security-misc: Enhance Miscellaneous Security Settings

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Documentation for package security-misc.

Stable Features[edit]

Described herearchive.org.

system map[edit]

TODO: document

Testing Features[edit]

Reduce Kernel Information Leaks[edit]

Info Known to make the Restart and Shut Down buttons dysfunctional in Xfce, and sometimes cause the operating system not to start.

By default, on most if not all (Linux based) operating systems, the Linux kernel makes lots of information available to running programs (and therefore by extension also to Malware). There's an optional feature to reduce such kernel information leaks.

Testers only! Warning: This is for testers-only!

  • Security Impact: There are many of hardware, kernel, debug information, etc. in /sys and /proc, which is especially problematic and has been the cause of many infoleaks such as kernel pointer leaks.
  • Security / Privacy Impact: Details about your hardware can aid attacks and can be used for identification.
  • Threat: This information is per Debian (and probably most popular Linux distributions) available to attackers with local code execution privileges which includes,
    • malicious applications collecting such information and submitting it to data collectors,
    • as well as both, compromised non-privileged users and the privileged root user.
  • Non-Threat: This information does not randomly leak to third parties on clean (non-compromised) machines through use of legitimate applications such as the APT package manager. Legitimate applications do not request the information from the kernel, let alone leak them to third-parties over the internet.
  • Goal: This information should by default be unavailable to non-privileged users and untrusted root.
  • Solution: Therefore security-misc includes the hide-hardware-info.service systemd unit.
    • Restricts access to /sys, /proc/cpuinfo, /proc/bus, and /proc/scsi to the root user only.
    • This also hides most hardware identifiers.
  • Status: This setting is disabled by default because it might break many applications. Testers-only! Call for testers and forum discussion: Restrict Hardware Information to Root - Testers Wanted!archive.org
  • Enable: It can optionally be enabled by running the following command.
    • sudo systemctl enable hide-hardware-info.service
    • Reboot required.
    • A whitelist that allows specific applications to access /sys and /proc/cpuinfo is enabled by default to maintain basic functionality. [1] For example, this allows the launching of applications like Xfce.
  • Limitations of Solution:
    • root compromise: Attackers which gained root compromise and/or malicious/compromised whitelisted applications have access to this information.
    • CPUID: Cannot hide CPUID.
  • Testing: See #Testing
  • Possible Future Enhancements: untrusted root

Reduce Kernel Information Leaks - Known Issues[edit]

Whitelisting Applications[edit]

To whitelist applications, they must be run under the sysfs group (if allowing access to /sys) and/or the cpuinfo group (if allowing access to /proc/cpuinfo).

Remember that any whitelisted applications add to the attack surface. An attacker can attempt to exploit a vulnerability in the whitelisted application(s) to gain access to hardware information.

addgroup method[edit]

1. For example, to add user user to group cpuinfo, run the following command. (Note, this is weakening protections.)

sudo addgroup user cpuinfo

2. For example, to add user user to group sysfs, run the following command. (Note, this is weakening protections.)

sudo addgroup user sysfs

3. Re-login required after changing groups.

Easiest: reboot. [2] [3]

sudo reboot

4. Done.

For example, after reboot it would be possible to run the cpu-info utility (from Debian package cpuinfo).

cpu-info

systemd[edit]

For example, to run a systemd service as the sysfs group, create a drop-in directory and add the following.

[Service] SupplementaryGroups=sysfs

setgid method[edit]

To run a specific binary as the sysfs group, the binary must be owned by the sysfs group and be made setgid. To achieve this,

1. change the ownership of the binary by running the following.

sudo chgrp sysfs /path/to/binary

2. Then make the binary setgid.

sudo chmod g+s /path/to/binary

3. Done.

The binary will now run with the permissions of the sysfs group and have access to /sys.

All of these steps can also be applied to the cpuinfo group.

Disable the Whitelist[edit]

In order to reduce the attack surface as much as possible, optionally the whitelist can be disabled entirely.

warning Warning:

Note that this setting will break many applications; for example, the desktop environment will not even start. Do not perform this action unless you understand the implications and can reverse the change.

1. Open file /etc/hide-hardware-info.d/50_user.conf in an editor with root rights.

Kicksecure

This box uses sudoedit for better security.

Kicksecure for Qubes

NOTE: When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this needs to be done inside the Template.

