1 .. _embargoed_hardware_issues: <<
2 <<
3 Embargoed hardware issues 1 Embargoed hardware issues
4 ========================= 2 =========================
5 3
6 Scope 4 Scope
7 ----- 5 -----
8 6
9 Hardware issues which result in security probl 7 Hardware issues which result in security problems are a different category
10 of security bugs than pure software bugs which 8 of security bugs than pure software bugs which only affect the Linux
11 kernel. 9 kernel.
12 10
13 Hardware issues like Meltdown, Spectre, L1TF e 11 Hardware issues like Meltdown, Spectre, L1TF etc. must be treated
14 differently because they usually affect all Op 12 differently because they usually affect all Operating Systems ("OS") and
15 therefore need coordination across different O 13 therefore need coordination across different OS vendors, distributions,
16 silicon vendors, hardware integrators, and oth !! 14 hardware vendors and other parties. For some of the issues, software
17 issues, software mitigations can depend on mic !! 15 mitigations can depend on microcode or firmware updates, which need further
18 which need further coordination. !! 16 coordination.
19 17
20 .. _Contact: 18 .. _Contact:
21 19
22 Contact 20 Contact
23 ------- 21 -------
24 22
25 The Linux kernel hardware security team is sep 23 The Linux kernel hardware security team is separate from the regular Linux
26 kernel security team. 24 kernel security team.
27 25
28 The team only handles developing fixes for emb !! 26 The team only handles the coordination of embargoed hardware security
29 issues. Reports of pure software security bugs !! 27 issues. Reports of pure software security bugs in the Linux kernel are not
30 handled by this team and the reporter will be 28 handled by this team and the reporter will be guided to contact the regular
31 Linux kernel security team (:ref:`Documentatio 29 Linux kernel security team (:ref:`Documentation/admin-guide/
32 <securitybugs>`) instead. 30 <securitybugs>`) instead.
33 31
34 The team can be contacted by email at <hardware 32 The team can be contacted by email at <hardware-security@kernel.org>. This
35 is a private list of security officers who wil !! 33 is a private list of security officers who will help you to coordinate an
36 according to our documented process. !! 34 issue according to our documented process.
37 35
38 The list is encrypted and email to the list ca 36 The list is encrypted and email to the list can be sent by either PGP or
39 S/MIME encrypted and must be signed with the r 37 S/MIME encrypted and must be signed with the reporter's PGP key or S/MIME
40 certificate. The list's PGP key and S/MIME cer 38 certificate. The list's PGP key and S/MIME certificate are available from
41 the following URLs: !! 39 https://www.kernel.org/....
42 <<
43 - PGP: https://www.kernel.org/static/files/h <<
44 - S/MIME: https://www.kernel.org/static/file <<
45 40
46 While hardware security issues are often handl !! 41 While hardware security issues are often handled by the affected hardware
47 vendor, we welcome contact from researchers or 42 vendor, we welcome contact from researchers or individuals who have
48 identified a potential hardware flaw. 43 identified a potential hardware flaw.
49 44
50 Hardware security officers 45 Hardware security officers
51 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 46 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
52 47
53 The current team of hardware security officers 48 The current team of hardware security officers:
54 49
55 - Linus Torvalds (Linux Foundation Fellow) 50 - Linus Torvalds (Linux Foundation Fellow)
56 - Greg Kroah-Hartman (Linux Foundation Fello 51 - Greg Kroah-Hartman (Linux Foundation Fellow)
57 - Thomas Gleixner (Linux Foundation Fellow) 52 - Thomas Gleixner (Linux Foundation Fellow)
58 53
59 Operation of mailing-lists 54 Operation of mailing-lists
60 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 55 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
61 56
62 The encrypted mailing-lists which are used in 57 The encrypted mailing-lists which are used in our process are hosted on
63 Linux Foundation's IT infrastructure. By provi !! 58 Linux Foundation's IT infrastructure. By providing this service Linux
64 of Linux Foundation's IT operations personnel !! 59 Foundation's director of IT Infrastructure security technically has the
65 ability to access the embargoed information, b !! 60 ability to access the embargoed information, but is obliged to
66 confidentiality by their employment contract. !! 61 confidentiality by his employment contract. Linux Foundation's director of
67 personnel are also responsible for operating a !! 62 IT Infrastructure security is also responsible for the kernel.org
68 kernel.org's infrastructure. !! 63 infrastructure.
