2 refactor existing draft text. Patch 3 adds new functionality.
>>
>> TODO:
>>        document theory of operation
>>        add conformance clauses
> Guys any input on this? Anyone going to use this?

I plan to post an RFC patch for linux virtio-rng show-casing this with 
Firecracker, this week.
Also, I had sent an e-mail: 
https://www.mail-archive.com/virtio-dev@lists.oasis-open.org/msg09128.html 
with some questions,
not sure whether you missed it?

>> Michael S. Tsirkin (3):
>>    rng: move to a file of its own
>>    rng: be specific about the virtqueue
>>    rng: leak detection support
>>
>>   content.tex    |  43 +--------------------
>>   virtio-rng.tex | 102 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>   2 files changed, 103 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
>>   create mode 100644 virtio-rng.tex
>>
>> --
>> MST
>>
>
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>

Cheers,
Babis


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] Re: [PATCH RFC 0/3] virtio-rng based entropy leak reporting

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 05:45:40PM +0100, Jason A. Donenfeld wrote:
> Hey guys,
> 
> Just FYI, I am still interested in this, but it's currently taken a
> backseat while I focus on some other parts of the ecosystem. I'll be
> back to moving this forward in March.
> 
> Jason

OK sure, no rush. I will drop this for now and just ping me when there's
interest.

-- 
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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 12:16:22PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> Hi Michael,
> 
> On 21/11/22 17:30, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > Add virtqueues to support reporting entropy leaks (similar to virtio based vmgenid).
> > 
> > Signed-off-by: Michael S. Tsirkin <mst@redhat.com>
> > ---
> >   virtio-rng.tex | 61 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
> >   1 file changed, 60 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
> > 
> > diff --git a/virtio-rng.tex b/virtio-rng.tex
> > index 1ec7164..4760dfa 100644
> > --- a/virtio-rng.tex
> > +++ b/virtio-rng.tex
> > @@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ \subsection{Device ID}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device ID}
> >   \subsection{Virtqueues}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Virtqueues}
> >   \begin{description}
> >   \item[0] requestq
> > +\item[1] leakq1 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
> > +\item[2] leakq2 (only if VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK is offered)
> >   \end{description}
> >   \subsection{Feature bits}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Feature bits}
> > -  None currently defined
> > +\begin{description}
> > +\item[VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK (0)] Device can report and handle information leaks.
> > +\end{description}
> >   \subsection{Device configuration layout}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device configuration layout}
> >     None currently defined.
> > @@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ \subsection{Device Initialization}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Dev
> >   \begin{enumerate}
> >   \item The \field{requestq} virtqueue is initialized
> > +\item If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated, \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2} are initialized
> >   \end{enumerate}
> >   \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation}
> > @@ -41,3 +46,57 @@ \subsection{Device Operation}\label{sec:Device Types / Entropy Device / Device O
> >   The device MUST place one or more random bytes into the buffer
> >   made available to it through \field{requestq}, but it
> >   MAY use less than the entire buffer length.
> > +
> > +\subsubsection{Reporting Information Leaks}{Device Types / Entropy Device / Device Operation / Reporting Information Leaks}
> > +
> > +The device might, after the fact, detect that some of the entropy
> > +it supplied to the driver has after the fact degraded in quality
> > +or leaked to the outside world.  One example is when the device
> > +is part of the virtual machine undergoing a restore from snapshot
> > +operation. Another example is when the information leaks from the
> > +host system through a side-channel.
> > +
> > +The driver would typically react by causing regeneration of any
> > +information that might have leaked and that has to be secret or
> > +unique.  It is understood that when an information leak has been
> > +detected it is likely not limited to the entropy received through
> > +the specific device. In particular, this is the case for
> > +snapshoting It is thus suggested that the system fully
> > +regenerate any unique/secret information in this scenario.
> > +
> > +If VIRTIO_RNG_F_LEAK has been negotiated the device can report
> > +such leaks to the driver through a set of dedicated leak
> > +queues: \field{leakq1} and \field{leakq2}.
> > +
> > +Buffers added to the leak queues can have one of two forms:
> > +\begin{enumerate}
> > +\item A write-only buffer. It will be completely filled by random data by the device.
> > +\item A buffer consisting of read-only section followed by a
> > +write-only section, both of identical size. The
> > +device will copy data from the read-only section to the write-only
> > +section.
> > +\end{enumerate}
> > +
> > +The steps for operating the virtqueue are:
> > +
> > +\begin{enumerate}
> > +\item At each time, only one of \field{leakq1}, \field{leakq2} is active
> > +      (has buffers added/used).
> > +\item After initialization, \field{leakq1} is active.
> > +\item Driver adds multiple buffers to the active leak queue.
> > +\item The buffers are not used until an information leak is
> > +      detected, as long as that is the case driver can
> > +      add more buffers to the active queue.
> > +\item Upon detecting an information leak, device starts
> > +      using buffers in the active leak queue.
> > +\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
> > +      switches to another leak queue making it active
> > +      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
> > +      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.\
> 
> I have been discussing with Alex and we think there's a potential race here,
> between the time the driver
> sees the used buffers in the active leak queue until the time it adds new
> buffers to the next leak queue.
> If a new entropy leak event arrives the VMM won't find any buffers in the
> queue.

