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author | Michael LeMay <mdlemay@epoch.ncsc.mil> | 2006-06-26 00:24:54 -0700 |
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committer | Linus Torvalds <torvalds@g5.osdl.org> | 2006-06-26 09:58:18 -0700 |
commit | e51f6d343789a4f0a2a7587ad7ec7746969d5c1c (patch) | |
tree | 39ca4e05c0dda995f3eaaea1aaa2c8689003f1d0 /Documentation/keys.txt | |
parent | 5801649d8b83e7cb9b15839761bdee594653c294 (diff) | |
download | lwn-e51f6d343789a4f0a2a7587ad7ec7746969d5c1c.tar.gz lwn-e51f6d343789a4f0a2a7587ad7ec7746969d5c1c.zip |
[PATCH] keys: allocate key serial numbers randomly
Cause key_alloc_serial() to generate key serial numbers randomly rather than
in linear sequence.
Using an linear sequence permits a covert communication channel to be
established, in which one process can communicate with another by creating or
not creating new keys within a certain timeframe. The second process can
probe for the expected next key serial number and judge its existence by the
error returned.
This is a problem as the serial number namespace is globally shared between
all tasks, regardless of their context.
For more information on this topic, this old TCSEC guide is recommended:
http://www.radium.ncsc.mil/tpep/library/rainbow/NCSC-TG-030.html
Signed-off-by: Michael LeMay <mdlemay@epoch.ncsc.mil>
Signed-off-by: James Morris <jmorris@namei.org>
Signed-off-by: David Howells <dhowells@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Andrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org>
Signed-off-by: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org>
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/keys.txt')
0 files changed, 0 insertions, 0 deletions