LSM: LoadPin for kernel file loading restrictions

This LSM enforces that kernel-loaded files (modules, firmware, etc)
must all come from the same filesystem, with the expectation that
such a filesystem is backed by a read-only device such as dm-verity
or CDROM. This allows systems that have a verified and/or unchangeable
filesystem to enforce module and firmware loading restrictions without
needing to sign the files individually.

Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <keescook@chromium.org>
Acked-by: Serge Hallyn <serge.hallyn@canonical.com>
Signed-off-by: James Morris <james.l.morris@oracle.com>

1 files changed, 17 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/Documentation/security/LoadPin.txt b/Documentation/security/LoadPin.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e11877f5d3d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/security/LoadPin.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+LoadPin is a Linux Security Module that ensures all kernel-loaded files
+(modules, firmware, etc) all originate from the same filesystem, with
+the expectation that such a filesystem is backed by a read-only device
+such as dm-verity or CDROM. This allows systems that have a verified
+and/or unchangeable filesystem to enforce module and firmware loading
+restrictions without needing to sign the files individually.
+
+The LSM is selectable at build-time with CONFIG_SECURITY_LOADPIN, and
+can be controlled at boot-time with the kernel command line option
+"loadpin.enabled". By default, it is enabled, but can be disabled at
+boot ("loadpin.enabled=0").
+
+LoadPin starts pinning when it sees the first file loaded. If the
+block device backing the filesystem is not read-only, a sysctl is
+created to toggle pinning: /proc/sys/kernel/loadpin/enabled. (Having
+a mutable filesystem means pinning is mutable too, but having the
+sysctl allows for easy testing on systems with a mutable filesystem.)