I do not understand why this matters though. we know there was a leak,
why does it matter whether there was one or two leaks?

> In the last RFC implementing this in Linux we sent to LKML [1] we avoid the
> issue by pre-populating both
> queues, but that does not solve the problem if a third entropy leak event
> arrives. The probability of this
> happening is indeed small, but we thought of a potential solution to this.
> 
> What if we modify the spec here to instruct the VMM to deny taking a
> snapshot if there are not any buffers
> in the active leak queue? If we did this, we could even simplify the spec to
> just introduce a single entropy
> leak queue, so we could avoid the complexity of switching between active
> leak queues in the driver and
> the device. WDYT?

here's the problem: 

- driver adds batch 1 of buffers
- leak
- device starts using buffers from batch 1
- driver sees some buffers and starts adding batch 2
- device sees batch 2 and thinks this is part of batch 1
  consumes them all




> Cheers,
> Babis
> 
> [1]
> https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20230823090107.65749-3-bchalios@amazon.es/T/
> 
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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 11:32:57AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > I do not understand why this matters though. we know there was a leak,
> > why does it matter whether there was one or two leaks?
> >
> > > In the last RFC implementing this in Linux we sent to LKML [1] we avoid
> the
> > > issue by pre-populating both
> > > queues, but that does not solve the problem if a third entropy leak
> event
> > > arrives. The probability of this
> > > happening is indeed small, but we thought of a potential solution to
> this.
> > >
> > > What if we modify the spec here to instruct the VMM to deny taking a
> > > snapshot if there are not any buffers
> > > in the active leak queue? If we did this, we could even simplify the
> spec to
> > > just introduce a single entropy
> > > leak queue, so we could avoid the complexity of switching between active
> > > leak queues in the driver and
> > > the device. WDYT?
> >
> > here's the problem:
> >
> > - driver adds batch 1 of buffers
> > - leak
> > - device starts using buffers from batch 1
> > - driver sees some buffers and starts adding batch 2
> 
> If understand this clause:
> 
> > > +\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
> > > +      switches to another leak queue making it active
> > > +      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
> > > +      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.
> 
> correctly:
> 
> At this point, the driver will first switch active leak queue and
> then add batch 2 to the new leak queue.
> 
> and due to this:
> 
> > > +\item Device will keep using buffers in the active leak queue
> > > +      until it detects that both the current leak queue is empty and
> another
> > > +      leak queue has buffers. At that point device switches to
> > > +      another leak queue, making it active.
> > > +\item After the switch, buffers from the new leak queue are not
> > > +      used until an information leak is detected.
> > > +\end{enumerate}
> 
> the following won't happen:
> 
> > - device sees batch 2 and thinks this is part of batch 1
> >    consumes them all
> 
> Does it make sense?
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis

yes, the queue switch is used as a barrier to detect a new leak event.

