Description
This talk looks at a pragmatic attempt at strengthening the security properties of Linux by introducing a degree of intra-kernel protection into the Linux kernel (supported by CPU Virtualization silicon features). Consider it, if you like, an attempt at retrofitting a ‘micro-kernel’ interface into traditionally monolithic Linux whilst maintaining a single linux code base (yes it’s still Linux), no need for a hypervisor and with reasonable performance characteristics. The motivation for the work was the frightening increase in reliance on the security properties of the Linux kernel driven by trends away from full-virtualization solutions such as VMWare and KVM and towards lighter weight containment approaches led by Docker, et al for application hosting, deployment and consolidation.
Next sessions
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CHERIoT RTOS: An OS for Fine-Grained Memory-Safe Compartments on Low-Cost Embedded Devices
Speaker : Hugo Lefeuvre - The University of British Columbia
Embedded systems do not benefit from strong memory protection, because they are designed to minimize cost. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to connect embedded devices to the internet, where their vulnerable nature makes them routinely subject to compromise. This fundamental tension leads to the current status-quo where exploitable devices put individuals and critical infrastructure[…]-
SoSysec
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Compartmentalization
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Operating system and virtualization
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Hardware/software co-design
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Hardware architecture
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