From: Kevin Brodsky <kevin.brodsky@arm.com>
To: linux-hardening@vger.kernel.org
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org,
Kevin Brodsky <kevin.brodsky@arm.com>,
Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>,
Andy Lutomirski <luto@kernel.org>,
Catalin Marinas <catalin.marinas@arm.com>,
Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@linux.intel.com>,
David Hildenbrand <david@redhat.com>,
Ira Weiny <ira.weiny@intel.com>, Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>,
Jeff Xu <jeffxu@chromium.org>, Joey Gouly <joey.gouly@arm.com>,
Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>,
Linus Walleij <linus.walleij@linaro.org>,
Lorenzo Stoakes <lorenzo.stoakes@oracle.com>,
Marc Zyngier <maz@kernel.org>, Mark Brown <broonie@kernel.org>,
Matthew Wilcox <willy@infradead.org>,
Maxwell Bland <mbland@motorola.com>,
"Mike Rapoport (IBM)" <rppt@kernel.org>,
Peter Zijlstra <peterz@infradead.org>,
Pierre Langlois <pierre.langlois@arm.com>,
Quentin Perret <qperret@google.com>,
Rick Edgecombe <rick.p.edgecombe@intel.com>,
Ryan Roberts <ryan.roberts@arm.com>,
Thomas Gleixner <tglx@linutronix.de>,
Vlastimil Babka <vbabka@suse.cz>, Will Deacon <will@kernel.org>,
Yang Shi <yang@os.amperecomputing.com>,
Yeoreum Yun <yeoreum.yun@arm.com>,
linux-arm-kernel@lists.infradead.org, linux-mm@kvack.org,
x86@kernel.org
Subject: [PATCH v6 13/30] mm: kpkeys: Introduce kpkeys_hardened_pgtables feature
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:55:01 +0000 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260227175518.3728055-14-kevin.brodsky@arm.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260227175518.3728055-1-kevin.brodsky@arm.com>
kpkeys_hardened_pgtables is a hardening feature based on kpkeys. It
aims to prevent the corruption of page tables by: 1. mapping all
page table pages, both kernel and user, with a privileged pkey
(KPKEYS_PKEY_PGTABLES), and 2. granting write access to that pkey
only when running at a higher kpkeys level (KPKEYS_LVL_PGTABLES).
This patch introduces basic infrastructure; the implementation of
both aspects will follow.
The feature is exposed as CONFIG_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES; it
requires explicit architecture opt-in by selecting
ARCH_HAS_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES, since much of the page table
handling is arch-specific.
Because this feature relies on kpkeys being available and enabled,
and modifies attributes of the linear map, it must be inactive on
boot. kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_init() enables it by toggling a
static key; this function must be called by supported architectures
in mem_init(), before any call to pagetable_alloc() is made.
Signed-off-by: Kevin Brodsky <kevin.brodsky@arm.com>
---
include/asm-generic/kpkeys.h | 4 ++++
include/linux/kpkeys.h | 30 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
mm/Kconfig | 3 +++
mm/Makefile | 1 +
mm/kpkeys_hardened_pgtables.c | 13 +++++++++++++
security/Kconfig.hardening | 12 ++++++++++++
6 files changed, 62 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
create mode 100644 mm/kpkeys_hardened_pgtables.c
diff --git a/include/asm-generic/kpkeys.h b/include/asm-generic/kpkeys.h
index ab819f157d6a..cec92334a9f3 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/kpkeys.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/kpkeys.h
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
#ifndef __ASM_GENERIC_KPKEYS_H
#define __ASM_GENERIC_KPKEYS_H
+#ifndef KPKEYS_PKEY_PGTABLES
+#define KPKEYS_PKEY_PGTABLES 1
+#endif
+
#ifndef KPKEYS_PKEY_DEFAULT
#define KPKEYS_PKEY_DEFAULT 0
#endif
diff --git a/include/linux/kpkeys.h b/include/linux/kpkeys.h
index faa6e2615798..49af2ec76923 100644
--- a/include/linux/kpkeys.h
+++ b/include/linux/kpkeys.h
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
#include <linux/bug.h>
#include <linux/cleanup.h>
+#include <linux/jump_label.h>
#define KPKEYS_LVL_DEFAULT 0
+#define KPKEYS_LVL_PGTABLES 1
#define KPKEYS_LVL_MIN KPKEYS_LVL_DEFAULT
-#define KPKEYS_LVL_MAX KPKEYS_LVL_DEFAULT
+#define KPKEYS_LVL_MAX KPKEYS_LVL_PGTABLES
#define __KPKEYS_GUARD(name, set_level, restore_pkey_reg, set_arg, ...) \
__DEFINE_CLASS_IS_CONDITIONAL(name, false); \
@@ -110,4 +112,30 @@ static inline bool arch_kpkeys_enabled(void)
#endif /* CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_KPKEYS */
+#ifdef CONFIG_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES
+
+DECLARE_STATIC_KEY_FALSE(kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_key);
+
+static inline bool kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_enabled(void)
+{
+ return static_branch_unlikely(&kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_key);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Should be called from mem_init(): as soon as the buddy allocator becomes
+ * available and before any call to pagetable_alloc().
