The feature is to integrate a seccomp sandbox into the program to enhance security by restricting the system calls that the program can make.
Why we need the feature
Currently, the program must be executed as a privileged user to create a TAP device. This poses a security risk because any error in the program could lead to a vulnerability. By integrating a seccomp sandbox, we can mitigate this risk by limiting the program's capabilities, thus reducing the potential attack surface.
How to implement and why
Understand seccomp: Familiarize yourself with seccomp and how it can be used to filter system calls. Refer to the provided documentation link for detailed information.
Identify necessary system calls: Analyze the program to determine which system calls are essential for its operation. This will help in creating a whitelist of allowed calls.
Integrate seccomp: Implement seccomp in the program by using a library like libseccomp to apply the system call filters. This can be done by:
Including the libseccomp library in the build configuration (e.g., meson.build).
Writing a function to initialize and apply the seccomp filters early in the program's execution.
Testing: Thoroughly test the program to ensure that it functions correctly with the seccomp filters in place. This includes testing all features and edge cases to ensure no necessary system calls are blocked.
Documentation: Update the documentation to include information about the seccomp sandbox, how it works, and any configuration options available to users.
About backward compatibility
Backward compatibility should be maintained as the seccomp sandbox will be an internal security feature. The program's external behavior and interfaces should remain unchanged. However, it is important to document any potential impacts on performance or functionality due to the restricted system calls.
Original issue: #2
What is the feature
The feature is to integrate a seccomp sandbox into the program to enhance security by restricting the system calls that the program can make.
Why we need the feature
Currently, the program must be executed as a privileged user to create a TAP device. This poses a security risk because any error in the program could lead to a vulnerability. By integrating a seccomp sandbox, we can mitigate this risk by limiting the program's capabilities, thus reducing the potential attack surface.
How to implement and why
Understand seccomp: Familiarize yourself with seccomp and how it can be used to filter system calls. Refer to the provided documentation link for detailed information.
Identify necessary system calls: Analyze the program to determine which system calls are essential for its operation. This will help in creating a whitelist of allowed calls.
Integrate seccomp: Implement seccomp in the program by using a library like
libseccompto apply the system call filters. This can be done by:libseccomplibrary in the build configuration (e.g.,meson.build).Testing: Thoroughly test the program to ensure that it functions correctly with the seccomp filters in place. This includes testing all features and edge cases to ensure no necessary system calls are blocked.
Documentation: Update the documentation to include information about the seccomp sandbox, how it works, and any configuration options available to users.
About backward compatibility
Backward compatibility should be maintained as the seccomp sandbox will be an internal security feature. The program's external behavior and interfaces should remain unchanged. However, it is important to document any potential impacts on performance or functionality due to the restricted system calls.
Test these changes locally