SYD(7)

NAME

Overview of sandboxing with Syd

SANDBOXING

The list of available sandboxing categories is given below:

stat | Confine file metadata accesses. This sandboxing type may be used to effectively hide files and directories from the sandbox process. List of filtered system calls are access(2), faccessat(2), faccessat2(2), getdents(2), getdents64(2), stat(2), fstat(2), lstat(2), statx(2), newfstatat(2), getxattr(2), getxattrat(2), lgetxattr(2), fgetxattr(2), listxattr(2), listxattrat(2), flistxattr(2), llistxattr(2), statfs(2), statfs64(2), fstatfs(2), fstatfs64(2), fanotify_mark(2), and inotify_add_watch(2). In addition, paths may be masked using the "mask" command. In this case, all filtered system calls on the path will be executed on the character device "/dev/null" instead. See the description of the "mask" command in syd(2) manual page for more information.
read | Confine file reads. List of filtered system calls are open(2), openat(2) and openat2(2) with the "O_RDONLY" or "O_RDWR" flags.
write | Confine file writes. List of filtered system calls are open(2), openat(2) and openat2(2) with the "O_WRONLY" or "O_RDWR" flags.
exec | Confine binary execution and dynamic library loading. The list of filtered system calls are execve(2), execveat(2), mmap(2), mmap2(2), and memfd_create(2). Note, for scripts access check is done for both the script and the interpreter binary. As of version 3.16.3, Syd checks the paths of the dynamic libraries an executable is linked against for exec access as well. This only works for ELF binaries. As of version 3.21.2, Syd seals memory file descriptors as non-executable by default, therefore memory file descriptors are not checked for exec access unless the option "trace/allow_unsafe_memfd:1" is set to lift this restriction. As of version 3.21.3, Syd hooks into mmap(2) and mmap2(2) system calls and checks the file descriptor for exec access when the memory protection mode includes "PROT_EXEC" and flags does not include "MAP_ANONYMOUS" which typically indicates a dlopen(3). Therefore, libraries dynamically loaded at runtime are checked for exec access as well. In addition, SegvGuard is used to deny execution if binary is crashing repeatedly which is similar to the implementation of Grsecurity & HardenedBSD. See the "SegvGuard" section for more information.
ioctl | Confine ioctl(2) system call for filesystem access. This sandboxing type may be used to effectively access GPU, PTY, DRM, and KVM etc. safely. In addition, ioctl(2) requests may be allowed or denied by adding them to the respective list using the options "ioctl/allow+" and "ioctl/deny+". See the syd(2) manual page for more information.
create | Confine creation of regular files and memory file descriptors. List of filtered system calls are creat(2), mknod(2), mknodat(2), and memfd_create(2). In addition, open system calls open(2), openat(2), and openat2(2) are filtered if the flag "O_CREAT" is set and the flag "O_TMPFILE" is not set in arguments. memfd_create(2) name argument is prepended with "/memfd:" before access check. Use e.g. "deny/create+/memfd:**" to deny access to memory file descriptors regardless of name.
delete | Confine file deletions. List of filtered system calls are unlink(2), unlinkat(2), and rmdir(2).
rename | Confine file renames and hard links. List of filtered system calls are rename(2), renameat(2), renameat2(2), link(2), and linkat(2).
symlink | Confine creation of symbolic links. List of filtered system calls are symlink(2) and symlinkat(2).
truncate | Confine file truncations. List of filtered system calls are truncate(2), truncate64(2), ftruncate(2), ftruncate64(2), and fallocate(2). In addition, open system calls open(2), openat(2), and openat2(2) are filtered if the flag "O_TRUNC" is set in arguments and the flags "O_TMPFILE" or "O_CREAT" are not set in arguments.
chdir | Confine directory changes. List of filtered system calls are chdir(2) and fchdir(2). Additional hardening may be achieved using the "trace/deny_dotdot:1" option to deny parent directory traversals. It is possible to set this option at runtime before sandbox is locked. This allows for incremental confinement. See the "Path Resolution Restriction For Chdir and Open Calls" section for more information.
readdir | Confine directory listings. List of filtered system calls are getdents(2) and getdents64(2). In addition, open system calls open(2), openat(2), and openat2(2) are filtered if the system call is called on an existing directory regardless of the "O_DIRECTORY" flag.
mkdir | Confine creation of directories. List of filtered system calls are mkdir(2), mkdirat(2), mknod(2) and mknodat(2).
chown, chgrp | Confine owner and group changes on files. List of filtered system calls are chown(2), chown32(2), fchown(2), fchown32(2), lchown(2), lchown32(2), and fchownat(2).
chmod | Confine mode changes on files. List of filtered system calls are chmod(2), fchmod(2), fchmodat(2), and fchmodat2(2). In addition, a umask(2) value may be set using the "trace/force_umask" option which is enforced at chmod(2) boundary as well as during regular file creation, e.g. setting "trace/force_umask:7177" effectively disallows setting s{u,g}id bits, all group+other bits and execute bit for the current user. This feature is useful in setting up W^X (Write XOR Execute) configuration for the sandbox.
chattr | Confine extended attribute changes on files. List of filtered system calls are setxattr(2), setxattrat(2), fsetxattr(2), lsetxattr(2), removexattr(2), removexattrat(2), fremovexattr(2), and lremovexattr(2). In addition, Syd ensures extended attributes whose name start with the prefix "user.syd." can not be listed or tampered by the sandbox process unless the sandbox lock is off for the respective process. This access can be permitted to the initial sandbox process with "lock:exec" or to all sandbox processes with "lock:off".
chroot | Confine change of the root directory using the chroot(2) system call. The pivot_root(2) system call is a no-op for compatibility reasons. This sandboxing category can be disabled with "trace/allow_unsafe_chroot:1" at startup, when the chroot(2) system call becomes a no-op like the pivot_root(2) system call. Note, though, no actual change of root directory takes place either way. Syd must share the root directory with the sandbox process to work correctly. Instead, Syd will prevent all filesystem access after the first allowed chroot(2) attempt regardless of the root directory argument. The only exception to the prevention of filesystem access is the chdir(2) system call with the specific argument "/", aka the root directory, is allowed. This ensures a TOCTOU-free way to support the common use-case of cutting all filesystem access by means of a chroot(2) call to "/var/empty" which is common case among unix daemons. Finally, this sandboxing category does not depend on the Linux capability "CAP_SYS_CHROOT", therefore can be used in unprivileged context. Syd drops the "CAP_SYS_CHROOT" Linux capability by default unless "trace/allow_unsafe_caps:1" is passed at startup.
utime | Confine last access and modification time changes on files. List of filtered system calls are utime(2), utimes(2), futimesat(2), utimensat(2), and utimensat_time64(2).
mkdev, mkfifo | Confine character device and named pipe (FIFO) creation. List of filtered system calls are mknod(2) and mknodat(2). Note, block device creation is never allowed, and UNIX domain socket file creation is confined by the "net/bind" category.
mktemp | Confine temporary file creation. List of filtered system calls are open(2), openat(2), and openat(2) with the "O_TMPFILE" flag. A rule such as "allow/mktemp+/tmp" permits the sandbox process to create anonymous temporary files under the directory "/tmp". Note, the creation of regular files of temporary nature are confined by the "create" category instead.
net/bind,connect | Confine network access. List of filtered system calls are bind(2), accept(2), accept4(2), connect(2), sendto(2), sendmsg(2), sendmmsg(2), mknod(2), and mknodat(2). Networking system calls are filtered in two groups, namely "bind" and "connect": bind(2) system call belongs to the "bind" group, whereas the system calls connect(2), sendto(2), sendmsg(2), and sendmmsg(2) belong to the "connect" group. In addition, UNIX domain socket file creation using the mknod(2) and mknodat(2) system calls are confined by the "bind" group. For IPv4 and IPv6 family sockets, the target address of "connect" group system calls and the source address of accept(2) and accept4(2) system calls are checked against the IP blocklist, see the description of the "block" command in syd(2) manual page for more information. Socket types UNIX, IPv4, IPv6, NetLink and KCAPI are supported, use the option "trace/allow_unsupp_socket:1" to pass-through sockets of unsupported types. Note, UNIX domain sockets are always matched on absolute path, therefore always start with the character "/". UNIX abstract sockets are prefixed with the "@" character before access check. Similarly unnamed UNIX sockets use the dummy path "!unnamed" for access check. Finally, network sandboxing concentrates on confining the initial connection action and leaves out the system calls recvfrom(2), recvmsg(2) and recvmmsg(2) as out of scope for sandbox confinement for performance reasons and due to a lack of security implications noting the fact that recv* system calls cannot specify target addresses.
net/sendfd | Confine sending of file descriptors. The list of filtered system calls are sendmsg(2) and sendmmsg(2). As of version 3.31.0, file descriptors referring to block devices, directories and symbolic links may not be passed. Note, UNIX domain sockets are always matched on absolute path, therefore always start with the character "/". UNIX abstract sockets are prefixed with the "@" character before access check. Similarly unnamed UNIX sockets use the dummy path "!unnamed" for access check.
net/link | Confine netlink(7) sockets used in communication between kernel and user space. This sandboxing category may be used to specify a list of netlink(7) families to allow for the sandbox process. Use e.g. "allow/net/link+route" to allow the "NETLINK_ROUTE" family. See the syd(2) manual page for more information.
lock/read,write | Use Landlock LSM to confine read and write access to the filesystem. "write" implies exec(3) and ioctl(2) access. Note, these categories are completely enforced in kernel-space, therefore they enable setting up a multi-layered sandbox. See the "Lock Sandboxing" section for more information.
lock/bind,connect | Use Landlock LSM to confine network ports for bind(2) and connect(2). Note, these categories are completely enforced in kernel-space, therefore they enable setting up a multi-layered sandbox. See the "Lock Sandboxing" section for more information.
force | Verified Execution: Verify binary/library integrity at exec(3)/mmap(2) time which is similar to Veriexec (NetBSD) & IntegriForce (HardenedBSD). See the "Force Sandboxing" section for more information.
tpe | Trusted Path Execution: Execution only allowed from "Trusted directories" which are not writable by group or others and are optionally owned by root or current user. This feature is similar to the implementation of Grsecurity & HardenedBSD. See the "TPE Sandboxing" section for more information.
crypt | Transparent File Encryption with AES-CTR, see the "Crypt Sandboxing" section for more information.
proxy | SOCKS5 proxy forwarding with network namespace isolation. Defaults to TOR. See the "Proxy Sandboxing" section for more information.
mem, pid | Memory and PID sandboxing: Simple, unprivileged alternatives to Control Groups. See the "Memory Sandboxing" and "PID Sandboxing" sections for more information.
SafeSetID | Safe user/group switching with predefined UID/GID transitions like SafeSetID of the Linux kernel. See the "SafeSetID" section for more information.
Ghost mode | Detach Syd from the sandbox process, similar to seccomp(2) Level 1, aka "Strict Mode". See the "Ghost mode" section for more information.