69 64
70 The Linux Foundation's current director of IT !! 65 The Linux Foundation's current director of IT Infrastructure security is
71 Konstantin Ryabitsev. 66 Konstantin Ryabitsev.
72 67
73 68
74 Non-disclosure agreements 69 Non-disclosure agreements
75 ------------------------- 70 -------------------------
76 71
77 The Linux kernel hardware security team is not 72 The Linux kernel hardware security team is not a formal body and therefore
78 unable to enter into any non-disclosure agreem 73 unable to enter into any non-disclosure agreements. The kernel community
79 is aware of the sensitive nature of such issue 74 is aware of the sensitive nature of such issues and offers a Memorandum of
80 Understanding instead. 75 Understanding instead.
81 76
82 77
83 Memorandum of Understanding 78 Memorandum of Understanding
84 --------------------------- 79 ---------------------------
85 80
86 The Linux kernel community has a deep understa 81 The Linux kernel community has a deep understanding of the requirement to
87 keep hardware security issues under embargo fo 82 keep hardware security issues under embargo for coordination between
88 different OS vendors, distributors, silicon ve !! 83 different OS vendors, distributors, hardware vendors and other parties.
89 84
90 The Linux kernel community has successfully ha 85 The Linux kernel community has successfully handled hardware security
91 issues in the past and has the necessary mecha 86 issues in the past and has the necessary mechanisms in place to allow
92 community compliant development under embargo 87 community compliant development under embargo restrictions.
93 88
94 The Linux kernel community has a dedicated har 89 The Linux kernel community has a dedicated hardware security team for
95 initial contact, which oversees the process of 90 initial contact, which oversees the process of handling such issues under
96 embargo rules. 91 embargo rules.
97 92
98 The hardware security team identifies the deve 93 The hardware security team identifies the developers (domain experts) who
99 will form the initial response team for a part 94 will form the initial response team for a particular issue. The initial
100 response team can bring in further developers 95 response team can bring in further developers (domain experts) to address
101 the issue in the best technical way. 96 the issue in the best technical way.
102 97
103 All involved developers pledge to adhere to th 98 All involved developers pledge to adhere to the embargo rules and to keep
104 the received information confidential. Violati 99 the received information confidential. Violation of the pledge will lead to
105 immediate exclusion from the current issue and 100 immediate exclusion from the current issue and removal from all related
106 mailing lists. In addition, the hardware secur !! 101 mailing-lists. In addition, the hardware security team will also exclude
107 the offender from future issues. The impact of 102 the offender from future issues. The impact of this consequence is a highly
108 effective deterrent in our community. In case 103 effective deterrent in our community. In case a violation happens the
109 hardware security team will inform the involve 104 hardware security team will inform the involved parties immediately. If you
110 or anyone else becomes aware of a potential vi !! 105 or anyone becomes aware of a potential violation, please report it
111 immediately to the Hardware security officers. 106 immediately to the Hardware security officers.
112 107
113 108
114 Process 109 Process
115 ^^^^^^^ 110 ^^^^^^^
116 111
117 Due to the globally distributed nature of Linu 112 Due to the globally distributed nature of Linux kernel development,
118 face-to-face meetings are almost impossible to 113 face-to-face meetings are almost impossible to address hardware security
119 issues. Phone conferences are hard to coordin 114 issues. Phone conferences are hard to coordinate due to time zones and
120 other factors and should be only used when abs 115 other factors and should be only used when absolutely necessary. Encrypted
121 email has been proven to be the most effective 116 email has been proven to be the most effective and secure communication
122 method for these types of issues. 117 method for these types of issues.
