c51f8f88d7
Non-cryptographic PRNGs may have great statistical properties, but are usually trivially predictable to someone who knows the algorithm, given a small sample of their output. An LFSR like prandom_u32() is particularly simple, even if the sample is widely scattered bits. It turns out the network stack uses prandom_u32() for some things like random port numbers which it would prefer are *not* trivially predictable. Predictability led to a practical DNS spoofing attack. Oops. This patch replaces the LFSR with a homebrew cryptographic PRNG based on the SipHash round function, which is in turn seeded with 128 bits of strong random key. (The authors of SipHash have *not* been consulted about this abuse of their algorithm.) Speed is prioritized over security; attacks are rare, while performance is always wanted. Replacing all callers of prandom_u32() is the quick fix. Whether to reinstate a weaker PRNG for uses which can tolerate it is an open question. Commit |
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| Documentation | ||
| LICENSES | ||
| arch | ||
| block | ||
| certs | ||
| crypto | ||
| drivers | ||
| fs | ||
| include | ||
| init | ||
| ipc | ||
| kernel | ||
| lib | ||
| mm | ||
| net | ||
| samples | ||
| scripts | ||
| security | ||
| sound | ||
| tools | ||
| usr | ||
| virt | ||
| .clang-format | ||
| .cocciconfig | ||
| .get_maintainer.ignore | ||
| .gitattributes | ||
| .gitignore | ||
| .mailmap | ||
| COPYING | ||
| CREDITS | ||
| Kbuild | ||
| Kconfig | ||
| MAINTAINERS | ||
| Makefile | ||
| README | ||
README
Linux kernel
============
There are several guides for kernel developers and users. These guides can
be rendered in a number of formats, like HTML and PDF. Please read
Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst first.
In order to build the documentation, use ``make htmldocs`` or
``make pdfdocs``. The formatted documentation can also be read online at:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/
There are various text files in the Documentation/ subdirectory,
several of them using the Restructured Text markup notation.
Please read the Documentation/process/changes.rst file, as it contains the
requirements for building and running the kernel, and information about
the problems which may result by upgrading your kernel.