Sandboxing for a category may be on or off: If sandboxing is off, none of the relevant system calls are checked and all access is granted. If, however, sandboxing is on, the action defaults to "deny" and allowlists and denylists can be used to refine access rights, e.g. "allow/read+/etc/passwd". The default action for a sandboxing category may be changed with the respective option, e.g. "default/force:kill". See the syd(2) manual page for more information on how to configure Syd sandbox policies. If the sandbox process invokes a system call that violates access, this attempt is reported in system log and the system call is denied from execution. There are two ways to customise this behaviour. Syd may be configured to "allow" some glob(3p) patterns. If the path argument of the system call which is subject to be modified matches a pattern in the list of allowed glob(3p) patterns, this attempt is not denied. If, however it matches a pattern in the list of "deny" glob(3p) patterns the attempt is denied. If many rules match the same path or address, the last matching pattern wins. It is also possible to use the actions "exit", "kill", "abort", "stop", "panic", and "warn" instead of the "allow" and "deny" actions. The list of available sandboxing actions is given below:

allow | Allow system call.
warn | Allow system call and warn.
filter | Deny system call silently.
deny | Deny system call and warn.
panic | Deny system call, warn and panic the current Syd thread.
stop | Deny system call, warn and stop offending process.
abort | Deny system call, warn and abort offending process.
kill | Deny system call, warn and kill offending process.
exit | Warn, and exit Syd immediately with deny errno(3) as exit value.

"exit" causes Syd to exit immediately with all the sandbox processes running under Syd, "kill" makes Syd send the offending process a "SIGKILL" signal and deny the system call, "abort" makes Syd send the offending process a "SIGABRT" signal and deny the system call, "stop" makes Syd send the offending process a "SIGSTOP" signal and deny the system call, "panic" causes the respective Syd emulator thread to panic in which case the system call is denied by an RAII guard. This behaviour of "panic" action is currently functionally equivalent to the "deny" action, however it may be further extended in the future where Syd emulator processes are fork+exec'ed and address space is rerandomized by ASLR on each access violation. "warn" makes Syd allow the system call and print a warning about it which is used by pandora(1) for learning mode. Additionally, Syd may be configured to "filter" some glob(3p) patterns. In this case a match will prevent Syd from reporting a warning about the access violation, the system call is still denied though.

  SegvGuard

As of version 3.16.3, Syd has a simple implementation of SegvGuard. The implementation is inspired by that of HardenedBSD with identical defaults: If a sandbox process produces a core dump for "segvguard/maxcrashes" times (defaults to 5), in a period of "segvguard/expiry" seconds (defaults to 2 minutes), subsequent attempts to execute the same executable is denied for "segvguard/suspension" seconds (defaults to 10 minutes). SegvGuard can be disabled either by setting "segvguard/expiry:0" or by setting "trace/allow_unsafe_ptrace:1". The former setting works at runtime whereas the latter must be passed on startup. SegvGuard is guarded by the exec-TOCTOU mitigator.

Check out the following links for further information on SegvGuard:

•   http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Grsecurity/Appendix/Grsecurity_and_PaX_Configuration_Options#Deter_exploit_bruteforcing
•   http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Grsecurity/Appendix/Grsecurity_and_PaX_Configuration_Options#Active_kernel_exploit_response
•   http://phrack.org/archives/issues/59/9.txt
•   http://phrack.org/archives/issues/58/4.txt
•   https://github.com/HardenedBSD/hardenedBSD/wiki/segvguard2-ideas---brainstorm

  Force Sandboxing

Force Sandboxing enhances system security by scrutinizing the path provided to execve(2) and execveat(2) system calls, comparing them against a predefined Integrity Force map -- a registry of path-to-checksum correlations. Upon invocation of these calls, the sandbox computes the checksum of the target binary and cross-references it with the map. Discrepancies trigger rule-defined actions: execution might proceed with a logged warning, or culminate in the termination of the process in violation. This mechanism allows for rigorous enforcement of binary integrity, echoing the preventative ethos of HardenedBSD's Integriforce and NetBSD's Veriexec by proactively mitigating unauthorised code execution, albeit with a unique emphasis on flexible, user-defined consequence management ranging from permissive alerts to stringent execution blocks.

Distinguishing itself through user-centric customization, Force Sandboxing offers a versatile approach to execution integrity. Administrators can tailor the sandbox's response to checksum mismatches -- kill, deny, or warn -- thereby balancing security needs with operational flexibility. This adaptability, combined with tools like syd-sha(1) for checksum calculation and syd-path(1) for rule creation, positions Force Sandboxing as a powerful ally in the preservation of system integrity. See force command in syd(2) manual page on how to add/remove entries to/from the Integrity Force map.

As of version 3.16.3, Syd checks the paths of the dynamic libraries an executable is linked against for force access as well. This only works for ELF files.

As of version 3.21.3, Syd hooks into mmap(2), and mmap2(2) system calls and checks the file descriptor for Force access when the memory protection mode includes "PROT_EXEC" and flags does not include "MAP_ANONYMOUS" which typically indicates a dlopen(3). Therefore libraries dynamically loaded at runtime are checked for Force access as well.

  TPE sandboxing

As of version 3.21.0, Syd introduces Trusted Path Execution (TPE) sandboxing, which restricts the execution of binaries to ensure they come from trusted directories. The intention is to make privilege escalation harder when an account restricted by TPE is compromised as the attacker won't be able to execute custom binaries which are not in the trusted path. Trusted directories are defined as those that meet the following criteria:

1.  Not writable by group or others.
2.  Optionally owned by root (controlled by the "tpe/root_owned" setting).
3.  Optionally owned by the current user or root (controlled by the "tpe/user_owned" setting).

If the directories do not meet these criteria, the execution is denied with an "EACCES" error, and optionally, the offending process can be terminated with "SIGKILL" using the "default/tpe:kill" setting. This mechanism ensures that only binaries from secure, trusted paths can be executed, enhancing security by preventing unauthorized code execution. TPE sandboxing operates by checking the parent directories of executables at three stages:

1.  During the system call entry of execve(2) and execveat(2) to check scripts.
2.  On ptrace(2) exec event to check the ELF executable.
3.  On mmap(2) when a dynamic library is loaded into the memory.

TPE can be configured to apply to a specific user group. By default, TPE applies to all users. However, administrators can specify an untrusted GID with the "tpe/gid" setting, restricting TPE only to users in that group. Additionally, TPE can negate GID logic with the "tpe/negate" setting, making the specified group trusted and exempt from TPE.

Syd's TPE implementation is based on HardenedBSD's which is inspired by GrSecurity's TPE. Check out the following links for more information:

•   http://phrack.org/issues/52/6.html#article
•   http://phrack.org/issues/53/8.html#article
•   https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Hardened/Grsecurity_Trusted_Path_Execution

  Lock Sandboxing

This sandboxing utilises the Landlock Linux Security Module for simple unprivileged access control. This sandboxing type is not dynamic and is applied at the kernel level on startup. The sandboxing may be turned on with the "sandbox/lock:on" sandbox command, and read-only, and read-write allowlists can be populated using the sandbox commands "allow/lock/read+/path" and "allow/lock/write+/path". As of version 3.29.0, network confinement is supported and allowlisted bind(2) and connect(2) ports can be specified using the commands "allow/lock/bind+port" and "allow/lock/connect+port". Note the Syd process is also included in this sandbox for added security such that a compromised Syd process is still stuck inside the Landlock sandbox.

  Crypt Sandboxing

This sandboxing provides transparent file encryption using AES-CTR, with HMAC-SHA256 ensuring secure data handling without manual encryption steps. When "sandbox/crypt:on" is set, files matching the glob(3) patterns specified by "crypt+" are encrypted on write and decrypted on read. Configuration includes specifying a 256-bit AES key in hexadecimal using "crypt/key". To avoid including the key into the configuration file, the user may set the key using an environment variable and then specify this environment variable, e.g: "crypt/key:${SYD_KEY}". The user must use an environment variable name that starts with the prefix "SYD_" but does not start with the prefix "SYD_TEST_" as such environment variables don't leak into the sandbox process. Similarly the user must refrain from using any environment variable specified under the ENVIRONMENT section of the syd(1) manual page. Encryption operates via Linux kernel cryptography API sockets, using zero-copy techniques with splice(2) to avoid unencrypted data in memory. To assert we use zero-copy exclusively and respect user's privacy by avoiding to read plain-text into memory at all costs, syd-aes threads who are responsible for encryption are confined with a seccomp(2) filter to deny the read(2), open(2), and socket(2) system calls (and many more) and allow the write(2) system call only up to 32 bytes which is required to write the HMAC tag and the random IV to the file. The setup sockets are created on startup, the key is used to derive two separate keys using HKDF with SHA3-256: one key is used for encryption, and the other for HMAC calculation. HKDF key generation stage may be configured by supplying an optional salt with "crypt/kdf/salt", and supplying public informational strings for encryption and authentication respectively using "crypt/kdf/info/enc" and "crypt/kdf/info/mac". The keys are set using setsockopt(2), and then all the key material is wiped from memory before sandboxing starts. Syd also ensures that the keys and IV never swap out. IV uniqueness is ensured by generating a random IV using "/dev/random" per file. In case of an error retrieving entropy via getrandom(2) the random bytes in "AT_RANDOM" are used instead. Per-file IV is prepended to encrypted files. This ensures security by preventing IV reuse. A 32-byte HMAC (SHA256) message authentication tag is included between the file magic header and the IV, and is authenticated on decrypt, following the Encrypt-then-MAC approach. This provides integrity checking and resistance against bit-flip attacks. By default, decryption occurs in a memory file descriptor to prevent tampering, which limits practicality for large files due to memory constraints. User may specify a secure temporary backing directory with "crypt/tmp" to workaround this. Ideally this directory should be on encrypted storage as Syd is going to write plaintext here. File locks are set before attempting to encrypt files to ensure security and safe concurrent access. Linux OFD locks are used for locking, and the lock is set on the first byte of the file, leaving the rest of the byte range for use by other locking primitives. Encrypted data is flushed to disk only after all file descriptors that point to the encrypted open file description are closed enabling safe and performant concurrent access. File appends are handled efficiently with last block reencryption. Only regular files will be encrypted. The file format header "\x7fSYD3" identifies encrypted files and the version in the header must match the current Syd API which at the moment is "3". Compared to GSWTK's dbfencrypt, Crypt sandboxing avoids TOCTOU vulnerabilities and encryption weaknesses by utilizing AES-CTR with HMAC-SHA256 and robust setup steps, providing a more secure and streamlined encryption process.