123 118
124 Start of Disclosure 119 Start of Disclosure
125 """"""""""""""""""" 120 """""""""""""""""""
126 121
127 Disclosure starts by emailing the Linux kernel !! 122 Disclosure starts by contacting the Linux kernel hardware security team by
128 the Contact section above. This initial conta !! 123 email. This initial contact should contain a description of the problem and
129 description of the problem and a list of any k !! 124 a list of any known affected hardware. If your organization builds or
130 your organization builds or distributes the af !! 125 distributes the affected hardware, we encourage you to also consider what
131 you to also consider what other hardware could !! 126 other hardware could be affected.
132 party is responsible for contacting the affect <<
133 timely manner. <<
134 127
135 The hardware security team will provide an inc 128 The hardware security team will provide an incident-specific encrypted
136 mailing list which will be used for initial di !! 129 mailing-list which will be used for initial discussion with the reporter,
137 further disclosure, and coordination of fixes. !! 130 further disclosure and coordination.
138 131
139 The hardware security team will provide the di 132 The hardware security team will provide the disclosing party a list of
140 developers (domain experts) who should be info 133 developers (domain experts) who should be informed initially about the
141 issue after confirming with the developers tha !! 134 issue after confirming with the developers that they will adhere to this
142 Memorandum of Understanding and the documented 135 Memorandum of Understanding and the documented process. These developers
143 form the initial response team and will be res 136 form the initial response team and will be responsible for handling the
144 issue after initial contact. The hardware secu 137 issue after initial contact. The hardware security team is supporting the
145 response team, but is not necessarily involved 138 response team, but is not necessarily involved in the mitigation
146 development process. 139 development process.
147 140
148 While individual developers might be covered b 141 While individual developers might be covered by a non-disclosure agreement
149 via their employer, they cannot enter individu 142 via their employer, they cannot enter individual non-disclosure agreements
150 in their role as Linux kernel developers. They 143 in their role as Linux kernel developers. They will, however, agree to
151 adhere to this documented process and the Memo 144 adhere to this documented process and the Memorandum of Understanding.
152 145
153 The disclosing party should provide a list of 146 The disclosing party should provide a list of contacts for all other
154 entities who have already been, or should be, 147 entities who have already been, or should be, informed about the issue.
155 This serves several purposes: 148 This serves several purposes:
156 149
157 - The list of disclosed entities allows commu !! 150 - The list of disclosed entities allows communication accross the
158 industry, e.g. other OS vendors, HW vendors 151 industry, e.g. other OS vendors, HW vendors, etc.
159 152
160 - The disclosed entities can be contacted to 153 - The disclosed entities can be contacted to name experts who should
161 participate in the mitigation development. 154 participate in the mitigation development.
162 155
163 - If an expert who is required to handle an i !! 156 - If an expert which is required to handle an issue is employed by an
164 entity or member of an listed entity, then !! 157 listed entity or member of an listed entity, then the response teams can
165 request the disclosure of that expert from 158 request the disclosure of that expert from that entity. This ensures
166 that the expert is also part of the entity' 159 that the expert is also part of the entity's response team.
167 160
168 Disclosure 161 Disclosure
169 """""""""" 162 """"""""""
170 163
171 The disclosing party provides detailed informa 164 The disclosing party provides detailed information to the initial response
172 team via the specific encrypted mailing-list. 165 team via the specific encrypted mailing-list.
173 166
174 From our experience, the technical documentati !! 167 From our experience the technical documentation of these issues is usually
175 a sufficient starting point, and further techn !! 168 a sufficient starting point and further technical clarification is best
176 done via email. 169 done via email.