-- 
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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 01:19:49PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> 
> On 13/9/23 11:37, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and know the content is safe.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 11:32:57AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > I do not understand why this matters though. we know there was a leak,
> > > > why does it matter whether there was one or two leaks?
> > > > 
> > > > > In the last RFC implementing this in Linux we sent to LKML [1] we avoid
> > > the
> > > > > issue by pre-populating both
> > > > > queues, but that does not solve the problem if a third entropy leak
> > > event
> > > > > arrives. The probability of this
> > > > > happening is indeed small, but we thought of a potential solution to
> > > this.
> > > > > What if we modify the spec here to instruct the VMM to deny taking a
> > > > > snapshot if there are not any buffers
> > > > > in the active leak queue? If we did this, we could even simplify the
> > > spec to
> > > > > just introduce a single entropy
> > > > > leak queue, so we could avoid the complexity of switching between active
> > > > > leak queues in the driver and
> > > > > the device. WDYT?
> > > > here's the problem:
> > > > 
> > > > - driver adds batch 1 of buffers
> > > > - leak
> > > > - device starts using buffers from batch 1
> > > > - driver sees some buffers and starts adding batch 2
> > > If understand this clause:
> > > 
> > > > > +\item Upon detecting that buffers have been used, driver
> > > > > +      switches to another leak queue making it active
> > > > > +      (e.g. from \field{leakq1} to \field{leakq2} or vice versa).
> > > > > +      It then starts adding buffers to the new leak queue.
> > > correctly:
> > > 
> > > At this point, the driver will first switch active leak queue and
> > > then add batch 2 to the new leak queue.
> > > 
> > > and due to this:
> > > 
> > > > > +\item Device will keep using buffers in the active leak queue
> > > > > +      until it detects that both the current leak queue is empty and
> > > another
> > > > > +      leak queue has buffers. At that point device switches to
> > > > > +      another leak queue, making it active.
> > > > > +\item After the switch, buffers from the new leak queue are not
> > > > > +      used until an information leak is detected.
> > > > > +\end{enumerate}
> > > the following won't happen:
> > > 
> > > > - device sees batch 2 and thinks this is part of batch 1
> > > >      consumes them all
> > > Does it make sense?
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > yes, the queue switch is used as a barrier to detect a new leak event.
> 
> Right, so I think that there is a race condition between the time the driver
> sees the used buffers of the first
> batch and until it adds the second batch on the next leak queue.
> 
> 1. driver adds batch 1
> 2. leak event
> 3. device uses batch 1
> 4. driver sees the used buffers and
>     a. switches leak queues
>     b. adds batch 2.
> 5. devices finds initial leak queue empty and sees buffers in second leak
> queue.
> 
> If a second leak event happens after step 3 above and before all of steps 4
> complete then batch 2 will not
> be processed as part of the second leak event.

driver can just pre-add buffers in the second queue.

1. available buffers to queue 1-X
2. available buffers to queue X


3. poll queue X
4. used buffers in queue X
5. avail buffers in queue X
6. poll queue 1-X
7. used buffers in queue X
8. avail buffers in queue X
9. goto 3




> > --
> > MST
> > 
> > 
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> 
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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 03:00:43PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> > > Right, so I think that there is a race condition between the time the driver
> > > sees the used buffers of the first
> > > batch and until it adds the second batch on the next leak queue.
> > > 
> > > 1. driver adds batch 1
> > > 2. leak event
> > > 3. device uses batch 1
> > > 4. driver sees the used buffers and
> > >      a. switches leak queues
> > >      b. adds batch 2.
> > > 5. devices finds initial leak queue empty and sees buffers in second leak
> > > queue.
> > > 
> > > If a second leak event happens after step 3 above and before all of steps 4
> > > complete then batch 2 will not
> > > be processed as part of the second leak event.
> > driver can just pre-add buffers in the second queue.
> > 
> > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > 
> > 
> > 3. poll queue X
> > 4. used buffers in queue X
> > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > 6. poll queue 1-X
> > 7. used buffers in queue X
> > 8. avail buffers in queue X
> > 9. goto 3
> > 
> 
> Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch. However, this just
> decreases
> the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third leak event happens it
> might not
> find any buffers to use:
> 
> 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> 2. available buffers to queue X
> 
> 
> 3. poll queue X
> 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will use buffers in X
> 5. avail buffers in queue X
> 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will use buffers in 1-X
> 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
>                                  <- leak event 3 (it needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> 9. goto 3


I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.