Crypt sandboxing employs the AES-CTR algorithm, a secure and efficient symmetric key encryption method suitable for various applications. It operates as a stream cipher (skcipher) with a block size of 1 byte, allowing data to be encrypted in a byte-by-byte manner. The algorithm uses a fixed key size of 32 bytes (256 bits) by default, providing robust security, and a fixed initialization vector (IV) size of 16 bytes to ensure randomness and uniqueness in each encryption operation. Processing data in byte-sized chunks, the algorithm maintains a consistent walk size of 16 bytes for traversal and operations, ensuring seamless encryption and decryption processes. This configuration, with its secure default key size, significantly enhances security, preventing common encryption weaknesses and supporting efficient, transparent file encryption within the sandbox environment. The inclusion of HMAC-SHA256 for integrity checking further enhances security by detecting any unauthorized modifications or corruption of data. CTR is infinitely parallelizable because each block in the stream can be encrypted independently. This allows for encryption and decryption processes to be split across multiple processors, significantly increasing throughput. With hardware support such as AES-NI CPU instructions, speeds can easily exceed a gigabyte per second.

As of version 3.21.2, Syd opens memory file descriptors with the flag "MFD_NOEXEC_SEAL" during transparent decryption to ensure the memfds are non-executable and can't ever be marked executable. This ensures security as otherwise transparent decryption can be used to bypass Exec, Force and TPE sandboxing. Notably, this flag requires Linux-6.3 or newer. On older kernels, a backing directory must be specified with "crypt/tmp" for transparent decryption to work. Attempt to use transparent decryption without a backing directory on older kernels will fail with the errno "EOPNOTSUPP". As of version 3.28.0, Syd allows this restriction to be lifted with the option "trace/allow_unsafe_memfd:1".

File Format: Each file encrypted within the Crypt sandboxing framework follows a structured format to ensure consistency, secure handling, and clear identification. Each encrypted file starts with a five-byte magic header, "\x7fSYD3", where "\x7fSYD" indicates that the file is encrypted by Syd, and "3" denotes the current API version. This header is followed by a 32-byte HMAC (SHA256) message authentication tag, providing integrity checking by authenticating the encrypted content. Next is followed by a 16-byte initialization vector (IV), which is unique per file, ensuring strong cryptographic security. The AES-CTR-encrypted ciphertext follows the IV, providing the file’s protected content. Syd will only process files that match this format and have a compatible version; if a file does not have the correct file format header or API version, or if it exists unencrypted, Syd will leave it untouched. This approach prevents unintended operations on incompatible or unencrypted files.

    +----------------+-------------------------+-----------------------+--------------------+
    | Magic Header   | HMAC Tag                | Initialization Vector | Encrypted Content  |
    | "\x7fSYD3"     | 32 bytes (SHA256 HMAC)  | 16 bytes              | AES-CTR Ciphertext |
    +----------------+----------------------- -+-----------------------+--------------------+

Limitations:

•   Large files are not handled efficiently during decryption by default due to usage of in-memory files, specify a secure temporary backing directory with "crypt/tmp:/path" to workaround this. Ideally this directory should be on encrypted storage as Syd is going to write plaintext here.
•   Concurrent Access: Encrypted file access utilises Linux OFD locks, which are now standardized in POSIX 2024. Ensure that the underlying filesystem fully supports OFD locks to enable effective advisory file locking. Modern filesystems and NFS implementations compliant with POSIX 2024 typically provide this support, mitigating issues present in older versions. The multithreaded architecture of Syd relies on OFD locks to ensure safe and efficient concurrent access, eliminating the need for alternative locking mechanisms such as POSIX advisory locks. For further details, refer to the fcntl(2) and flock(2) manual pages.
•   Crash Safety: Currently, encrypted data is flushed to disk only after all file descriptors are closed. In the event of a system or sandbox crash, this may result in incomplete writes or potential data loss, as in-flight data might not be persisted. Future enhancements will focus on implementing transactional flush mechanisms and crash recovery procedures to ensure atomicity and integrity of encrypted data, thereby improving resilience against unexpected terminations.

Utilities:

•   syd-aes(1): Encrypts/decrypts files akin to openssl-enc.
•   syd-key(1): Generates random AES-CTR key using "/dev/random".

  Proxy Sandboxing

As of version 3.22.0, Proxy sandboxing in Syd confines network communication exclusively through a designated SOCKS proxy, enforced by the helper utility syd-tor(1). Configured at startup with "sandbox/proxy:on", this type implies the use of "unshare/net:1", isolating network namespaces to prevent direct network access. Traffic is forwarded from a specified local port (proxy/port:9050) to an external address and port (proxy/ext/host:127.0.0.1, proxy/ext/port:9050). This setup ensures all network interactions route through the proxy, leveraging zero-copy data transfers and edge-triggered epoll(7) for efficient event handling. The implementation enhances security by employing seccomp and Landlock for additional confinement, preventing unauthorized network access and ensuring strict adherence to the defined network path. This approach minimizes the risk of proxy bypasses and maintains the integrity of the network isolation.

  Memory Sandboxing

This sandboxing handles the system calls brk(2), mmap(2), mmap2(2), and mremap(2) and checks the per-process memory usage on each memory allocation request. If the memory usage reaches the maximum value defined by mem/max, the system call is denied with ENOMEM. Moreover the virtual memory size can be limited using mem/vm_max. If the limit is reached on the entry of any of the respective system calls, the system call is denied with ENOMEM. If mem/kill is set to true, the signal SIGKILL is delivered to the offending process.

The per-process memory usage is a fair estimate calculated using the file /proc/pid/smaps summing the following fields together:

1.  "Pss" (Proportional Set Size) is similar to Rss, but accounts for shared memory more accurately by dividing it among the processes that share it.
2.  "Private_Dirty" represents the private memory that has been modified (dirty).
3.  "Shared_Dirty" represents the shared memory that has been modified.

Note, "Rss" (Resident Set Size) is the portion of memory occupied by a process that is held in RAM.

Note, memory sandboxing is not an alternative to cgroups. You should use cgroups(7) when you can instead. This is meant for more constrained environments where cgroups(7) is not supported or not available due to missing permissions or other similar restrictions.

Warning, this is not a strict limit, Syd is reliant on the allocation granularity of the processes in the sandbox. Programs will be able to overstep the limit at least by amount of memory they allocate at once.

  PID sandboxing

This sandboxing handles the system calls fork(2), vfork(2), clone(2), and clone3(2) and checks the total number of tasks running on the system on each process creation request. If the count reaches the maximum value defined by pid/max, the system call is denied with "EAGAIN". If "pid/kill" is set to true, the signal "SIGKILL" is delivered to the offending process.

This sandboxing type is best coupled with a pid namespace using "unshare/pid". In this mode, Syd will check the number of running tasks in the current namespace only.

Note, PID sandboxing is not an alternative to cgroups. You should use cgroups(7) when you can instead. This is meant for more constrained environments where cgroups(7) is not supported or not available due to missing permissions or other similar restrictions.

  SafeSetID

SafeSetID, introduced in version 3.16.8, enhancing the management of UID/GID transitions by replacing the previous "trace/allow_unsafe_setid" configuration. This feature enables finer-grained control by allowing administrators to explicitly specify permissible transitions for UID and GID changes, thus tightening security constraints around process privilege management. SafeSetID is enabled by default, but typically requires the user to keep the "CAP_SETUID" or the "CAP_SETGID" capability in addition with the options "trace/allow_safe_setuid:1", or "trace/allow_safe_setgid:1" on Syd startup. It works by allowing predefined UID and GID transitions that are explicitly configured using the "setuid+<source_uid>:<target_uid>" and "setgid+<source_gid>:<target_gid>" commands in the Syd configuration. This ensures that transitions can only occur between specified user and group IDs, and unauthorised privilege escalations are blocked. For instance, a transition might be allowed from a higher-privileged user to a less-privileged user but not vice versa, thereby preventing any escalation of privileges through these system calls.

Since version 3.24.5, Syd applies a kernel-level seccomp(2) filter by default to deny all set*uid system calls with UID less than or equal to 11 (aka operator), and all set*gid system calls with GID less than or equal to 14 (aka uucp). This means even a compromised Syd process cannot elevate privileges using these system calls. See "syd-ls setid" to see the full list of system calls in this group.

Note, with the options "trace/allow_safe_setuid:1", and "trace/allow_safe_setgid:1", Syd will keep the "CAP_SETUID" and "CAP_SETGID" capabilities and sandbox process will inherit these capabilities from Syd. Since version 3.24.6, Syd drops the "CAP_SETUID" capability after the first successful UID transition and similarly the "CAP_SETGID" capability after the first successful GID transition. This means Syd can only ever change its UID and GID once in its lifetime. However, this does not completely lock the setid system calls in the sandbox process: Transitions to Syd's current UID and GID are continued in the sandbox process which means the first successful UID and GID transition will continue to function as long as the sandbox process keeps the respective "CAP_SETUID", and "CAP_SETGID" capabilities. This allows containing daemons, such as nginx, which spawn multiple unprivileged worker processes out of a single main privileged process.

  Ghost mode

Ghost Mode, introduced in Syd version 3.20.0, is the final sandboxing type, closely resembling Seccomp Level 1, also known as Strict Mode. This mode enhances security by allowing a process to transition to a highly restrictive state after completing its initial setup. When a sandboxed process is ready for this higher level of confinement, it invokes Ghost Mode by executing the "ghost" command using the virtual stat API, e.g. with stat("/dev/syd/ghost", NULL). This system call invocation is going to fail with the errno "EOWNERDEAD" if Ghost mode is successfully initiated. Upon receiving this command, Syd closes the seccomp(2) notify file descriptor. This action elevates all previously hooked system calls to a kernel-level deny with the "ENOSYS" errno, effectively making them unavailable. The transition to Ghost Mode is irreversible; once the file descriptor is closed, the process is locked into this restricted state. This mechanism ensures that the sandboxed process can only perform a very limited set of operations, akin to those allowed in Seccomp Level 1, thus significantly reducing its potential attack surface. Ghost Mode provides a robust security measure by denying all but the most essential system calls, which is crucial for applications that require maximum isolation and security after their initial configuration phase.

The mode is aptly named "Ghost" because, upon closing the seccomp(2) notify file descriptor, the sandboxed process effectively detaches from Syd and becomes independent, much like a ghost. From this point onwards, Syd no longer intervenes or manages the process's system calls but merely waits for the process to exit. This detachment underscores the finality and isolation of the Ghost Mode, ensuring that the process operates in a secure, tightly confined environment without further interaction from Syd. This mechanism is particularly useful for processes that require maximum security and minimal system call exposure after their initial configuration phase, providing a robust layer of protection against various exploits and vulnerabilities.

Note, a process cannot enter Ghost mode once the sandbox lock is set. Alternatively, though, a process can set its process dumpable attribute to zero using the "PR_SET_DUMPABLE" prctl(2). Under Syd, this achieves almost the same effect as Syd will not be able to emulate system calls with the per-process directory inaccessible. This provides an unprivileged way to enter Ghost mode.