+ */
+void kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_init(void);
+
+#else /* CONFIG_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES */
+
+static inline bool kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_enabled(void)
+{
+ return false;
+}
+
+static inline void kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_init(void) {}
+
+#endif /* CONFIG_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES */
+
#endif /* _LINUX_KPKEYS_H */
diff --git a/mm/Kconfig b/mm/Kconfig
index 2baedee59bb2..2f87ee69d16e 100644
--- a/mm/Kconfig
+++ b/mm/Kconfig
@@ -1245,6 +1245,9 @@ config ARCH_HAS_PKEYS
bool
config ARCH_HAS_KPKEYS
bool
+# ARCH_HAS_KPKEYS must be selected when selecting this option
+config ARCH_HAS_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES
+ bool
config ARCH_USES_PG_ARCH_2
bool
diff --git a/mm/Makefile b/mm/Makefile
index 8ad2ab08244e..7603e6051afa 100644
--- a/mm/Makefile
+++ b/mm/Makefile
@@ -150,3 +150,4 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_SHRINKER_DEBUG) += shrinker_debug.o
obj-$(CONFIG_EXECMEM) += execmem.o
obj-$(CONFIG_TMPFS_QUOTA) += shmem_quota.o
obj-$(CONFIG_LAZY_MMU_MODE_KUNIT_TEST) += tests/lazy_mmu_mode_kunit.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES) += kpkeys_hardened_pgtables.o
diff --git a/mm/kpkeys_hardened_pgtables.c b/mm/kpkeys_hardened_pgtables.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9e4771263ad2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mm/kpkeys_hardened_pgtables.c
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only
+#include <linux/kpkeys.h>
+#include <linux/mm.h>
+
+__ro_after_init DEFINE_STATIC_KEY_FALSE(kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_key);
+
+void __init kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_init(void)
+{
+ if (!arch_kpkeys_enabled())
+ return;
+
+ static_branch_enable(&kpkeys_hardened_pgtables_key);
+}
diff --git a/security/Kconfig.hardening b/security/Kconfig.hardening
index 86f8768c63d4..fdaf977d4626 100644
--- a/security/Kconfig.hardening
+++ b/security/Kconfig.hardening
@@ -275,6 +275,18 @@ config BUG_ON_DATA_CORRUPTION
If unsure, say N.
+config KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES
+ bool "Harden page tables using kernel pkeys"
+ depends on ARCH_HAS_KPKEYS_HARDENED_PGTABLES
+ help
+ This option makes all page tables mostly read-only by
+ allocating them with a non-default protection key (pkey) and
+ only enabling write access to that pkey in routines that are
+ expected to write to page table entries.
+
+ This option has no effect if the system does not support
+ kernel pkeys.