> 
> 
> If, instead, we define a single leak queue and require that VMM should refuse to take a snapshot
> if that queue is empty, we avoid the race condition in all cases and IMHO the protocol becomes
> much simpler.
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis
> 


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 04:02:54PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> On 18/9/23 15:58, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 03:00:43PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > Right, so I think that there is a race condition between the time the driver
> > > > > sees the used buffers of the first
> > > > > batch and until it adds the second batch on the next leak queue.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 1. driver adds batch 1
> > > > > 2. leak event
> > > > > 3. device uses batch 1
> > > > > 4. driver sees the used buffers and
> > > > >       a. switches leak queues
> > > > >       b. adds batch 2.
> > > > > 5. devices finds initial leak queue empty and sees buffers in second leak
> > > > > queue.
> > > > > 
> > > > > If a second leak event happens after step 3 above and before all of steps 4
> > > > > complete then batch 2 will not
> > > > > be processed as part of the second leak event.
> > > > driver can just pre-add buffers in the second queue.
> > > > 
> > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > 4. used buffers in queue X
> > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > 6. poll queue 1-X
> > > > 7. used buffers in queue X
> > > > 8. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > 
> > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch. However, this just
> > > decreases
> > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third leak event happens it
> > > might not
> > > find any buffers to use:
> > > 
> > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 3. poll queue X
> > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will use buffers in X
> > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will use buffers in 1-X
> > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > >                                   <- leak event 3 (it needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > 9. goto 3
> > 
> > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> 
> What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to actually add the
> buffers in X and make
> them visible to the device?


Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.


> 
> > 
> > > 
> > > If, instead, we define a single leak queue and require that VMM should refuse to take a snapshot
> > > if that queue is empty, we avoid the race condition in all cases and IMHO the protocol becomes
> > > much simpler.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > > 
> > 
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> 
> On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > might not
> > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > >                                    <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > actually add the
> > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > them visible to the device?
> > > 
> > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > 
> 
> 
> So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> 
> (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> maintained by random.c
> that changes every time a leak event happens).
> 
> 1. add buffers to 1-X
> 2. add buffers to X
> 3. poll queue X
> 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> 
> 
> In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> device won't find
> any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> any entropy
> gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> something?
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis
> 

Yes but notice how this is followed by:

12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X

Driver can notify getrandom I guess?

-- 
MST


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > 
> > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > >                                     <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > 
> > > 
> > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > 
> > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > maintained by random.c
> > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > 
> > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > 3. poll queue X
> > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> > > device won't find
> > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > any entropy
> > > gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > something?
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > > 
> > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > 
> > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > 
> > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> 
> It could, but then we have the exact race condition that VMGENID had,
> userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> can do about that.
> 
> Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels like it beats the purpose
> of having the hardware update directly userspace (via copy on leak).
> 
> How do you feel about the proposal a couple of emails back? It looks to
> me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis

It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
userspace memory without consuming buffers.
Would something like this solve the problem?



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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 05:40:50PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> 
> On 22/9/23 17:06, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > > > 
> > > > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > >                                      <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > > > 
> > > > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > > > maintained by random.c
> > > > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > > > 
> > > > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> > > > > device won't find
> > > > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > > > any entropy
> > > > > gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > > > something?
> > > > > 
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Babis
> > > > > 
> > > > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > > > 
> > > > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > > > 
> > > > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> > > It could, but then we have the exact race condition that VMGENID had,
> > > userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> > > can do about that.
> > > 
> > > Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels like it beats the purpose
> > > of having the hardware update directly userspace (via copy on leak).
> > > 
> > > How do you feel about the proposal a couple of emails back? It looks to
> > > me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
> > taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
> 
> That is true, but does it matter? The intention of the proposal
> is that if it is not safe to take snapshots (i.e. no buffers in the
> queue) don't take snapshots.
> 
> > I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
> > a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
> > userspace memory without consuming buffers.
> > Would something like this solve the problem?
> 
> I am not familiar with MAP/UNMAP descriptors. Is there
> a link where I can read about them?
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis


Heh no I just came up with the name. Will write up in a couple
of days, but the idea is that driver does get_user_pages,
adds buffer to queue, and device will remember the address
and change that memory on a snapshot. If there are buffers
in the queue it will also use these to tell driver,
but if there are no buffers then it won't.

