Securing Monolithic Kernels using Compartmentalization

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Lim, Soo Yee, Agrawal, Sidhartha, Han, Xueyuan, Eyers, David, O'Keeffe, Dan, Pasquier, Thomas
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Lim, Soo Yee
Agrawal, Sidhartha
Han, Xueyuan
Eyers, David
O'Keeffe, Dan
Pasquier, Thomas
author_facet Lim, Soo Yee
Agrawal, Sidhartha
Han, Xueyuan
Eyers, David
O'Keeffe, Dan
Pasquier, Thomas
contents Monolithic operating systems, where all kernel functionality resides in a single, shared address space, are the foundation of most mainstream computer systems. However, a single flaw, even in a non-essential part of the kernel (e.g., device drivers), can cause the entire operating system to fall under an attacker's control. Kernel hardening techniques might prevent certain types of vulnerabilities, but they fail to address a fundamental weakness: the lack of intra-kernel security that safely isolates different parts of the kernel. We survey kernel compartmentalization techniques that define and enforce intra-kernel boundaries and propose a taxonomy that allows the community to compare and discuss future work. We also identify factors that complicate comparisons among compartmentalized systems, suggest new ways to compare future approaches with existing work meaningfully, and discuss emerging research directions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2404_08716
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Securing Monolithic Kernels using Compartmentalization
Lim, Soo Yee
Agrawal, Sidhartha
Han, Xueyuan
Eyers, David
O'Keeffe, Dan
Pasquier, Thomas
Cryptography and Security
Operating Systems
Monolithic operating systems, where all kernel functionality resides in a single, shared address space, are the foundation of most mainstream computer systems. However, a single flaw, even in a non-essential part of the kernel (e.g., device drivers), can cause the entire operating system to fall under an attacker's control. Kernel hardening techniques might prevent certain types of vulnerabilities, but they fail to address a fundamental weakness: the lack of intra-kernel security that safely isolates different parts of the kernel. We survey kernel compartmentalization techniques that define and enforce intra-kernel boundaries and propose a taxonomy that allows the community to compare and discuss future work. We also identify factors that complicate comparisons among compartmentalized systems, suggest new ways to compare future approaches with existing work meaningfully, and discuss emerging research directions.
title Securing Monolithic Kernels using Compartmentalization
topic Cryptography and Security
Operating Systems
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.08716