+
endmenu
config CC_HAS_RANDSTRUCT
--
2.51.2
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-02-27 17:56 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 32+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-02-27 17:54 [PATCH v6 00/30] pkeys-based page table hardening Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 01/30] mm: Introduce kpkeys Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 02/30] set_memory: Introduce set_memory_pkey() stub Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 03/30] arm64: mm: Enable overlays for all EL1 indirect permissions Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 04/30] arm64: Introduce por_elx_set_pkey_perms() helper Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 05/30] arm64: Implement asm/kpkeys.h using POE Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 06/30] arm64: set_memory: Implement set_memory_pkey() Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 07/30] arm64: Reset POR_EL1 on exception entry Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 08/30] arm64: Context-switch POR_EL1 Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 09/30] arm64: Initialize POR_EL1 register on cpu_resume() Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 10/30] arm64: Enable kpkeys Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:54 ` [PATCH v6 11/30] memblock: Move INIT_MEMBLOCK_* macros to header Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 12/30] set_memory: Introduce arch_has_pte_only_direct_map() Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` Kevin Brodsky [this message]
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 14/30] mm: kpkeys: Introduce block-based page table allocator Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 15/30] mm: kpkeys: Handle splitting of linear map Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 16/30] mm: kpkeys: Defer early call to set_memory_pkey() Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 17/30] mm: kpkeys: Add shrinker for block pgtable allocator Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 18/30] mm: kpkeys: Introduce early page table allocator Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 19/30] mm: kpkeys: Introduce hook for protecting static page tables Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 20/30] arm64: cpufeature: Add helper to directly probe CPU for POE support Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 21/30] arm64: set_memory: Implement arch_has_pte_only_direct_map() Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 22/30] arm64: kpkeys: Support KPKEYS_LVL_PGTABLES Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 23/30] arm64: kpkeys: Ensure the linear map can be modified Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 20:28 ` kernel test robot
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 24/30] arm64: kpkeys: Handle splitting of linear map Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 25/30] arm64: kpkeys: Protect early page tables Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 26/30] arm64: kpkeys: Protect init_pg_dir Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 27/30] arm64: kpkeys: Guard page table writes Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 28/30] arm64: kpkeys: Batch KPKEYS_LVL_PGTABLES switches Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 29/30] arm64: kpkeys: Enable kpkeys_hardened_pgtables support Kevin Brodsky
2026-02-27 17:55 ` [PATCH v6 30/30] mm: Add basic tests for kpkeys_hardened_pgtables Kevin Brodsky
Reply instructions:
You may reply publicly to this message via plain-text email
using any one of the following methods:
* Save the following mbox file, import it into your mail client,
and reply-to-all from there: mbox
Avoid top-posting and favor interleaved quoting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style#Interleaved_style
* Reply using the --to, --cc, and --in-reply-to
switches of git-send-email(1):
git send-email \
--in-reply-to=20260227175518.3728055-14-kevin.brodsky@arm.com \
--to=kevin.brodsky@arm.com \
--cc=akpm@linux-foundation.org \
--cc=broonie@kernel.org \
--cc=catalin.marinas@arm.com \
--cc=dave.hansen@linux.intel.com \
--cc=david@redhat.com \
--cc=ira.weiny@intel.com \
--cc=jannh@google.com \
--cc=jeffxu@chromium.org \
--cc=joey.gouly@arm.com \
--cc=kees@kernel.org \
--cc=linus.walleij@linaro.org \
--cc=linux-arm-kernel@lists.infradead.org \
--cc=linux-hardening@vger.kernel.org \
--cc=linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org \
--cc=linux-mm@kvack.org \
--cc=lorenzo.stoakes@oracle.com \
--cc=luto@kernel.org \
--cc=maz@kernel.org \
--cc=mbland@motorola.com \
--cc=peterz@infradead.org \
--cc=pierre.langlois@arm.com \
--cc=qperret@google.com \
--cc=rick.p.edgecombe@intel.com \
--cc=rppt@kernel.org \
--cc=ryan.roberts@arm.com \
--cc=tglx@linutronix.de \
--cc=vbabka@suse.cz \
--cc=will@kernel.org \
--cc=willy@infradead.org \
--cc=x86@kernel.org \
--cc=yang@os.amperecomputing.com \
--cc=yeoreum.yun@arm.com \
/path/to/YOUR_REPLY
https://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-send-email.html
* If your mail client supports setting the In-Reply-To header
via mailto: links, try the mailto: link
Be sure your reply has a Subject: header at the top and a blank line
before the message body.
This is a public inbox, see mirroring instructions
for how to clone and mirror all data and code used for this inbox