-- 
MST


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 12:43:20PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> On 22/9/23 18:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 05:40:50PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > 
> > > On 22/9/23 17:06, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > >                                       <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > > > > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > > > > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > > > > > maintained by random.c
> > > > > > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > > > > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > > > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > > > > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > > > > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > > > > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > > > > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > > > > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > > > > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> > > > > > > device won't find
> > > > > > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > > > > > any entropy
> > > > > > > gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > > > > > something?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> > > > > It could, but then we have the exact race condition that VMGENID had,
> > > > > userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> > > > > can do about that.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels like it beats the purpose
> > > > > of having the hardware update directly userspace (via copy on leak).
> > > > > 
> > > > > How do you feel about the proposal a couple of emails back? It looks to
> > > > > me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Babis
> > > > It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
> > > > taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
> > > That is true, but does it matter? The intention of the proposal
> > > is that if it is not safe to take snapshots (i.e. no buffers in the
> > > queue) don't take snapshots.
> > > 
> > > > I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
> > > > a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
> > > > userspace memory without consuming buffers.
> > > > Would something like this solve the problem?
> > > I am not familiar with MAP/UNMAP descriptors. Is there
> > > a link where I can read about them?
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > 
> > Heh no I just came up with the name. Will write up in a couple
> > of days, but the idea is that driver does get_user_pages,
> > adds buffer to queue, and device will remember the address
> > and change that memory on a snapshot. If there are buffers
> > in the queue it will also use these to tell driver,
> > but if there are no buffers then it won't.
> 
> That sounds like a nice mechanism. However in our case the page
> holding the counter that gets increased by the hardware is a kernel
> page.
> 
> The reason for that is that things other than us (virtio-rng) might
> want to notify for leak events. For example, I think that Jason
> intended to use this mechanism to periodically notify user-space
> PRNGs that they need to reseed.
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis


Now I'm lost.
when you write, e.g.:
4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
how does vcpu access the epoch?

-- 
MST


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Fri, Oct 13, 2023 at 09:49:40AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> 
> On 28/9/23 20:16, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > On 27/9/23 23:47, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 12:43:20PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > On 22/9/23 18:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 05:40:50PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > On 22/9/23 17:06, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > > > > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > > > > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > > > > > > > > Then it will see a single event
> > > > > > > > > > > > in 1-X instead of two events.  A
> > > > > > > > > > > > leak is
> > > > > > > > > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used
> > > > > > > > > > in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > > > > > > > > maintained by random.c
> > > > > > > > > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > > > > > > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > > > > > > > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > > > > > > > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in
> > > > > > > > > > either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > > > > > > > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > > > > > > > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > > > > > > > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new
> > > > > > > > > > epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > In this succession of events, when the
> > > > > > > > > > third snapshot will happen, the
> > > > > > > > > > device won't find
> > > > > > > > > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't
> > > > > > > > > > increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > > > > > > > > any entropy
> > > > > > > > > > gathered after step 8 will be the same
> > > > > > > > > > across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > > > > > > > > something?
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> > > > > > > > It could, but then we have the exact race
> > > > > > > > condition that VMGENID had,
> > > > > > > > userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> > > > > > > > can do about that.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels
> > > > > > > > like it beats the purpose
> > > > > > > > of having the hardware update directly userspace
> > > > > > > > (via copy on leak).
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > How do you feel about the proposal a couple of
> > > > > > > > emails back? It looks to
> > > > > > > > me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > > It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
> > > > > > > taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
> > > > > > That is true, but does it matter? The intention of the proposal
> > > > > > is that if it is not safe to take snapshots (i.e. no buffers in the
> > > > > > queue) don't take snapshots.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > > I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
> > > > > > > a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
> > > > > > > userspace memory without consuming buffers.
> > > > > > > Would something like this solve the problem?
> > > > > > I am not familiar with MAP/UNMAP descriptors. Is there
> > > > > > a link where I can read about them?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > Babis
> > > > > Heh no I just came up with the name. Will write up in a couple
> > > > > of days, but the idea is that driver does get_user_pages,
> > > > > adds buffer to queue, and device will remember the address
> > > > > and change that memory on a snapshot. If there are buffers
> > > > > in the queue it will also use these to tell driver,
> > > > > but if there are no buffers then it won't.
> > > > That sounds like a nice mechanism. However in our case the page
> > > > holding the counter that gets increased by the hardware is a kernel
> > > > page.
> > > > 
> > > > The reason for that is that things other than us (virtio-rng) might
> > > > want to notify for leak events. For example, I think that Jason
> > > > intended to use this mechanism to periodically notify user-space
> > > > PRNGs that they need to reseed.
> > > > 
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > Babis
> > > 
> > > Now I'm lost.
> > > when you write, e.g.:
> > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > how does vcpu access the epoch?
> > 
> > The kernel provides a user space API to map a pointer to the epoch
> > value. User space then caches its value and checks it every time it
> > needs to make sure that no entropy leak has happened before using
> > cached kernel entropy.
> > 
> > virtio-rng driver adds a copy on leak command to the queue for
> > increasing this value (that's what we are speaking about in this thread).
> > But other systems might want to report "leaks", such as random.c
> > itself.
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > Babis
> 
> Hey Michael, does this explain the flow of things?
> 
> To summarize, end-to-end things work like this:
> 
> 1. kernel allocates a page where an epoch value is stored.
> 2. User-space can mmap this page and look for changes in its value to
>     know when it needs to re-seed its PRNGs.
> 3. virtio-rng driver gets a hold of the address of the page and programs
>     device to update it when entropy is leaked
> 4. Other kernel sub-systems can do the same if they have a concept of
>     entropy leaking. For example, random.c might want to do this
> periodically
> 
> Regarding your suggestion for MAP/UNMAP buffers, I think it could work
> if it was working with kernel addresses as well. The device doesn't care
> about user vs kernel space guest addresses after all. However, if we were to
> use such a mechanism, it seems that we don't need the two leak queues
> anyway.
> 
> So, it sounds like we can have a setup with one leak queue only. If we use a
> MAP/UNMAP type of buffer then all is fine. If we use normal buffers, we can
> add the requirement that the VMM needs to refuse to take a snapshot if there
> is not a copy on leak buffer in the queue.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis

