[deliverable/linux.git] / Documentation / security / LoadPin.txt

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.)
Commit	Line	Data
9b091556 KC	1	LoadPin is a Linux Security Module that ensures all kernel-loaded files
	2	(modules, firmware, etc) all originate from the same filesystem, with
	3	the expectation that such a filesystem is backed by a read-only device
	4	such as dm-verity or CDROM. This allows systems that have a verified
	5	and/or unchangeable filesystem to enforce module and firmware loading
	6	restrictions without needing to sign the files individually.
	7
	8	The LSM is selectable at build-time with CONFIG_SECURITY_LOADPIN, and
	9	can be controlled at boot-time with the kernel command line option
	10	"loadpin.enabled". By default, it is enabled, but can be disabled at
	11	boot ("loadpin.enabled=0").
	12
	13	LoadPin starts pinning when it sees the first file loaded. If the
	14	block device backing the filesystem is not read-only, a sysctl is
	15	created to toggle pinning: /proc/sys/kernel/loadpin/enabled. (Having
	16	a mutable filesystem means pinning is mutable too, but having the
	17	sysctl allows for easy testing on systems with a mutable filesystem.)