Re: [PATCH] x86: prevent binaries from making system calls usingthe wrong syscall interface

From: Alan Cox
Date: Thu Aug 07 2008 - 09:16:15 EST


> Currently there is nothing to prevent 64 bit binaries from
> attempting to make system calls using the 32 bit system call
> interfaces and vice versa.

What about applications that choose to do this
- Test tools
- Tools where certain interfaces are only available 32bit ?

> Since the 32 bit and 64 bit system call numbers are different
> this means that a binary could attempt to obfuscate which system
> calls it was actually making by using the "wrong" system call
> interface. In particular, the call to audit_syscall_entry()
> relies on checking the TIF_IA32 flag to determine whether it is
> dealing with a 32 or 64 bit system call without regard to the
> actual type of system call that was made.While this specific issue
> could be addressed by checking the TS_COMPAT flag in threadinfo_status
> it seems preferable to simply disallow this situation altogether.

That is a significant change of kernel ABI considering it exists just to
wallpaper over crappy audit tools.

I'm definitely against that approach.

Alan
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