SECURITY

Syd stands out for its ability to operate without requiring elevated privileges, eliminating the need for root access. This feature significantly simplifies setup and usage. Users benefit from the capability to dynamically configure the sandbox from within, with options to secure it further as needed. Tip: To take a quick peek at the seccomp filters applied by Syd under various different configurations, use syd <flags...> -Epfc.

  Threat Model

Syd strictly adheres to the current threat model of Seccomp. The goal is to restrict how untrusted userspace applications interact with the shared OS kernel through system calls to protect the kernel from userspace exploits (e.g., shellcode or ROP payload). The kernel is trusted. Syd's threat model delineates the sandbox as the trusted interceptor of system calls, while all user applications running within the sandbox are considered untrusted. These untrusted applications can manipulate their execution environment through syscalls, and attackers are assumed to have the capability to execute arbitrary code within these applications. Syd uses several mechanisms, including seccomp and ptrace for syscall filtering, Landlock for filesystem access restrictions, and namespaces for process and device isolation, to limit the impact of these potential attacks. The threat model assumes that attackers have control over the untrusted user space and may attempt reads, writes, or arbitrary code execution that could influence the behavior of the trusted sandbox or exploit syscall handling. The security of Syd relies on the correctness of its implementation and the underlying Linux kernel features it utilises. It is assumed that there are no vulnerabilities in Syd's interception and handling of syscalls, nor in the enforcement mechanisms provided by Landlock and namespaces. External attacks via network vectors or physical access to hardware are considered out of scope for this threat model.

The sandbox lock is an integral component of Syd's security architecture, which governs the configurability and integrity of the sandbox environment. By default, the sandbox lock is set to "on", effectively preventing any further sandbox commands after the initial setup, thereby ensuring that once the sandbox is configured and the primary process is executed, the security policies remain unaltered by any untrusted processes within the sandbox. When the lock is set to "exec", only the initial sandbox process retains the authority to access and modify the sandbox configuration, enabling a trusted process to securely establish the sandbox parameters while maintaining a pidfd (process ID file descriptor) to the initial process to safeguard against PID recycling attacks. Conversely, if the lock is set to "off", all sandbox processes are permitted to access and modify the sandbox configuration, allowing for broader configurability during the setup phase. However, this state persists only until the sandbox is explicitly locked, after which the lock becomes immutable and the sandbox policies are fixed, preventing any subsequent processes from altering the configuration. This layered locking mechanism, reinforced by the use of pidfd in "exec" mode, effectively safeguards against untrusted processes attempting to modify sandbox settings to escalate privileges or circumvent restrictions, thereby maintaining a robust and secure execution environment within Syd's framework.

Crypt Sandboxing in Syd ensures the confidentiality and integrity of specified files by transparently encrypting them using AES-CTR with HMAC-SHA256, even when adversaries fully control processes within the sandbox (i.e., attackers can execute arbitrary code and perform any allowed system calls). In this extended threat model, it is acknowledged that while attackers may access plaintext data within the sandbox's memory during process execution, they cannot extract encryption keys or plaintext data from outside the controlled environment, nor can they interfere with the encryption process to leak keys or plaintext to persistent storage or external channels. Cryptographic operations are performed via kernel-level cryptography API sockets using zero-copy techniques to prevent plaintext from residing in user-space memory buffers accessible to attackers. The syd-aes threads responsible for encryption are confined with strict seccomp filters, denying them critical system calls like read(2), open(2), and socket(2), and allowing only minimal write(2) operations required for encryption metadata (e.g., writing the HMAC tag and random IV to the file). This confinement prevents exploitation that could leak sensitive data. Encryption keys are securely derived using HKDF with SHA3-256, managed within the kernel, and wiped from memory before sandboxed processes start. Syd also ensures that the keys and IVs never swap out to disk. The threat model trusts the kernel and Syd's implementation, assuming attackers cannot exploit kernel vulnerabilities to access keys or plaintext within kernel memory or cryptographic operations. Additionally, file locks are employed before attempting to encrypt files to ensure safe concurrent access. In contrast to the general threat model, Crypt Sandboxing acknowledges that untrusted processes within the sandbox have access to plaintext data in memory during normal operation, as they need to read or write the plaintext files. However, the goal is to prevent attackers from accessing the plaintext outside the controlled environment or tampering with the encryption process to compromise confidentiality and integrity. This is achieved by ensuring that the encryption keys remain secure and that the encryption and decryption processes are tightly controlled and isolated from untrusted code.

  Accessing remote process memory

Syd denies various system calls which can access remote process memory such as ptrace(2) and process_vm_writev(2) and common sandboxing profiles such as "paludis" and "user" disallow write access to the "/proc/pid/mem" file. This makes "TOCTOU" attack vectors harder to realise. See "syd-ls deny" to see the full list of denied system calls.

  Enhanced Handling of PTRACE_TRACEME

As of version 3.16.3, Syd introduced a new feature for managing the "PTRACE_TRACEME" operation, aimed at improving stealth against detection. Traditionally, "PTRACE_TRACEME" is the only ptrace(2) operation allowed by a tracee, which makes it a common target for detection of ptracers. By converting "PTRACE_TRACEME" into a no-operation (no-op) that always succeeds, Syd aims to subtly prevent simple detection methods that rely on this operation. Additionally, other ptrace(2) operations are modified to return an EPERM (Permission Denied) error instead of ENOSYS (Function Not Implemented), which helps reduce the likelihood of the sandbox being detected through these errors. This approach enhances the discreetness of Syd's operation by mitigating straightforward detection tactics used by monitored processes.

As of version 3.19.0, Syd extends this mitigation and turns the system call ptrace(2) into a no-op. Again, this provides a best-effort mitigation against using requests such as "PTRACE_ATTACH" or "PTRACE_SEIZE" to detect a ptracer.

Note, this mitigation is simple and zero-cost, however a clever ptrace(2) detector can bypass it with e.g. a double ptrace(2) as exemplified here: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2109.06127

    if(ptrace(PTRACE_TRACEME)==0 && ptrace(PTRACE_TRACEME)==-1){
    	evade();
    }

Since this example relies on internal function states and side-effects, it bypasses Syd's mitigation. In such cases, user may opt for the option "trace/allow_unsafe_exec:1", when Syd will not use ptrace(2) at all, hence there is going to be no ptracer to detect for the malware with the logic bomb.

  Hardened procfs and devfs

To enhance system security and mitigate potential attack vectors, Syd enforces restrictions on the procfs and devfs file systems by implementing several key measures: denying both the listing and opening of block devices and files of unknown types by omitting entries corresponding to these file types (identified by "DT_BLK" and "DT_UNKNOWN") from directory listings and rejecting open(2) operations on them. This prevents unauthorized enumeration and access to system storage devices, thereby mitigating information disclosure and potential tampering. Syd also restricts visibility within the "/proc" directory so that processes can only see their own process IDs, effectively preventing discovery and potential interaction with other running processes, which reduces risks of information leakage, privilege escalation, and process manipulation. Access to the "/proc" entries of the Syd process itself is explicitly denied, safeguarding the sandbox manager from inspection or interference and preventing access to sensitive information about the sandboxing mechanism that could be exploited to bypass security controls or escape the sandbox. Additionally, Syd addresses risks associated with magic symbolic links in "/proc" -- such as "/proc/[pid]/exe" and "/proc/[pid]/fd/*" -- by denying access to these links when they refer to processes other than the calling process, thus preventing exposure of sensitive file descriptors or executable paths of other processes and mitigating unauthorized access or container escape scenarios; this mitigation can be disabled with the "trace/allow_unsafe_magiclinks:1" option if necessary, though doing so is not recommended. Collectively, these hardened controls over procfs and devfs significantly reduce the attack surface by preventing information disclosure, unauthorized access, and potential privilege escalations, ensuring that sandboxed applications operate within a tightly controlled and secure environment that adheres to the principle of least privilege and maintains system integrity. Refer to the following links for more information:

•   https://forums.whonix.org/t/proc-pid-sched-spy-on-keystrokes-proof-of-concept-spy-gksu/8225
•   https://homes.luddy.indiana.edu/xw7/papers/zhou2013identity.pdf
•   https://petsymposium.org/2016/files/papers/Don%E2%80%99t_Interrupt_Me_While_I_Type__Inferring_Text_Entered_Through_Gesture_Typing_on_Android_Keyboards.pdf
•   https://staff.ie.cuhk.edu.hk/~khzhang/my-papers/2016-oakland-interrupt.pdf
•   https://www.cs.ucr.edu/~zhiyunq/pub/sec14_android_activity_inference.pdf
•   https://www.gruss.cc/files/procharvester.pdf
•   https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Dev/Strong_Linux_User_Account_Isolation#/proc/pid/sched_spy_on_keystrokes
•   https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/05/3
•   https://www.usenix.org/legacy/event/sec09/tech/full_papers/zhang.pdf

  Denying TIOCLINUX ioctl

The limitation on the use of the "TIOCLINUX" ioctl(2) within secure environments, similar to the Syd sandbox, is an essential security measure addressing vulnerabilities specific to Linux terminal operations. The "TIOCLINUX" ioctl(2) command offers various functionalities, including but not limited to manipulating console settings, changing keyboard modes, and controlling screen output. While these capabilities can be leveraged for legitimate system management tasks, they also introduce potential security risks, particularly in multi-user environments or in the context of sandboxed applications.

The security concerns surrounding "TIOCLINUX" stem from its ability to alter terminal behaviors and settings in ways that could be exploited for unauthorised information disclosure, terminal hijacking, or privilege escalation. For instance, manipulating the console display could mislead users about the true nature of the operations being executed, or altering keyboard settings could capture or inject keystrokes.

In summary, the restriction on "TIOCLINUX" within secure environments is a vital security strategy, addressing the complex risks associated with direct terminal manipulation capabilities. This precaution is in keeping with the broader security community's efforts to mitigate known vulnerabilities and enhance the security posture of systems handling sensitive processes and data.

  Denying TIOCSTI ioctl

The restriction on the use of the "TIOCSTI" ioctl(2) within the Syd sandbox addresses a significant security vulnerability associated with terminal input injection. The "TIOCSTI" ioctl(2) allows a byte to be inserted into the terminal input queue, effectively simulating keyboard input. This capability, while potentially useful for legitimate purposes, poses a substantial security risk, especially in scenarios where a process might retain access to a terminal beyond its intended lifespan. Malicious use of this ioctl(2) can lead to the injection of commands that execute with the privileges of the terminal's owning process, thereby breaching the security boundaries intended by user permissions and process isolation mechanisms. The concern over "TIOCSTI" is well-documented in the security community. For example, OpenBSD has taken measures to mitigate the risk by disabling the "TIOCSTI" ioctl(2), reflecting its stance on the ioctl(2) as one of the most dangerous due to its potential for abuse in command injection attacks. The decision to disable or restrict "TIOCSTI" in various Unix-like operating systems underscores the ioctl(2)'s inherent security implications, particularly in the context of privilege escalation and the execution of unauthorised commands within a secured environment.

