Introduce STATIC_USERMODEHELPER to mediate call_usermodehelper()

Some usermode helper applications are defined at kernel build time, while
others can be changed at runtime.  To provide a sane way to filter these, add a
new kernel option "STATIC_USERMODEHELPER".  This option routes all
call_usermodehelper() calls through this binary, no matter what the caller
wishes to have called.

The new binary (by default set to /sbin/usermode-helper, but can be changed
through the STATIC_USERMODEHELPER_PATH option) can properly filter the
requested programs to be run by the kernel by looking at the first argument
that is passed to it.  All other options should then be passed onto the proper
program if so desired.

To disable all call_usermodehelper() calls by the kernel, set
STATIC_USERMODEHELPER_PATH to an empty string.

Thanks to Neil Brown for the idea of this feature.

Cc: NeilBrown <neilb@suse.com>
Signed-off-by: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>

1 files changed, 35 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/security/Kconfig b/security/Kconfig
index 118f4549404e..d900f47eaa68 100644
--- a/security/Kconfig
+++ b/security/Kconfig
@@ -158,6 +158,41 @@ config HARDENED_USERCOPY_PAGESPAN
 	  been removed. This config is intended to be used only while
 	  trying to find such users.
 
+config STATIC_USERMODEHELPER
+	bool "Force all usermode helper calls through a single binary"
+	help
+	  By default, the kernel can call many different userspace
+	  binary programs through the "usermode helper" kernel
+	  interface.  Some of these binaries are statically defined
+	  either in the kernel code itself, or as a kernel configuration
+	  option.  However, some of these are dynamically created at
+	  runtime, or can be modified after the kernel has started up.
+	  To provide an additional layer of security, route all of these
+	  calls through a single executable that can not have its name
+	  changed.
+
+	  Note, it is up to this single binary to then call the relevant
+	  "real" usermode helper binary, based on the first argument
+	  passed to it.  If desired, this program can filter and pick
+	  and choose what real programs are called.
+
+	  If you wish for all usermode helper programs are to be
+	  disabled, choose this option and then set
+	  STATIC_USERMODEHELPER_PATH to an empty string.
+
+config STATIC_USERMODEHELPER_PATH
+	string "Path to the static usermode helper binary"
+	depends on STATIC_USERMODEHELPER
+	default "/sbin/usermode-helper"
+	help
+	  The binary called by the kernel when any usermode helper
+	  program is wish to be run.  The "real" application's name will
+	  be in the first argument passed to this program on the command
+	  line.
+
+	  If you wish for all usermode helper programs to be disabled,
+	  specify an empty string here (i.e. "").
+
 source security/selinux/Kconfig
 source security/smack/Kconfig
 source security/tomoyo/Kconfig