Others and Alternatives

  • This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.
  • If this example does not work for you or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to this link.

sudoedit /etc/hide-hardware-info.d/50_user.conf

2. Add.

sysfs_whitelist=0 cpuinfo_whitelist=0

3. Save.

4. Done.

Testing[edit]

Optional: Users who wish to verify the functionality can perform the instructions in the following box.

1. Install pciutils.

Install pciutils. To accomplish that, the following steps A. to D. need to be done.

A. Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

B. Upgrade the system.

sudo apt full-upgrade

C. Install the pciutils package.

Using apt command line parameter --no-install-recommends is in most cases optional.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends pciutils

D. Done.

The procedure of installing pciutils is complete.

2. Run lspci.

lspci

Expected printout:

pcilib: Cannot open /proc/bus/pci
lspci: Cannot find any working access method.

3. Attempt to view contents of virtual file /proc/cpuinfo:

cat /proc/cpuinfo

Expected printout:

cat: /proc/cpuinfo: Permission denied

Note: CPUID is still not hidden.

SUID Disabler and Permission Hardener[edit]

See SUID Disabler and Permission Hardener.

hidepid[edit]

TODO: document

Warning: This can break many things such as pkexec. This might cause symptoms similar to the ones mentioned in forum discussion cannot use pkexecarchive.org.

1. Enable.

sudo systemctl enable proc-hidepid.service

2. Start.

sudo systemctl start proc-hidepid.service

3. Done.

hidepid has been enabled.

4. Testing.

pkexec test command (requires X11, will not work in Wayland):

pkexec mousepad /tmp/testfile

Error message if broken:

Error checking for authorization org.xfce.mousepad: GDBus.Error:org.gtk.GDBus.UnmappedGError.Quark._g_2dfile_2derror_2dquark.Code4: Failed to open file ?/proc/1423/status?: No such file or directory

Hopefully X11 and Wayland compatible.

pkexec nano /tmp/testfile

Install gparted. To accomplish that, the following steps A. to D. need to be done.

A. Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

B. Upgrade the system.

sudo apt full-upgrade

C. Install the gparted package.

Using apt command line parameter --no-install-recommends is in most cases optional.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends gparted

D. Done.

The procedure of installing gparted is complete.

gparted

Experimental Features[edit]

Unreleased. (Developers only.) Will flow into other repositories as per usual.

Harden Module Loading[edit]

Warning: Breaks desktop. Might work on servers.

sudo systemctl enable harden-module-loading.service

Remount Secure[edit]

Developers only! Warning: This is for developers-only!

See also:

Design:

  • runs at early boot
  • no user freedom restriction
  • can be disabled
  • manual fstab hardening is possible
  • broken applications? tb-starter?

The Remount Secure feature is currently not ready for use.

x. Maybe enable dracut module.

The following instructions based on kernel command line modification depend on a dracut module that is currently disabled by default.

/usr/lib/dracut/modules.d-disabled would need to be moved to /usr/lib/dracut/modules.d

sudo mv usr/lib/dracut/modules.d-disabled/20remount-secure /usr/lib/dracut/modules.d/

sudo dracut -f

x. Maybe enable systemd unit.

Do this only if not using the dracut module

sudo systemctl enable remount-secure

sudo systemctl start remount-secure

1. Create a new configuration file.

You'll need to make changes to the kernel boot parameters (see also grub).

Only useful if using the dracut module.

Open file /etc/default/grub.d/50_user.cfg in an editor with root rights.

Kicksecure

This box uses sudoedit for better security.

Kicksecure for Qubes

NOTE: When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this needs to be done inside the Template.

Others and Alternatives

  • This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.
  • If this example does not work for you or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to this link.

sudoedit /etc/default/grub.d/50_user.cfg

2. Add the required kernel parameters based on the security level you prefer:

  • Option A (No Security): Disable Remount Secure:
    • GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX remountsecure=0"
  • Option B (Low Security): Re-mount with nodev, nosuid:
    • GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX remountsecure=1"
  • Option C (Medium Security): Re-mount with nodev, nosuid, noexec for most mount points, excluding /home.
    • GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX remountsecure=2"
  • Option D (Highest Security): Re-mount with nodev, nosuid, noexec for all mount points including /home.
    • GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX remountsecure=3"

3. Save the configuration file.

4. Regenerate the grub configuration: sudo update-grub

5. Reboot your system.

A reboot is necessary for the kernel parameter changes to take effect.