In summary, the restriction on "TIOCSTI" within Syd is a critical security measure that prevents a class of vulnerabilities centered around terminal input injection, safeguarding against unauthorised command execution and privilege escalation. This precaution aligns with broader security best practices and mitigations adopted by the security community to address known risks associated with terminal handling and process isolation.

  Denying FS_IOC_SETFLAGS ioctl

As of version 3.24.2, Syd denies the "FS_IOC_SETFLAGS" ioctl(2) request by default, a critical security measure to ensure that once file flags are set, they remain unchanged throughout the runtime of the sandbox. This policy is particularly focused on the immutable and append-only flags, which need to be configured by an administrator at the start of the Syd process. Once these attributes are set on crucial system and log files -- marking them either as immutable to prevent any modification, or append-only to ensure that existing data cannot be erased -- they are frozen. This means that no subsequent modifications can be made to these attributes, effectively locking down the security settings of the files against any changes. This approach prevents scenarios where, even after a potential security breach, malicious entities are unable to alter or delete important files, thus maintaining the integrity and reliability of the system against tampering and ensuring that audit trails are preserved.

  Denying PR_SET_MM prctl

The "PR_SET_MM" prctl(2) call allows processes with the "CAP_SYS_RESOURCE" capability to adjust their memory map descriptors, facilitating operations like self-modifying code by enabling dynamic changes to the process's memory layout. For enhanced security, especially in constrained environments like Syd, this capability is restricted to prevent unauthorised memory manipulations that could lead to vulnerabilities such as code injection or unauthorised code execution. Notably, Syd proactively drops "CAP_SYS_RESOURCE" among other capabilities at startup to minimise security risks. This action is part of Syd's broader security strategy to limit potential attack vectors by restricting process capabilities.

  Restricting prctl option space and trace/allow_unsafe_prctl

Syd meticulously confines the scope of permissible prctl(2) operations to enhance security within its sandbox environment. By limiting available prctl(2) options to a specific set, including but not limited to "PR_SET_PDEATHSIG", "PR_GET_DUMPABLE", "PR_SET_NO_NEW_PRIVS", and "PR_SET_SECCOMP", Syd ensures that only necessary process control functionalities are accessible, thereby reducing the risk of exploitation through less scrutinised prctl(2) calls. This constraint is pivotal in preventing potential security vulnerabilities associated with broader prctl(2) access, such as unauthorised privilege escalations or manipulations of process execution states. However, recognizing the need for flexibility in certain scenarios, Syd offers the option to lift these restrictions through the "trace/allow_unsafe_prctl:1" setting. This capability allows for a tailored security posture, where users can opt for a more permissive prctl(2) environment if required by their specific use case, while still maintaining awareness of the increased security risks involved.

  Restricting io_uring interface and trace/allow_unsafe_uring

The io_uring(7) interface can be used to bypass path sandboxing. By default, Syd restricts io_uring(7) operations due to their ability to perform system calls that could undermine the sandbox's security controls, particularly those designed to limit file access and modify file permissions. The setting, "trace/allow_unsafe_uring", when enabled, relaxes these restrictions, allowing io_uring(7) operations to proceed unimpeded. While this can significantly enhance I/O performance for applications that rely on io_uring(7) for efficient asynchronous operations, it requires careful consideration of the security implications, ensuring that its use does not inadvertently compromise the sandboxed application's security posture. Use "syd-ls uring" to see the full list of system calls that belong to the io_uring interface.

  Restricting creation of device special files

Since version 3.1.12, Syd has enhanced its security model by disallowing the creation of device special files through the mknod(2) and mknodat(2) system calls. This decision is rooted in mitigating potential security vulnerabilities, as device special files could be exploited to circumvent established path-based access controls within the sandbox environment. These files, which include character and block devices, can provide direct access to hardware components or facilitate interactions with kernel modules that could lead to unauthorised actions or data exposure. By restricting their creation, Syd significantly reduces the risk of such exploit paths, reinforcing the integrity and security of the sandboxed applications. This measure ensures that only predefined types of files -- such as FIFOs, regular files, and sockets -- are permissible, aligning with the principle of least privilege by limiting file system operations to those deemed safe within the sandbox's context.

  Sharing Pid namespace with signal protections

Since version 3.6.7, Syd has introduced a crucial security feature that prevents sandboxed processes from sending signals to the Syd process or any of its threads. This protection is implemented by hooking and monitoring system calls related to signal operations, including kill(2), tkill(2), tgkill(2), and pidfd_open(2). When a sandboxed process attempts to send a signal to Syd or its threads, these system calls are intercepted, and the operation is denied at the seccomp level with an "EACCES" error. This measure ensures that Syd maintains control over the execution and management of sandboxed processes, safeguarding against interruptions or unauthorised interactions that could compromise the security or stability of the sandbox environment. This security mechanism is part of Syd's broader strategy to share the same root, private proc, and mount namespaces with the sandboxed process, facilitating secure and simple system call emulation. By making Syd and its threads immune to signals from sandboxed processes, the integrity and isolation of the sandboxed environment are significantly enhanced, preventing potential exploitation scenarios where sandboxed processes could disrupt the operation of the sandbox manager or interfere with other sandboxed processes.

  Process Priority and Resource Management

Since version 3.8.1, Syd has been implementing strategies to ensure the smooth operation of the host system while managing security through its sandboxing mechanism. It sets the nice(2) value of its system call handler threads to "19", ensuring these threads operate at the lowest priority to minimise CPU starvation for other critical processes. This approach prioritises system stability and fair CPU resource distribution, enabling Syd to handle numerous system calls without compromising the host's performance and responsiveness.

Enhancing this strategy, Syd introduced further adjustments in versions 3.8.6 and 3.9.7 to address I/O and CPU resource management more comprehensively. From version 3.8.6, it sets the I/O priority of the system call handler threads to "idle", ensuring that I/O operations do not monopolise resources and lead to I/O starvation for other processes. Similarly, from version 3.9.7, it adjusts the CPU scheduling priority of these threads to "idle", further safeguarding against CPU starvation. These measures collectively ensure that Syd maintains optimal performance and system responsiveness while securely sandboxing applications, striking a balance between security enforcement and efficient system resource utilization.

As of version 3.30.0, changes in process and I/O priorities are inherited by sandbox processes as well and sandbox processes are prevented from making any further changes. Moreover, the option "trace/allow_unsafe_nice" may be set at startup to prevent Syd from making any changes and allow sandbox processes access to the system calls that are used to make process and I/O priority changes.

  Simplified Filesystem Access for Legacy Daemons

Since version 3.12.0, Syd has adopted a nuanced approach to managing filesystem access controls, specifically concerning the chroot(2) and pivot_root(2) system calls. In Syd, these calls are treated as no-operations (no-ops), meaning they report success without performing any action. This decision is strategically aimed at accommodating older daemons that invoke "chroot(/var/empty)" as part of their initialization sequence, typically after completing necessary path accesses. By rendering chroot(2) and pivot_root(2) as no-ops at the seccomp-bpf kernel level, Syd ensures compatibility with such legacy software without introducing complexities in syscall emulation.

The rationale behind this approach stems from the necessity of maintaining a unified filesystem root between the sandbox and the sandboxed processes to simplify syscall emulation. However, certain daemons, like OpenNTPD, traditionally employ chroot(2) to a minimal directory (e.g., "/var/empty") as a security measure. Syd's no-op policy for these system calls allows it to host these daemons without necessitating alterations to their source code or operational logic, thus broadening the utility of Syd in securing legacy applications without sacrificing operational integrity or complicating the sandbox's implementation.

  Streamlining File Synchronization Calls

As of version 3.8.8, Syd has rendered the sync(2) and syncfs(2) system calls as no-operations (no-ops), ensuring they report success without executing any underlying functionality. This adjustment is designed to streamline operations within the sandboxed environment, bypassing the need for these file synchronization actions that could otherwise impact performance or complicate the sandbox's control over file system interactions. By adopting this approach, Syd enhances its compatibility with applications that issue these calls, without altering the sandboxed process's behavior or the integrity of file system management. As of version 3.28.0, this restriction can be disabled at startup with the option "trace/allow_unsafe_sync:1". This is useful in scenarios where sync is actually expected to work such as when sandboxing databases.

  Restricting Resource Limits, Core Dumps, and trace/allow_unsafe_prlimit

Since version 3.9.6, Syd has implemented restrictions on setting process resource limits and generating core dumps for the sandboxed process, enhancing the sandbox's security posture. This measure prevents the sandboxed process from altering its own resource consumption boundaries or producing core dumps, which could potentially leak sensitive information or be exploited for bypassing sandbox restrictions. However, recognizing the need for flexibility in certain use cases, Syd provides the option to disable these restrictions at startup through the "trace/allow_unsafe_prlimit:1" setting. This allows administrators to tailor the sandbox's behavior to specific requirements, balancing security considerations with functional needs.

  Enhancing Sandbox Security with Landlock

Since version 3.0.1, Syd leverages the Landlock Linux Security Module (LSM) to enforce advanced filesystem sandboxing, significantly bolstering the security framework within which sandboxed processes operate. By integrating Landlock, Syd empowers even unprivileged processes to create secure sandboxes, enabling fine-grained access control over filesystem operations without requiring elevated permissions. This approach is instrumental in mitigating the risk of security breaches stemming from bugs or malicious behaviors in applications, offering a robust layer of protection by restricting ambient rights, such as global filesystem or network access. Landlock operates by allowing processes to self-impose restrictions on their access to system resources, effectively creating a secure environment that limits their operation to a specified set of files and directories. This mechanism is particularly useful for running legacy daemons or applications that require specific environmental setups, as it allows for the precise tailoring of access rights, ensuring processes can only interact with designated parts of the filesystem. For instance, by setting Landlock rules, Syd can confine a process's filesystem interactions to read-only or read-write operations on explicitly allowed paths, thus preventing unauthorised access to sensitive areas of the system.

Furthermore, the inclusion of the Syd process itself within the Landlock-enforced sandbox adds an additional layer of security. This design choice ensures that even if the Syd process were compromised, the attacker's ability to manipulate the sandboxed environment or access unauthorised resources would be significantly constrained. This self-sandboxing feature underscores Syd's commitment to maintaining a high security standard, offering peace of mind to users by ensuring comprehensive containment of sandboxed processes.

  Namespace Isolation in Syd

Syd enhances sandbox isolation through meticulous namespace use, starting from version 3.0.2. Version 3.9.10 marks a pivotal enhancement by restricting user subnamespace creation, addressing a key path sandboxing bypass vulnerability. This strategic limitation thwarts sandboxed processes from altering their namespace environment to access restricted filesystem areas. Furthermore, since version 3.11.2, Syd maintains process capabilities within user namespaces, mirroring the unshare(1) command's "--keep-caps" behavior. This ensures sandboxed processes retain necessary operational capabilities, enhancing security without compromising functionality. Additionally, Syd utilises the powerful "bind" command within the mount namespace to create secure, isolated environments by allowing specific filesystem locations to be remounted with custom attributes, such as "read-only" or "no-exec", providing a flexible tool for further restricting sandboxed processes' access to the filesystem.