177 170
178 Mitigation development 171 Mitigation development
179 """""""""""""""""""""" 172 """"""""""""""""""""""
180 173
181 The initial response team sets up an encrypted 174 The initial response team sets up an encrypted mailing-list or repurposes
182 an existing one if appropriate. 175 an existing one if appropriate.
183 176
184 Using a mailing list is close to the normal Li !! 177 Using a mailing-list is close to the normal Linux development process and
185 has been successfully used to develop mitigati !! 178 has been successfully used in developing mitigations for various hardware
186 security issues in the past. 179 security issues in the past.
187 180
188 The mailing list operates in the same way as n !! 181 The mailing-list operates in the same way as normal Linux development.
189 Patches are posted, discussed, and reviewed an !! 182 Patches are posted, discussed and reviewed and if agreed on applied to a
190 a non-public git repository which is only acce !! 183 non-public git repository which is only accessible to the participating
191 developers via a secure connection. The reposi 184 developers via a secure connection. The repository contains the main
192 development branch against the mainline kernel 185 development branch against the mainline kernel and backport branches for
193 stable kernel versions as necessary. 186 stable kernel versions as necessary.
194 187
195 The initial response team will identify furthe 188 The initial response team will identify further experts from the Linux
196 kernel developer community as needed. Any inv !! 189 kernel developer community as needed. Bringing in experts can happen at any
197 further experts to be included, each of which !! 190 time of the development process and needs to be handled in a timely manner.
198 requirements outlined above. <<
199 <<
200 Bringing in experts can happen at any time in <<
201 needs to be handled in a timely manner. <<
202 191
203 If an expert is employed by or a member of an !! 192 If an expert is employed by or member of an entity on the disclosure list
204 provided by the disclosing party, then partici 193 provided by the disclosing party, then participation will be requested from
205 the relevant entity. 194 the relevant entity.
206 195
207 If not, then the disclosing party will be info !! 196 If not, then the disclosing party will be informed about the experts
208 participation. The experts are covered by the 197 participation. The experts are covered by the Memorandum of Understanding
209 and the disclosing party is requested to ackno !! 198 and the disclosing party is requested to acknowledge the participation. In
210 In the case where the disclosing party has a c !! 199 case that the disclosing party has a compelling reason to object, then this
211 any objection must to be raised within five wo !! 200 objection has to be raised within five work days and resolved with the
212 the incident team immediately. If the disclosi !! 201 incident team immediately. If the disclosing party does not react within
213 within five working days this is taken as sile !! 202 five work days this is taken as silent acknowledgement.
214 !! 203
215 After the incident team acknowledges or resolv !! 204 After acknowledgement or resolution of an objection the expert is disclosed
216 is disclosed and brought into the development !! 205 by the incident team and brought into the development process.
217 !! 206
218 List participants may not communicate about th <<
219 private mailing list. List participants may no <<
220 (e.g. employer build farms, CI systems, etc) w <<
221 <<
222 Early access <<
223 """""""""""" <<
224 <<
225 The patches discussed and developed on the lis <<
226 to any individual who is not a member of the r <<
227 organization. <<
228 <<
229 To allow the affected silicon vendors to work <<
230 industry partners on testing, validation, and <<
231 exception is provided: <<
232 <<
233 Designated representatives of the affe <<
234 allowed to hand over the patches at an <<
235 vendor’s response team. The represen <<
236 response team about the handover. The <<
237 have and maintain their own documented <<
238 patches shared with their response tea <<
239 this policy. <<
240 <<
241 The silicon vendor’s response team c <<
242 their industry partners and to their i <<
243 silicon vendor’s documented security <<
244 industry partners goes back to the sil <<
245 communicated by the silicon vendor to <<
246 <<
247 The handover to the silicon vendor’s <<
248 responsibility or liability from the k <<
249 premature disclosure, which happens du <<
250 silicon vendor’s internal teams or i <<
251 vendor guarantees this release of liab <<
252 process. <<
253 207
254 Coordinated release 208 Coordinated release
255 """"""""""""""""""" 209 """""""""""""""""""
256 210
257 The involved parties will negotiate the date a !! 211 The involved parties will negotiate the date and time where the embargo
258 ends. At that point, the prepared mitigations !! 212 ends. At that point the prepared mitigations are integrated into the
259 relevant kernel trees. There is no pre-notifi !! 213 relevant kernel trees and published.