Lost context a bit. I'll think it over. Thanks!


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 08:16:11PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> 
> On 27/9/23 23:47, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 12:43:20PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > On 22/9/23 18:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 05:40:50PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > On 22/9/23 17:06, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >                                        <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > > > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > > > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > > > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > > > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > > > > > > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > > > > > > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > > > > > > > maintained by random.c
> > > > > > > > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > > > > > > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > > > > > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > > > > > > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > > > > > > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > > > > > > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > > > > > > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > > > > > > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> > > > > > > > > device won't find
> > > > > > > > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > > > > > > > any entropy
> > > > > > > > > gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > > > > > > > something?
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> > > > > > > It could, but then we have the exact race condition that VMGENID had,
> > > > > > > userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> > > > > > > can do about that.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels like it beats the purpose
> > > > > > > of having the hardware update directly userspace (via copy on leak).
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > How do you feel about the proposal a couple of emails back? It looks to
> > > > > > > me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
> > > > > > taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
> > > > > That is true, but does it matter? The intention of the proposal
> > > > > is that if it is not safe to take snapshots (i.e. no buffers in the
> > > > > queue) don't take snapshots.
> > > > > 
> > > > > > I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
> > > > > > a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
> > > > > > userspace memory without consuming buffers.
> > > > > > Would something like this solve the problem?
> > > > > I am not familiar with MAP/UNMAP descriptors. Is there
> > > > > a link where I can read about them?
> > > > > 
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Babis
> > > > Heh no I just came up with the name. Will write up in a couple
> > > > of days, but the idea is that driver does get_user_pages,
> > > > adds buffer to queue, and device will remember the address
> > > > and change that memory on a snapshot. If there are buffers
> > > > in the queue it will also use these to tell driver,
> > > > but if there are no buffers then it won't.
> > > That sounds like a nice mechanism. However in our case the page
> > > holding the counter that gets increased by the hardware is a kernel
> > > page.
> > > 
> > > The reason for that is that things other than us (virtio-rng) might
> > > want to notify for leak events. For example, I think that Jason
> > > intended to use this mechanism to periodically notify user-space
> > > PRNGs that they need to reseed.
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > 
> > Now I'm lost.
> > when you write, e.g.:
> > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > how does vcpu access the epoch?
> 
> The kernel provides a user space API to map a pointer to the epoch
> value. User space then caches its value and checks it every time it
> needs to make sure that no entropy leak has happened before using
> cached kernel entropy.
> 
> virtio-rng driver adds a copy on leak command to the queue for
> increasing this value (that's what we are speaking about in this thread).
> But other systems might want to report "leaks", such as random.c
> itself.
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis


This idea would be fine but I don't see how it's so different
from VMGENID. Care to explain?


