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Date:      Thu, 08 Jun 2000 03:25:13 +0900
From:      "Daniel C. Sobral" <dcs@newsguy.com>
To:        Robert Watson <rwatson@FreeBSD.ORG>
Cc:        Matthew Dillon <dillon@apollo.backplane.com>, Bjoern Fischer <bfischer@Techfak.Uni-Bielefeld.DE>, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: kerneld for FreeBSD
Message-ID:  <393E9389.EB7C0F3F@newsguy.com>
References:  <Pine.NEB.3.96L.1000607075658.25263A-100000@fledge.watson.org>

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Robert Watson wrote:
> 
> I tend to agree, on face value, with an intuitive objection to kerneld.
> That said, it should be observed that a "kerneld" would restrict the code
> sufficiently privileged to cause a module load in one binary, as opposed
> to a model where that type of privilege has to be provided to hundreds of
> them (even huge beasts like ppp).  If requests for kernel functionality
> loads come through a well-audited (both senses) and well-defined LPC
> mechanism, there is substantially less risk involved.  In a world where
> dynamic kernel module loading occurs even after entering secure,
> multi-level operation, that type of protection seems like a good idea.  It
> would allow us to distinguish the following privileges:
> 
> 1 Right to request specific functionality be loaded
> 2 Right to load the functionality
> 3 Right to invoke the functionality
> 
> Letting, say, ppp have (1) and (3) but not (2) provides a substantial
> security improvement, while retaining the ability to introduce new
> functionality at run-time.

Wow, for the first time someone makes a *GOOD* case for kerneld!

-- 
Daniel C. Sobral			(8-DCS)

dcs@newsguy.com
dcs@freebsd.org
capo@yet.another.bsdconspiracy.org

	Hmmm - I have to go check this. My reality assumptions are shattered.


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