While there has been much work on the Linux kernel's RISC-V CPU architecture support, a feature not tackled until now has been the Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR) support for randomizing the kernel mapping to enhance system security. . KASLR allows for address space randomization of the running Linux kernel. This is a beneficial security enhancement especially when challenged by other attacks that can potentially leak kernel addresses and then defeating further exploits that rely upon known offsets/locations from within kernel memory. More broadly there has also been FGKASLR for finer-grained KASLR that can randomize address space randomization down to the function level but sadly that work seems to still be stalled for the past year. Sent out on Wednesday were four kernel patches for wiring up KASLR support for the RISC-V architecture. The link for this article located at Phoronix is no longer available. . KASLR boosts the security of the Linux kernel by introducing randomness in the address space layout, which helps in mitigating multiple types of attacks.. Kernel Security, Address Space, Randomization, RISC-V Architecture, System Enhancement. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
As another step towards tightening up the Linux kernel security, Intel's Kristen Carlson Accardi has proposed "FGKASLR" as a significant step forward for better enhancing theKernel Address Space Layout Randomization. . The Linux kernel has employed kernel address space layout randomization (KASLR) since 2005 for fending off possible exploits that rely upon jumping to known positions within memory. While KASLR makes memory addresses for the kernel less predictable, attackers could still ultimately determine the base address of the kernel through enough guessing or leaking kernel addresses. But in aiming to make KASLR more effective, Kristen Carlson Accardi has proposed finer grained kernel address space randomization, or FGKASLR for short. FGKASLR applies function reordering on top of the KASLR base address randomization to make relative addresses within the kernel less predictable. This function reordering is done at boot time and thus adds about an extra second of latency when booting up the system. The link for this article located at Phoronix is no longer available. . FGKASLR enhances Linux kernel security by improving address randomization for better exploit prevention.. another, towards, tightening, linux, kernel, security, intel', kristen, carlson, accardi. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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