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 05:40:50PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> 
> On 22/9/23 17:06, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > > > 
> > > > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > >                                      <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > > > 
> > > > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > > > maintained by random.c
> > > > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > > > 
> > > > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> > > > > device won't find
> > > > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > > > any entropy
> > > > > gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > > > something?
> > > > > 
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Babis
> > > > > 
> > > > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > > > 
> > > > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > > > 
> > > > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> > > It could, but then we have the exact race condition that VMGENID had,
> > > userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> > > can do about that.
> > > 
> > > Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels like it beats the purpose
> > > of having the hardware update directly userspace (via copy on leak).
> > > 
> > > How do you feel about the proposal a couple of emails back? It looks to
> > > me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
> > taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
> 
> That is true, but does it matter? The intention of the proposal
> is that if it is not safe to take snapshots (i.e. no buffers in the
> queue) don't take snapshots.

OK. Basically I think if there's a way for device to detect that
guest is stuck and not refilling the queue in a timely
manner, then we are ok - host will make its own decisions
on whether to snapshot or not.

However, I feel in that case we need a way to create a big
backlog of buffers for guest to fill such that this
ring empty condition is very unlikely.
One or even 2 queues does not seem enough then.

For example, I can see a "stop" command that will
tell device: "stop consuming buffers" and device
will stop consuming buffers until the next leak event.




> > I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
> > a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
> > userspace memory without consuming buffers.
> > Would something like this solve the problem?
> 
> I am not familiar with MAP/UNMAP descriptors. Is there
> a link where I can read about them?
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis


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[virtio-comment] Re: [virtio-dev] [PATCH RFC 3/3] rng: leak detection support

[Michael S. Tsirkin]