6. Completion.

You have successfully enabled the Remount Secure feature.

For more details and developer information, see the following resources: [4]

Installation of security-misc[edit]

Info This chapter is only required for users which aren't users of Kicksecure or its derivatives (such as Whonix). That is because security-misc is installed by default in Kicksecure and Kicksecure derivatives.

Prerequisites:

1. Essentials.

The user needs to verify that the following prerequisites are met.

  • Debian bookworm installed.
  • A user account such as for example user user exists.
  • Calling the user name user is recommended because then you could copy and paste the commands below and do not need to adjust for another user name.

2. Gain administrative (root) rights. [5]

Becoming root is required because the following commands need to be run with administrative (root) rights as documented below. [6]

  • A) Debian: Use su as documented below.
  • B) Most Qubes users: same as above.
  • C) Advanced Qubes users: If using a Debian minimal template or not having the passwordless-root package installed, see footnote. [7]

Run the following command in a terminal.

su

3. Install sudo and adduser package.

1. Update the package lists.

apt update

2. Upgrade the system.

apt full-upgrade

3. Install sudo and adduser package.

apt install --no-install-recommends sudo adduser

5. Create group console.

/usr/sbin/addgroup --system console

6. Add your Linux account user name to group console.

Note: Replace user user with your actual user name.

/usr/sbin/adduser user console

7. Add user user to group sudo.

Note:

  • A) Most users: No special notice.
  • B) Advanced users: If the user is intending to lockdown user user by not granting root rights, see footnote. [8]

Note: Replace user user with your actual user name.

/usr/sbin/adduser user sudo

8. Reboot.

/sbin/reboot

1. Download the Signing Key.

wget https://www.kicksecure.com/keys/derivative.asc

2. Optional: Check the Signing Key for better security.

3. Add Kicksecure signing key.

sudo cp derivative.asc /usr/share/keyrings/derivative.asc

4. Kicksecure APT repository choices.

Optional: See Kicksecure Packages for Debian Hosts and Kicksecure Host Enhancements instead of the next step for more secure and complex options.

5. Add Kicksecure APT repository.

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/derivative.asc] https://deb.kicksecure.com trixie main contrib non-free" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/derivative.list

Install security-misc.

Install security-misc. To accomplish that, the following steps A. to D. need to be done.

A. Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

B. Upgrade the system.

sudo apt full-upgrade

C. Install the security-misc package.

Using apt command line parameter --no-install-recommends is in most cases optional.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends security-misc

D. Done.

The procedure of installing security-misc is complete.

selinux[edit]

Info COMMUNITY SUPPORT ONLY : THIS wiki CHAPTER only is only supported by the community. Kicksecure developers are very unlikely to provide free support for this content. See Community Support for further information, including implications and possible alternatives.

References[edit]

  1. https://github.com/Kicksecure/security-misc/blob/master/usr/lib/systemd/system/user%40.service.d/sysfs.confarchive.org
  2. No reboot required: Use the execute command as different group ID command line utility sg to execute the cpu-info (from Debian package cpuinfo) application under group cpuinfo. sg cpuinfo cpu-info
  3. Also no reboot required: sudo -u user bash cpu-info Or. sudo -u user cpu-info
  4. One way or another.
  5. When a user is using su to gain administrative rights, the user is required to use full path to the programs addgroup, adduser, reboot because when using su the PATH environment variable is not adjusted for use with root rights. See echo "$PATH". echo "$PATH" user rights PATH printout:
    /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/games:/usr/games
    

    root rights PATH printout:

    /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin
    

    By comparison, when using sudo using /full/path/to/application is not required.

  6. A root terminal is required to proceed which can be started from Qubes dom0 terminal as per the Qubes upstream documentation. Unspecific to Kicksecure.
  7. The following command /usr/sbin/adduser user sudo grants root rights to user user. If the user intents to use user user without root rights for better security, the user should omit running the /usr/sbin/adduser user sudo and instead 1) make sure that another Linux user account such as user admin is a member of Linux user group sudo and 2) in case of:
    • Debian: Use su.
    • Kicksecure for Qubes: If not installing the passwordless-root package and/or when distribution morphing a Debian minimal template into Kicksecure, root terminal is required to proceed which can be started from Qubes dom0 terminal as per the Qubes upstream documentation. Unspecific to Kicksecure.

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