Re: [PATCH 00/16] x86_64: Improvements at compressed kernel stage

From: Peter Jones
Date: Tue Oct 18 2022 - 17:06:22 EST


On Tue, Sep 06, 2022 at 01:41:04PM +0300, Evgeniy Baskov wrote:
> This patchset is aimed
> * to improve UEFI compatibility of compressed kernel code for x86_64
> * to setup proper memory access attributes for code and rodata sections
> * to implement W^X protection policy throughout the whole execution
> of compressed kernel for EFISTUB code path.

Hi Evgeniy,

I've tested this set of patches with the Mu firmware that supports the W^X
feature and a modified bootloader to also support it, and also with an
existing firmware and the grub2 build in fedora 36. On the firmware
without W^X support, this all works for me. With W^X support, it works
so long as I use CONFIG_EFI_STUB_EXTRACT_DIRECT, though I still need
some changes in grub's loader. IMO that's a big step forward.

I can't currently make it work with W^X enabled but without direct
extraction, and I'm still investigating why not, but I figured I'd give
you a heads up.

--
Peter