Syd also introduces enhanced isolation within the mount namespace by offering options to bind mount temporary directories over "/dev/shm" and "/tmp", ensuring that sandboxed processes have private instances of these directories. This prevents inter-process communication through shared memory and mitigates the risk of temporary file-based attacks, further solidifying the sandbox's defence mechanisms. Moreover, since version 3.11.2, Syd mounts the proc filesystem privately with the "hidepid=2" option, enhancing privacy by concealing process information from unauthorised users.

Syd's "container" and "immutable" profiles exemplify its adaptability, offering from isolated to highly restrictive environments. The "container" profile provides a general-purpose sandbox, while the "immutable" profile enforces stricter controls, such as making essential system directories read-only, to prevent tampering. This comprehensive approach underlines Syd's adept use of kernel features for robust sandbox security, ensuring a secure and controlled execution environment for sandboxed applications. See "syd-cat -p container", and "syd-cat -p immutable" to list the rules in these sandboxing profiles.

As of version 3.23.0, Syd has further strengthened its security. The introduction of a time namespace, represented by the "unshare/time:1" option, allows Syd to reset the boot-time clock, ensuring that the uptime(1) command reports container uptime instead of host uptime. Moreover, the creation of namespaces, including mount, UTS, IPC, user, PID, net, cgroup, and time is denied by default to prevent unauthorized namespace manipulation that could undermine path sandboxing security. To allow specific namespace types, administrators must explicitly enable them via the "trace/allow_unsafe_namespace" setting. Another restriction to note is that the system calls mount(2), mount_setattr(2), umount(2), and umount2(2) are denied by default unless "mount" namespace is allowed. This change ensures tighter control over process capabilities and isolation, reinforcing the defense mechanisms against potential security breaches.

  Restricting environment and trace/allow_unsafe_env

Syd, from version 3.11.1, has implemented measures to clear unsafe environment variables, such as "LD_PRELOAD", enhancing security by preventing the manipulation of dynamic linker behavior by sandboxed processes. This action mitigates risks associated with dynamic linker hijacking, where adversaries may load malicious shared libraries to execute unauthorised code, potentially leading to privilege escalation, persistence, or defence evasion. Variables like "LD_PRELOAD" allow specifying additional shared objects to be loaded before any others, which could be exploited to override legitimate functions with malicious ones, thus hijacking the execution flow of a program. To accommodate scenarios where developers might need to use these variables for legitimate purposes, Syd allows this security feature to be disabled at startup with "trace/allow_unsafe_env:1", offering flexibility while maintaining a strong security posture. This careful balance ensures that sandboxed applications operate within a tightly controlled environment, significantly reducing the attack surface and enhancing the overall security framework within which these applications run. See "syd-ls env" to see the full list of environment variables that Syd clears from the environment of the sandbox process.

  Managing Linux Capabilities for Enhanced Security

Since its 3.0.17 release, Syd strategically curtails specific Linux capabilities(7) for sandboxed processes to bolster security. By revoking privileges such as "CAP_SYS_ADMIN" among others, Syd significantly reduces the risk of privilege escalation and system compromise. This proactive measure ensures that even if a sandboxed process is compromised, its ability to perform sensitive operations is severely limited. The comprehensive list of dropped capabilities, including but not limited to "CAP_NET_ADMIN", "CAP_SYS_MODULE", and "CAP_SYS_RAWIO", reflects a meticulous approach to minimizing the attack surface. See "syd-ls drop" to see the full list of capabilities(7) that Syd drops at startup.

Exceptions to this stringent policy, introduced in version 3.11.1, such as retaining "CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE" with "trace/allow_unsafe_bind:1", "CAP_NET_RAW" with "trace/allow_unsafe_socket:1", "CAP_SYSLOG" with "trace/allow_unsafe_syslog:1" and "CAP_SYS_TIME" with "trace/allow_unsafe_time:1", offer a nuanced security model. These exceptions allow for necessary network, syslog and time adjustments within the sandbox, providing flexibility without significantly compromising security.

Since version 3.12.5, Syd allows the user to prevent dropping capabilities at startup using the command "trace/allow_unsafe_caps:1". This command may be used to construct privileged containers with Syd.

This balanced strategy of restricting capabilities(7), coupled with selective permissions, exemplifies Syd's commitment to crafting a secure yet functional sandbox environment. By leveraging the granularity of Linux capabilities(7), Syd offers a robust framework for safeguarding applications against a variety of threats, underscoring its role as a pivotal tool in the security arsenal of Linux environments.

  Path Resolution Restriction For Chdir and Open Calls

In Syd version 3.15.1, a configurable security feature is available to address the risk of directory traversal attacks by restricting the use of ".." components in path arguments for chdir(2), open(2), openat(2), openat2(2), and creat(2) system calls. This feature is off by default, ensuring broad compatibility and operational flexibility for a range of applications. When enabled with the "trace/deny_dotdot:1" command, Syd strengthens its defence mechanisms against unauthorised directory access, echoing the flexibility seen in FreeBSD’s "vfs.lookup_cap_dotdot" sysctl. This allows for a nuanced approach to filesystem security, where administrators can tailor the sandbox's behavior to match specific security requirements or operational contexts. By drawing on the security insights of FreeBSD and HardenedBSD, Syd provides a versatile toolset for managing path traversal security, adaptable to the unique demands of various application environments.

  Enhanced Symbolic Link Validation

As of version 3.13.0, Syd enhances security by enforcing stricter validation on symbolic links within "/proc/pid/fd", "/proc/pid/cwd", "/proc/pid/exe", and "/proc/pid/root", addressing potential misuse in container escape scenarios. Specifically, Syd returns an "EACCES" error for attempts to resolve these symbolic links if they do not pertain to the current process, akin to implementing "RESOLVE_NO_MAGICLINKS" behavior of the openat2(2) system call. This measure effectively hardens the sandbox against attacks exploiting these links to access resources outside the intended confinement, bolstering the isolation provided by Syd and mitigating common vectors for privilege escalation and sandbox escape. As of version 3.14.5, Syd keeps intercepting path system calls even if sandboxing is off making this protection unconditional.

  Memory-Deny-Write-Execute Protections

Syd version 3.14.1 enhances its security framework by implementing Memory-Deny-Write-Execute (MDWE) protections, aligning with the "PR_SET_MDWE" and "PR_MDWE_REFUSE_EXEC_GAIN" functionality introduced in Linux kernel 6.3. This feature establishes a stringent policy against creating memory mappings that are simultaneously writable and executable, closely adhering to the executable space protection mechanisms inspired by "PaX". In addition, Syd fortifies these MDWE protections by employing kernel-level seccomp filters on critical system calls, including mmap(2), mmap2(2), mprotect(2), pkey_mprotect(2), and shmat(2). These filters are designed to intercept and restrict operations that could potentially contravene MDWE policies, such as attempts to make non-executable memory mappings executable or to map shared memory segments with executable permissions. By integrating "PR_SET_MDWE" for preemptive kernel enforcement and utilizing seccomp filters for granular, kernel-level control over system call execution, Syd provides a robust defence mechanism against exploitation techniques that exploit memory vulnerabilities, thereby ensuring a securely hardened execution environment. This restriction may be relaxed using the "trace/allow_unsafe_memory:true" sandbox command at startup. Note even with this restriction relaxed, Syd is going to call "PR_SET_MDWE", but it will use the "PR_MDWE_NO_INHERIT" flag to prevent propagation of the MDWE protection to child processes on fork(2).

As of version 3.25.0, Syd kills the process on memory errors rather than denying these system calls with "EACCES". This ensures the system administrator gets a notification via dmesg(1), and has a higher chance to react soon to investigate potentially malicious activity. In addition, repeated failures are going to trigger SegvGuard.

  Advanced Memory Protection Mechanisms

Syd version 3.15.1 enhances its security framework by integrating sophisticated a seccomp BPF hook to meticulously block executable+shared memory mappings, targeting a critical vulnerability exploitation pathway. As of version 3.21.3, Syd also blocks executable+anonymous memory. These updates refine the sandbox's defence against unauthorised memory access and arbitrary code execution by inspecting and filtering system calls, notably mmap(2), and mmap2(2), to enforce stringent policies against dangerous memory mapping combinations. While this bolstered security measure significantly reduces the attack surface for exploits like buffer overflows and code injections, it acknowledges potential legitimate use cases, such as Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation and plugin architectures, that may require exceptions. To accommodate necessary exceptions without compromising overall security, Syd allows these restrictions to be relaxed with explicit configuration through the "trace/allow_unsafe_memory:true" command, ensuring that developers and administrators can fine-tune the balance between security and functionality according to specific requirements, with a keen eye on preventing the propagation of relaxed security settings to child processes.

  Null Address Mapping Prevention

In our ongoing effort to enhance the security features of Syd, as of version 3.15.1 we introduced a crucial update inspired by the practices of HardenedBSD, specifically aimed at bolstering our sandbox's defences against null pointer dereference vulnerabilities. Following the model set by HardenedBSD, Syd now includes a new security measure that completely prohibits the mapping of memory at the NULL address using the mmap(2) and mmap2(2) system calls with the MAP_FIXED and MAP_FIXED_NOREPLACE flags. This addition is implemented through meticulous seccomp filter rules that block these specific mapping requests when the first argument (addr) is zero, effectively rendering attempts to exploit null pointer dereferences as non-viable by ensuring such memory allocations result in respective system call getting denied with EACCES. By disallowing the execution of arbitrary code at the NULL address, Syd significantly reduces the attack surface associated with such vulnerabilities, reinforcing the sandbox's commitment to providing a robust security framework for Linux systems. This technical enhancement reflects our dedication to leveraging advanced security insights from the broader community, embodying our proactive stance on safeguarding against evolving threats.

Note, Linux has "vm/mmap_min_addr" which guards against this already. Hence, this acts as a second layer of defense.

As of version 3.25.0, all adresses lower than the value of "vm/mmap_min_addr" at Syd startup are included into the seccomp filter the action of the filter is set to kill process rather than deny with "EACCES". This ensures the system administrator gets a notification via dmesg(1), and has a higher chance to react soon to investigate potentially malicious activity. In addition, repeated failures are going to trigger SegvGuard.

  Enhanced Security for Memory File Descriptors

In version 3.21.1, Syd significantly enhanced its security posture by introducing restrictions on memory file descriptors (memfds). The memfd_create(2) system call is now sandboxed under Create sandboxing, with the name argument prepended with "/memfd:" before access checks. This allows administrators to globally deny access to memfds using rules like "deny/create+/memfd:*". Additionally, the memfd_secret(2) system call, which requires the "secretmem.enable=1" boot option and is seldom used, was denied to prevent potential exploits. Despite file I/O being restricted on secret memfds, they could be abused by attackers to write payloads and map them as executable, thus bypassing denylisted code execution controls.

