DigSig: Runtime Authentication of Binaries at Kernel Level

  • Authors:
  • Axelle Apvrille;David Gordon;Serge Hallyn;Makan Pourzandi;Vincent Roy

  • Affiliations:
  • Trusted Logic;Ericsson;IBM LTC;Ericsson;Ericsson

  • Venue:
  • LISA '04 Proceedings of the 18th USENIX conference on System administration
  • Year:
  • 2004

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Abstract

This paper presents a Linux kernel module, DigSig, which helps system administrators control Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) binary execution and library loading based on the presence of a valid digital signature. By preventing attackers from replacing libraries and sensitive, privileged system daemons with malicious code, DigSig increases the difficulty of hiding illicit activities such as access to compromised systems.DigSig provides system administrators with an efficient tool which mitigates the risk of running malicious code at run time. This tool adds extra functionality previously unavailable for the Linux operating system: kernel level RSA signature verification with caching and revocation of signatures.