On Thu, Nov 02, 2023 at 12:38:28PM +0100, Babis Chalios wrote:
> 
> On 2/11/23 12:20, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > 
> > On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 08:16:11PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > 
> > > On 27/9/23 23:47, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 12:43:20PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > On 22/9/23 18:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 05:40:50PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > On 22/9/23 17:06, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:11:37PM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > On 19/9/23 12:01, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 09:32:08AM +0200, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > Resending to fix e-mail formatting issues (sorry for the spam)
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > On 18/9/23 18:30, Babis Chalios wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, that's what the driver does now in the RFC patch.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > However, this just
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > decreases
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > the race window, it doesn't eliminate it. If a third
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > leak event happens it
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > might not
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > find any buffers to use:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1. available buffers to queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. available buffers to queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4. used buffers in queue X       <- leak event 1 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5. avail buffers in queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 6. poll queue 1-X                <- leak event 2 will
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > use buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 7. used buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 8. avail buffers in queue 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >                                         <- leak event 3 (it
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > needs buffers in X, race with step 5)
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 9. goto 3
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I don't get it. we added buffers in step 5.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > What if the leak event 3 arrives before step 5 had time to
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > actually add the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > buffers in X and make
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > them visible to the device?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Then it will see a single event in 1-X instead of two events.  A leak is
> > > > > > > > > > > > > a leak though, I don't see does it matter how many triggered.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > So the scenario I have in mind is the following:
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > (Epoch here is terminology that I used in the Linux RFC. It is a value
> > > > > > > > > > > maintained by random.c
> > > > > > > > > > > that changes every time a leak event happens).
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > 1. add buffers to 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > 2. add buffers to X
> > > > > > > > > > > 3. poll queue X
> > > > > > > > > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > > > > > > > > 5. Device: First snapshot, uses buffers in X
> > > > > > > > > > > 6. vcpu 1: sees used buffers
> > > > > > > > > > > 7. Device: Second snapshot, uses buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > > 8. vcpu 0: getrandom() observes new  epoch value & caches it
> > > > > > > > > > > 9. Device: Third snapshot, no buffers in either queue, (vcpu 1 from step 6
> > > > > > > > > > > has not yet finished adding new buffers).
> > > > > > > > > > > 10. vcpu 1 adds new buffer in X
> > > > > > > > > > > 11. vcpu 0: getrandom() will not see new epoch and gets stale entropy.
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > In this succession of events, when the third snapshot will happen, the
> > > > > > > > > > > device won't find
> > > > > > > > > > > any buffers in either queue, so it won't increase the RNG epoch value. So,
> > > > > > > > > > > any entropy
> > > > > > > > > > > gathered after step 8 will be the same across all snapshots. Am I missing
> > > > > > > > > > > something?
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > Yes but notice how this is followed by:
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > 12. vcpu 1: sees used buffers in 1-X
> > > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > > Driver can notify getrandom I guess?
> > > > > > > > > It could, but then we have the exact race condition that VMGENID had,
> > > > > > > > > userspace has already consumed stale entropy and there's nothing we
> > > > > > > > > can do about that.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Although this is indeed a corner case, it feels like it beats the purpose
> > > > > > > > > of having the hardware update directly userspace (via copy on leak).
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > How do you feel about the proposal a couple of emails back? It looks to
> > > > > > > > > me that it avoids completely the race condition.
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > > > It does. The problem of course is that this means that e.g.
> > > > > > > > taking a snapshot of a guest that is stuck won't work well.
> > > > > > > That is true, but does it matter? The intention of the proposal
> > > > > > > is that if it is not safe to take snapshots (i.e. no buffers in the
> > > > > > > queue) don't take snapshots.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > I have been thinking of adding MAP/UNMAP descriptors for
> > > > > > > > a while now. Thus it will be possible to modify
> > > > > > > > userspace memory without consuming buffers.
> > > > > > > > Would something like this solve the problem?
> > > > > > > I am not familiar with MAP/UNMAP descriptors. Is there
> > > > > > > a link where I can read about them?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > > > Babis
> > > > > > Heh no I just came up with the name. Will write up in a couple
> > > > > > of days, but the idea is that driver does get_user_pages,
> > > > > > adds buffer to queue, and device will remember the address
> > > > > > and change that memory on a snapshot. If there are buffers
> > > > > > in the queue it will also use these to tell driver,
> > > > > > but if there are no buffers then it won't.
> > > > > That sounds like a nice mechanism. However in our case the page
> > > > > holding the counter that gets increased by the hardware is a kernel
> > > > > page.
> > > > > 
> > > > > The reason for that is that things other than us (virtio-rng) might
> > > > > want to notify for leak events. For example, I think that Jason
> > > > > intended to use this mechanism to periodically notify user-space
> > > > > PRNGs that they need to reseed.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > > Babis
> > > > Now I'm lost.
> > > > when you write, e.g.:
> > > > 4. vcpu 0: get getrandom() entropy and cache epoch value
> > > > how does vcpu access the epoch?
> > > The kernel provides a user space API to map a pointer to the epoch
> > > value. User space then caches its value and checks it every time it
> > > needs to make sure that no entropy leak has happened before using
> > > cached kernel entropy.
> > > 
> > > virtio-rng driver adds a copy on leak command to the queue for
> > > increasing this value (that's what we are speaking about in this thread).
> > > But other systems might want to report "leaks", such as random.c
> > > itself.
> > > 
> > > Cheers,
> > > Babis
> > 
> > This idea would be fine but I don't see how it's so different
> > from VMGENID. Care to explain?
> > 
> It is different in that the memory is owned by the guest kernel, not
> the hardware. In this case, random.c maintains it. This allows, systems
> other than the hardware, e.g. virtio-rng to notify about entropy leak
> events. For example, random.c itself can periodically do that (I think
> Jason had that use-case in mind).

No sure I understand. Example?

> 
> The fact that we as well mmap that memory to the user-space is just
> for giving user space a mechanism that allows it to know when it needs
> to reseed its PRNGs. We _could_ have done the same with VMGENID,
> but the fact that, in this case, the underlying physical memory is owned
> by the ACPI device blocks us from letting other systems sending
> notifications
> as well.
> 
> Maybe it makes sense to have this discussion in the patch we sent for
> Linux on LKML [1]?
> 
> Cheers,
> Babis
> 
> [1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20230823090107.65749-3-bchalios@amazon.es/T/#mb1242999d8296169d9a4ee1a0805005633ec146a


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