Building on these changes, version 3.21.2 further fortifies security by making memfds non-executable by default. This is achieved by removing the "MFD_EXEC" flag and adding the "MFD_NOEXEC_SEAL" flag to memfd_create(2), ensuring memfds cannot be made executable. Notably, the "MFD_NOEXEC_SEAL" flag requires Linux-6.3 or newer to function. These measures collectively mitigate the risk of memfd abuse, which can involve executing malicious code within a sandbox, circumventing security mechanisms like Exec, Force, and TPE sandboxing. For scenarios where executable or secret memfds are genuinely required, the "trace/allow_unsafe_memfd:1" option allows for relaxing these restrictions, though it introduces increased security risks. By default, these enhancements enforce a robust security posture, preventing attackers from leveraging memfds as a vector for unauthorized code execution.

  Path Masking

Introduced in version 3.16.7, the "Path Masking" feature in Syd enhances security by enabling the obfuscation of file contents without denying access to the file itself. This functionality is critical in scenarios where compatibility requires file presence, but not file readability. Path Masking works by redirecting any attempt to open(2) a specified file to the character device "/dev/null", effectively presenting an empty file to the sandboxed process. The original file metadata remains unchanged, which is essential for applications that perform operations based on this data. Moreover, masked files can still be executed, providing a seamless integration where executability is required but content confidentiality must be preserved.

This feature leverages glob(3p) patterns to specify which files to mask, allowing for flexible configuration tailored to diverse security needs. By default, Syd masks sensitive paths such as "/proc/cmdline" to prevent the leakage of potentially sensitive boot parameters, aligning with Syd's security-first design philosophy. Path Masking is a robust security enhancement that minimises the risk of sensitive data exposure while maintaining necessary system functionality and compliance with expected application behaviors.

  Refined Socket System Call Enforcement

In Syd version 3.16.12, we have strengthened the enforcement of socket system call restrictions within the sandbox using kernel-level BPF filters. This enhancement builds upon existing features by embedding these controls directly into the Syd process, ensuring that even if Syd is compromised, it cannot utilise or manipulate denied socket domains. This proactive measure restricts socket creation strictly to permitted domains such as UNIX (AF_UNIX), IPv4 (AF_INET), and IPv6 (AF_INET6), significantly reducing the network attack surface. The "trace/allow_unsupp_socket:1" option allows for the extension of permissible socket domains, catering to specific needs but potentially increasing exposure risks. Additionally, "trace/allow_safe_kcapi:1" enables access to the Kernel Crypto API, facilitating necessary cryptographic operations directly at the kernel level. These enhancements provide a more secure and configurable environment, allowing administrators precise control over network interactions and improving the overall security posture of the sandbox.

  Enhanced Execution Control (EEC)

The Enhanced Execution Control (EEC) feature, introduced in Syd version 3.17.0, represents a significant advancement in the sandbox’s defence mechanisms. This feature strategically disables the execve(2) and execveat(2) system calls for the Syd process after they are no longer required for executing the sandbox process, thus safeguarding against their potential abuse by a compromised Syd process. The prohibition of these critical system calls adds a robust layer to the existing Memory-Deny-Write-Execute (MDWE) protections, intensifying the system’s defences against exploit techniques such as code injection or return-oriented programming (ROP). Concurrently, EEC ensures that the ptrace(2) syscall is limited following the initial use of the "PTRACE_SEIZE" call for execution-related mitigations. This action effectively prevents subsequent system trace operations, barring unauthorised process attachments and further securing the system against manipulation. Together, these measures enhance Syd's security architecture, reflecting an ongoing commitment to implement rigorous, state-of-the-art safeguards within the execution environment.

As of version 3.17.1, the Enhanced Execution Control (EEC) has been further strengthened by integrating mprotect(2) hardening mechanisms specifically targeting the prevention of the "ret2mprotect" exploitation technique. This enhancement blocks attempts to alter memory protections to executable (using the "PROT_EXEC" flag) via the mprotect(2) and pkey_mprotect(2) system calls. By adding these checks, EEC mitigates the risk associated with compromised Syd processes by enforcing stringent memory operation policies that prevent unauthorised memory from becoming executable, thereby countering sophisticated memory corruption attacks such as return-oriented programming (ROP) and other code injection strategies. This proactive security measure is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the sandbox environment, ensuring that Syd continues to offer robust protection against evolving exploit techniques.

As of version 3.23.9, the Enhanced Execution Control (EEC) feature has been expanded to mitigate Sigreturn Oriented Programming (SROP) attacks by denying access to the system calls sigreturn(2) and rt_sigreturn(2) for syd(1), syd-oci(1), and syd-tor(1). Given the lack of signal handlers, these system calls have no legitimate use. By preventing these calls, the system is better protected against SROP attacks, which involve manipulating signal handler frames to control program state, thus significantly enhancing the security of the execution environment. For further reading, refer to section 2.4.4 Sigreturn-oriented programming in the Low-Level Software Security book (URL: https://llsoftsec.github.io/llsoftsecbook/#sigreturn-oriented-programming ). SROP (Bosman and Bos 2014) is a special case of ROP where the attacker creates a fake signal handler frame and calls sigreturn(2), a system call on many UNIX-type systems normally called upon return from a signal handler, which restores the state of the process based on the state saved on the signal handler’s stack by the kernel previously. The ability to fake a signal handler frame and call sigreturn gives an attacker a simple way to control the state of the program.

  Enhanced execve and execveat Syscall Validation

As of version 3.24.2, security enhancements to execve(2) and execveat(2) syscalls have been introduced to thwart simple Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) attacks. Per the Linux execve(2) manpage: "On Linux, argv and envp can be specified as NULL. In both cases, this has the same effect as specifying the argument as a pointer to a list containing a single null pointer. Do not take advantage of this nonstandard and nonportable misfeature! On many other UNIX systems, specifying argv as NULL will result in an error (EFAULT). Some other UNIX systems treat the envp==NULL case the same as Linux." Based on this guidance, Syd now rejects execve(2) and execveat(2) with "EFAULT" when one of the pathname, argv and envp arguments is NULL. This mitigation targets basic ROP chains where NULL pointers are used as placeholders to bypass argument validation checks, a common tactic in exploiting buffer overflow vulnerabilities. For example, a typical ROP chain trying to execute execve(2) with argv and envp set to NULL would be intercepted and denied under these rules:

    0x0000:         0x40ee2b pop rdx; ret
    0x0008:              0x0 [arg2] rdx = 0
    0x0010:         0x402885 pop rsi; ret
    0x0018:              0x0 [arg1] rsi = 0
    0x0020:         0x4013cc pop rdi; ret
    0x0028:         0x460000 [arg0] rdi = 4587520
    0x0030:         0x438780 execve

An attacker might circumvent this mitigation by ensuring that none of the critical syscall arguments are NULL. This requires a more sophisticated setup in the ROP chain, potentially increasing the complexity of the exploit and reducing the number of vulnerable targets. This focused security measure enhances system resilience against simple ROP exploits while maintaining compliance with POSIX standards, promoting robustness and cross-platform security.

As of version 3.25.0, Syd kills the process upon entering these system calls with NULL arguments rather than denying them with "EFAULT". This ensures the system administrator gets a notification via kernel audit log, ie. dmesg(1), about potentially malicious activity. In addition, repeated failures are going to trigger SegvGuard.

We have verified the same issue is also present on HardenedBSD and notified upstream:
•   Issue: https://git.hardenedbsd.org/hardenedbsd/HardenedBSD/-/issues/106
•   Fix: https://git.hardenedbsd.org/hardenedbsd/HardenedBSD/-/commit/cd93be7afbcfd134b45b52961fc9c6907984c85f

  Enhanced Path Integrity Measures

As of version 3.17.4, Syd incorporates crucial enhancements to maintain the integrity of file system paths by systematically denying and masking paths that contain control characters. These modifications are essential for preventing the exploitation of terminal-based vulnerabilities and for maintaining robustness in logging activities. Paths identified with control characters are not only denied during sandbox access check but are also sanitized when logged to ensure that potentially harmful data does not compromise log integrity or facilitate inadvertent security breaches. Such measures underscore Syd's ongoing commitment to fortifying security by adhering to rigorous, up-to-date standards for handling untrusted input efficiently.

As of version 3.18.6, this restriction can be relaxed by using the setting "trace/allow_unsafe_filename:1". This setting may be toggled from within the sandbox during runtime prior to locking the sandbox.

As of version 3.28.0, Syd has enhanced its path integrity measures by incorporating an implementation based on David A. Wheeler's Safename Linux Security Module (LSM) patches. This update not only prevents the creation of filenames containing potentially harmful characters but also hides existing files with such names. Invalid filenames are now denied with an "EINVAL" error when necessary. In alignment with Wheeler's recommendations on restricting dangerous filenames, the validation now enforces stricter rules:

•   Control Characters: Filenames containing control characters (bytes 0x00–0x1F and 0x7F) are denied.
•   UTF-8 Encoding: Filenames must be valid UTF-8 sequences.
•   Forbidden Characters: The following characters are disallowed in filenames as they may interfere with shell operations or be misinterpreted by programs: *, ?, :, [, ], ", <, >, |, (, ), {, }, &, ', !, \, ;, $, and `.
•   Leading Characters: Filenames cannot start with a space ( ), dash (-), or tilde (~).
•   Trailing Characters: Filenames cannot end with a space ( ).

These measures mitigate security risks associated with malicious filenames by ensuring that both new and existing filenames adhere to stringent validation rules. This enhancement strengthens overall system robustness by preventing potential exploitation through untrusted input in file operations. For more information, refer to the following links:

•   https://dwheeler.com/essays/fixing-unix-linux-filenames.html
•   https://lwn.net/Articles/686021/
•   https://lwn.net/Articles/686789/
•   https://lwn.net/Articles/686792/

  Device Sidechannel Mitigations

As of Syd version 3.21.0, Syd's device sidechannel mitigations align closely with "GRKERNSEC_DEVICE_SIDECHANNEL" in Grsecurity, aiming to prevent timing analyses on block or character devices via stat(2) or inotify(7)/fanotify(7). For stat-related system calls, Syd, like Grsecurity, matches the last access and modify times to the creation time for devices, thwarting unprivileged user timing attacks. Instead of dropping events, Syd strips access and modify fanotify(7)/inotify(7) flags at syscall entry, preventing unsafe fanotify(7)/inotify(7) event generation. This approach ensures unauthorized users cannot determine sensitive information, such as the length of the administrator password. Syd's solution offers robust security by dynamically stripping flags, enhancing protection against these sidechannel attacks without compromising functionality.