260 mitigations are published in public and availa <<
261 time. <<
262 214
263 While we understand that hardware security iss 215 While we understand that hardware security issues need coordinated embargo
264 time, the embargo time should be constrained t !! 216 time, the embargo time should be constrained to the minimum time which is
265 required for all involved parties to develop, !! 217 required for all involved parties to develop, test and prepare the
266 mitigations. Extending embargo time artificial 218 mitigations. Extending embargo time artificially to meet conference talk
267 dates or other non-technical reasons creates m !! 219 dates or other non-technical reasons is creating more work and burden for
268 involved developers and response teams as the !! 220 the involved developers and response teams as the patches need to be kept
269 date in order to follow the ongoing upstream k !! 221 up to date in order to follow the ongoing upstream kernel development,
270 might create conflicting changes. !! 222 which might create conflicting changes.
271 223
272 CVE assignment 224 CVE assignment
273 """""""""""""" 225 """"""""""""""
274 226
275 Neither the hardware security team nor the ini 227 Neither the hardware security team nor the initial response team assign
276 CVEs, nor are CVEs required for the developmen 228 CVEs, nor are CVEs required for the development process. If CVEs are
277 provided by the disclosing party they can be u 229 provided by the disclosing party they can be used for documentation
278 purposes. 230 purposes.
279 231
280 Process ambassadors 232 Process ambassadors
281 ------------------- 233 -------------------
282 234
283 For assistance with this process we have estab 235 For assistance with this process we have established ambassadors in various
284 organizations, who can answer questions about 236 organizations, who can answer questions about or provide guidance on the
285 reporting process and further handling. Ambass 237 reporting process and further handling. Ambassadors are not involved in the
286 disclosure of a particular issue, unless reque 238 disclosure of a particular issue, unless requested by a response team or by
287 an involved disclosed party. The current ambas 239 an involved disclosed party. The current ambassadors list:
288 240
289 ============= ============================== 241 ============= ========================================================
290 AMD Tom Lendacky <thomas.lendacky@a !! 242 ARM
291 Ampere Darren Hart <darren@os.ampereco !! 243 AMD Tom Lendacky <tom.lendacky@amd.com>
292 ARM Catalin Marinas <catalin.marina !! 244 IBM
293 IBM Power Michael Ellerman <ellerman@au.i <<
294 IBM Z Christian Borntraeger <borntrae <<
295 Intel Tony Luck <tony.luck@intel.com> 245 Intel Tony Luck <tony.luck@intel.com>
296 Qualcomm Trilok Soni <quic_tsoni@quicinc !! 246 Qualcomm Trilok Soni <tsoni@codeaurora.org>
297 RISC-V Palmer Dabbelt <palmer@dabbelt. <<
298 Samsung Javier González <javier.gonz@s <<
299 247
300 Microsoft James Morris <jamorris@linux.mi !! 248 Microsoft Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>
>> 249 VMware
301 Xen Andrew Cooper <andrew.cooper3@c 250 Xen Andrew Cooper <andrew.cooper3@citrix.com>
302 251
303 Canonical John Johansen <john.johansen@ca !! 252 Canonical Tyler Hicks <tyhicks@canonical.com>
304 Debian Ben Hutchings <ben@decadent.org 253 Debian Ben Hutchings <ben@decadent.org.uk>
305 Oracle Konrad Rzeszutek Wilk <konrad.w 254 Oracle Konrad Rzeszutek Wilk <konrad.wilk@oracle.com>
306 Red Hat Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@redhat 255 Red Hat Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@redhat.com>
307 SUSE Jiri Kosina <jkosina@suse.cz> 256 SUSE Jiri Kosina <jkosina@suse.cz>
308 257
>> 258 Amazon Peter Bowen <pzb@amzn.com>
309 Google Kees Cook <keescook@chromium.or 259 Google Kees Cook <keescook@chromium.org>
310 <<
311 LLVM Nick Desaulniers <ndesaulniers@ <<
312 ============= ============================== 260 ============= ========================================================
313 261
314 If you want your organization to be added to t 262 If you want your organization to be added to the ambassadors list, please
315 contact the hardware security team. The nomina 263 contact the hardware security team. The nominated ambassador has to
316 understand and support our process fully and i !! 264 understand and support our process fully and is ideally well connected in
317 the Linux kernel community. 265 the Linux kernel community.
