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Linux kernel security skill for LSM, hardening, and exploit mitigations. Use when writing SELinux/AppArmor policies, seccomp-bpf filters, configuring KASLR/CET/PAC, or triaging kernel CVEs. Activates on queries about SELinux, AppArmor, seccomp, KASLR, CET, PAC, BTI, KASAN, or kernel CVE.
npx skill4agent add mohitmishra786/low-level-dev-skills kernel-securityApplication syscall
→ DAC (uid/gid, file mode)
→ LSM hook (SELinux/AppArmor/Yama/...)
→ Capability check
→ seccomp filter
→ Kernel# Active LSM
cat /sys/kernel/security/lsm
# common: lockdown,capability,yama,apparmor,safesetid# Check SELinux status
getenforce
sestatus
# Context of file/process
ls -Z /usr/sbin/nginx
ps -eZ | grep nginx
# Audit denials
ausearch -m avc -ts recent
sealert -a /var/log/audit/audit.log# myapp.te
policy_module(myapp, 1.0.0)
type myapp_t;
type myapp_exec_t;
type myapp_log_t;
init_daemon_domain(myapp_t, myapp_exec_t)
allow myapp_t myapp_log_t:file { create write append open };
allow myapp_t self:tcp_socket { create bind listen accept };checkmodule -M -m -o myapp.mod myapp.te
semodule_package -o myapp.pp -m myapp.mod
semodule -i myapp.pp# Generate complain-mode profile
aa-genprof /usr/bin/myapp
# Enforce
aa-enforce /etc/apparmor.d/usr.bin.myapp
# Check status
aa-status# /etc/apparmor.d/usr.bin.myapp
#include <tunables/global>
/usr/bin/myapp {
#include <abstractions/base>
/usr/bin/myapp mr,
/var/log/myapp.log w,
/etc/myapp/config r,
network bind tcp,
deny /etc/shadow r,
}#include <seccomp.h>
int sandbox(void) {
scmp_filter_ctx ctx = seccomp_init(SCMP_ACT_KILL_PROCESS);
// Allow read/write/exit/mmap
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ALLOW, SCMP_SYS(read), 0);
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ALLOW, SCMP_SYS(write), 0);
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ALLOW, SCMP_SYS(exit_group), 0);
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ALLOW, SCMP_SYS(mmap), 0);
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ALLOW, SCMP_SYS(brk), 0);
// Return EPERM instead of kill for open
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ERRNO(EPERM), SCMP_SYS(open), 0);
seccomp_rule_add(ctx, SCMP_ACT_ERRNO(EPERM), SCMP_SYS(openat), 0);
return seccomp_load(ctx);
}# Export BPF filter for audit
scmp_filter_ctx ctx = ...;
seccomp_export_bpf(ctx, fd);
# strace to find needed syscalls before tightening
strace -c ./myapp# Check KASLR enabled
cat /proc/sys/kernel/randomize_va_space # 2 = full
dmesg | grep KASLR
# Kernel cmdline
grep kaslr /proc/cmdline/proc/<pid>/maps%pK# Compile with CET
gcc -fcf-protection=full -o app app.c
# Verify shadow stack and IBT
readelf -n app | grep -E 'SHSTK|IBT'
readelf --notes app | grep -A2 GNU_PROPERTY| Feature | Protects against |
|---|---|
| SHSTK (Shadow Stack) | ROP return address overwrites |
| IBT (Indirect Branch Tracking) | CALL/JMP to non-ENDBR targets |
# GCC/Clang branch protection
gcc -mbranch-protection=standard -o app app.c
# PAC (pointer authentication) + BTI (branch target identification)
# Verify
readelf -n app | grep -E 'GNU_PROPERTY_AARCH64_FEATURE_1'
llvm-objdump -d app | grep bti# KASAN kernel build
# CONFIG_KASAN=y in kernel .config
make menuconfig # Kernel hacking → KASAN
# Boot with KASAN kernel
# Reports use-after-free, OOB with stack trace
# KMSAN (uninitialized memory)
# CONFIG_KMSAN=y — kernel equivalent of MSan# KASAN report example fields
# BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in ...
# Call trace: ...# Check kernel version
uname -r
# Distro security tracker
# Ubuntu: ubuntu-security-notices
# RHEL: errata
# NVD lookup
# https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-XXXX-XXXXX
# Is patch backported?
zgrep -l CVE-2024-XXXX /usr/share/doc/linux-*/changelog.Debian.gz| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| SELinux denials | Missing allow rule | |
| AppArmor profile break | Path mismatch | Update profile paths; use globs |
| seccomp kills app | Missing syscall | |
| CET not active | Old CPU/kernel | Check |
| KASAN kernel slow | 2-5x overhead | Use only in test VMs |
| False sense of security | LSM bypass via kernel bug | Defense in depth; keep kernel updated |
skills/virtualization/containers-internalsskills/runtimes/binary-hardeningskills/runtimes/sanitizersskills/observability/ebpfskills/kernel/kernel-debuggingskills/security/reverse-engineering