318 266
319 Encrypted mailing-lists 267 Encrypted mailing-lists
320 ----------------------- 268 -----------------------
321 269
322 We use encrypted mailing lists for communicati !! 270 We use encrypted mailing-lists for communication. The operating principle
323 of these lists is that email sent to the list 271 of these lists is that email sent to the list is encrypted either with the
324 list's PGP key or with the list's S/MIME certi !! 272 list's PGP key or with the list's S/MIME certificate. The mailing-list
325 software decrypts the email and re-encrypts it 273 software decrypts the email and re-encrypts it individually for each
326 subscriber with the subscriber's PGP key or S/ 274 subscriber with the subscriber's PGP key or S/MIME certificate. Details
327 about the mailing list software and the setup !! 275 about the mailing-list software and the setup which is used to ensure the
328 security of the lists and protection of the da 276 security of the lists and protection of the data can be found here:
329 https://korg.wiki.kernel.org/userdoc/remail. !! 277 https://www.kernel.org/....
330 278
331 List keys 279 List keys
332 ^^^^^^^^^ 280 ^^^^^^^^^
333 281
334 For initial contact see the :ref:`Contact` sec !! 282 For initial contact see :ref:`Contact`. For incident specific mailing-lists
335 specific mailing lists, the key and S/MIME cer !! 283 the key and S/MIME certificate are conveyed to the subscribers by email
336 subscribers by email sent from the specific li !! 284 sent from the specific list.
337 285
338 Subscription to incident-specific lists !! 286 Subscription to incident specific lists
339 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 287 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
340 288
341 Subscription to incident-specific lists is han !! 289 Subscription is handled by the response teams. Disclosed parties who want
342 Disclosed parties who want to participate in t !! 290 to participate in the communication send a list of potential subscribers to
343 of potential experts to the response team so t !! 291 the response team so the response team can validate subscription requests.
344 subscription requests. <<
345 292
346 Each subscriber needs to send a subscription r 293 Each subscriber needs to send a subscription request to the response team
347 by email. The email must be signed with the su 294 by email. The email must be signed with the subscriber's PGP key or S/MIME
348 certificate. If a PGP key is used, it must be 295 certificate. If a PGP key is used, it must be available from a public key
349 server and is ideally connected to the Linux k 296 server and is ideally connected to the Linux kernel's PGP web of trust. See
350 also: https://www.kernel.org/signature.html. 297 also: https://www.kernel.org/signature.html.
351 298
352 The response team verifies that the subscriber 299 The response team verifies that the subscriber request is valid and adds
353 the subscriber to the list. After subscription 300 the subscriber to the list. After subscription the subscriber will receive
354 email from the mailing-list which is signed ei 301 email from the mailing-list which is signed either with the list's PGP key
355 or the list's S/MIME certificate. The subscrib 302 or the list's S/MIME certificate. The subscriber's email client can extract
356 the PGP key or the S/MIME certificate from the 303 the PGP key or the S/MIME certificate from the signature so the subscriber
357 can send encrypted email to the list. 304 can send encrypted email to the list.
358 305
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