Refer to the following links for more information:

•   https://web.archive.org/web/20130111093624/http://vladz.devzero.fr/013_ptmx-timing.php
•   https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Grsecurity/Appendix/Grsecurity_and_PaX_Configuration_Options#Eliminate_stat/notify-based_device_sidechannels

  Restricting CPU Emulation System Calls

As of version 3.22.1, Syd denies the modify_ldt(2), subpage_prot(2), switch_endian(2), vm86(2), and vm86old(2) system calls by default, which are associated with CPU emulation functionalities. These calls can only be allowed if the "trace/allow_unsafe_cpu" option is explicitly set. This restriction helps mitigate potential vulnerabilities and unauthorized access that can arise from modifying CPU state or memory protections, thus strengthening the overall security posture of the sandbox environment.

  Kernel Keyring Access Restriction

To enhance system security, access to the kernel's key management facility via the add_key(2), keyctl(2), and request_key(2) system calls is restricted by default as of version 3.22.1. These calls are crucial for managing keys within the kernel, enabling operations such as adding keys, manipulating keyrings, and requesting keys. The restriction aims to prevent unauthorized or potentially harmful modifications to keyrings, ensuring that only safe, controlled access is permitted. However, administrators can relax this restriction by enabling the "trace/allow_unsafe_keyring" option, allowing these system calls to be executed when necessary for legitimate purposes.

Note, because of this restriction, Syd is not affected by CVE-2024-42318 although we use Landlock. See here for more information: https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/08/17/2

  Restricting Memory Protection Keys System Calls

As of version 3.22.1, Syd denies the system calls pkey_alloc(2), pkey_free(2), and pkey_mprotect(2) by default. These system calls are associated with managing memory protection keys, a feature that can be leveraged to control memory access permissions dynamically. To allow these system calls, administrators can enable the "trace/allow_unsafe_pkey" option. This restriction enhances security by preventing unauthorized or potentially harmful manipulations of memory access permissions within the sandbox environment, ensuring stricter control over memory protection mechanisms.

  Restricting vmsplice System Call

As of version 3.23.5, Syd disables the vmsplice(2) system call by default to enhance security. This syscall, identified as a potential vector for memory corruption and privilege escalation, poses significant risks in sandboxed environments. By default, disabling vmsplice(2) reduces the attack surface, aligning with security practices in other systems like Podman. Refer to the following links for more information:

•   https://lore.kernel.org/linux-mm/X+PoXCizo392PBX7@redhat.com/
•   https://lwn.net/Articles/268783/

  Enforcing Position-Independent Executables (PIE)

As of version 3.23.9, Syd mandates that all executables must be Position-Independent Executables (PIE) to leverage Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). PIE allows executables to be loaded at random memory addresses, significantly enhancing security by making it more difficult for attackers to predict the location of executable code. This randomization thwarts various types of exploits, such as buffer overflow attacks, which rely on predictable memory addresses to execute malicious code. To accommodate scenarios where PIE is not feasible, administrators can relax this restriction using the "trace/allow_unsafe_nopie:1" option. This ensures compatibility while maintaining a robust security posture by default, aligning with Syd's overarching strategy of employing advanced security measures to mitigate potential attack vectors.

  Enforcing Non-Executable Stack

As of version 3.23.16, Syd mandates that all executables must have a non-executable stack to enhance security. A non-executable stack helps to prevent various types of exploits, such as stack-based buffer overflow attacks, by making it more difficult for attackers to execute malicious code from the stack. This security measure is similar to the enforcement of Position-Independent Executables (PIE) and is a crucial part of Syd's comprehensive security strategy. To accommodate scenarios where a non-executable stack is not feasible, administrators can relax this restriction using the "trace/allow_unsafe_stack:1" option. This ensures compatibility while maintaining a robust security posture by default, aligning with Syd's overarching strategy of employing advanced security measures to mitigate potential attack vectors.

As of version 3.23.19, Syd enforces this restriction at mmap(2) boundary as well so it is no longer possible to dlopen(3) a library with executable stack to change the stack permissions of the process to executable. This is useful in mitigating attacks such as CVE-2023-38408. Refer to the URL https://www.qualys.com/2023/07/19/cve-2023-38408/rce-openssh-forwarded-ssh-agent.txt for more information. As of version 3.25.0, Syd kills the process in this case rather than denying the system call to be consistent with other memory related seccomp filters. This ensures the system administrator gets a notification via syd-log(1), and has a higher chance to react soon to investigate potentially malicious activity. In addition, repeated failures are going to trigger SegvGuard.

  Mitigation Against Heap Spraying

As of version 3.23.18, Syd introduces a critical security enhancement to mitigate kernel heap-spraying attacks by restricting the msgsnd(2) system call. This call, integral to System V message queues, is essential for inter-process communication (IPC) in Unix-like operating systems. System V message queues allow processes to send and receive messages asynchronously, facilitating robust communication between processes. However, it is also frequently exploited for heap spraying, a technique that increases the predictability of memory allocations to facilitate arbitrary code execution. Notably, exploits such as CVE-2016-6187, CVE-2021-22555, and CVE-2021-26708 have leveraged this system call for kernel heap-spraying to achieve privilege escalation and kernel code execution. Heap spraying aims to introduce a high degree of predictability to heap allocations, facilitating arbitrary code execution by placing specific byte sequences at predictable memory locations. This method is particularly dangerous because it increases the reliability of exploiting vulnerabilities by aligning memory in a way that malicious code execution becomes feasible. To counter this, Syd now disables the msgsnd(2) system call by default, which is commonly used for heap spraying due to its ability to allocate large, contiguous blocks of memory in the kernel heap. This preemptive measure significantly reduces the attack surface, preventing attackers from leveraging this system call to bypass security mitigations and achieve kernel code execution. Administrators can re-enable this call using the "trace/allow_unsafe_msgsnd:1" option if required for legitimate inter-process communication needs, ensuring that the default configuration prioritizes security against such advanced exploitation techniques.

For more information refer to the following links:
•   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heap_spraying
•   https://grsecurity.net/how_autoslab_changes_the_memory_unsafety_game
•   https://duasynt.com/blog/cve-2016-6187-heap-off-by-one-exploit
•   https://google.github.io/security-research/pocs/linux/cve-2021-22555/writeup.html
•   https://a13xp0p0v.github.io/2021/02/09/CVE-2021-26708.html

  Mitigation against Page Cache Attacks

As of version 3.25.0, Syd denies the mincore(2) system call by default, which is typically not needed during normal run and has been successfully (ab)used for page cache attacks: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1901.01161

To quote the Countermeasures section of the article:

Our side-channel attack targets the operating system page cache via operating system interfaces and behavior. Hence, it clearly can be mitigated by modifying the operating system implementation. Privileged Access. The QueryWorkingSetEx and mincore system calls are the core of our side-channel attack. Requiring a higher privilege level for these system calls stops our attack. The downside of restricting access to these system calls is that existing programs which currently make use of these system calls might break. Hence, we analyzed how frequently mincore is called by any of the software running on a typical Linux installation. We used the Linux perf tools to measure over a 5 hour period whenever the sys_enter_mincore system call is called by any application. During these 5 hours a user performed regular operations on the system, i.e., running various work-related tools like Libre Ofﬁce, gcc, Clion, Thunderbird, Firefox, Nautilus, and Evince, but also non-work-related tools like Spotify. The system was also running regular background tasks during this time frame. Surprisingly, the sys_enter_mincore system call was not called a single time. This indicates that making the mincore system call privileged is feasible and would mitigate our attack at a very low implementation cost.

  Enforcing AT_SECURE and UID/GID Verification

As of version 3.27.0, Syd enhances security by enforcing the "AT_SECURE" flag in the auxiliary vector of processes during the "PTRACE_EVENT_EXEC" event. This enforcement ensures that the C library operates in a secure mode, disabling unsafe behaviors like loading untrusted dynamic libraries or accessing insecure environment variables. Additionally, Syd performs strict UID and GID verification to confirm that the process's user and group IDs match the expected values, preventing unauthorized privilege escalation. If the verification fails or the "AT_SECURE" flag cannot be set, Syd terminates the process to prevent potential security breaches. This mitigation can be relaxed at startup with the option "trace/allow_unsafe_libc:1", though doing so is not recommended as it reduces the effectiveness of the sandbox. Notably, secure mode is enforced by AppArmor too. Read the "AT_SECURE" section of the getauxval(3) manual page for further implications of secure mode.

  Process Name Modification Restriction

As of version 3.28.0, Syd introduces a critical security enhancement that logs and denies attempts to set a process's name using the "PR_SET_NAME" prctl(2) request. This mitigation is essential as it prevents malicious software from disguising itself under legitimate process names such as "apache" or other system daemons, thereby thwarting attempts to evade detection and maintain stealth within the system. By default, any invocation of "PR_SET_NAME" within the sandboxed environment is intercepted; the action is logged for audit purposes, and the system call is denied to maintain the integrity of process identification. Administrators can disable the logging of these attempts by configuring the filter with "filter/read+!proc/name", allowing for a reduction in log verbosity when necessary. Furthermore, if there is a legitimate need to permit process name changes within the sandbox, this restriction can be overridden by enabling the "trace/allow_unsafe_prctl:1" option, which allows "PR_SET_NAME" requests to succeed without logging.

  Mitigation Against Sigreturn Oriented Programming (SROP)

As of version 3.30.0, Syd employs a robust, multi-layered mitigation strategy against Sigreturn Oriented Programming (SROP), a sophisticated exploit technique that manipulates the state restoration behavior of the sigreturn(2) system call to hijack process execution. This approach addresses SROP's ability to bypass critical memory protections such as ASLR, NX, and partial RELRO by setting up a fake stack frame to redirect control flow upon signal return. Syd intercepts the completion of sigreturn(2) and rt_sigreturn(2) system calls across all supported architectures using the portable "PTRACE_GET_SYSCALL_INFO" ptrace(2) interface to inspect both the stack pointer (SP) and the instruction pointer (IP). The SP is validated to ensure it falls within a legitimate stack memory region, and the IP is examined to confirm that the first instruction does not correspond to a "syscall" operation, as this is a hallmark of SROP exploitation. Processes that fail these checks are terminated with "SIGKILL", effectively preventing arbitrary code execution. Additionally, inspired by Erik Bosman’s proposal in May 2014 (LKML PATCH 3/4), Syd incorporates a signal counting mechanism to track the number of signals delivered to a thread group, ensuring that each sigreturn(2) invocation corresponds to an actual, in-progress signal handler. This method provides more precise protection than sigreturn(2) frame canaries, which are susceptible to circumvention under certain conditions. By combining SP and IP validation with signal counting, Syd significantly enhances the integrity of sandboxed environments, effectively blocking a critical class of attacks. Administrators can disable these mitigations via the "trace/allow_unsafe_sigreturn:1" option, though doing so exposes systems to exploitation and undermines security. For more information, refer to the following links:

•   http://www.cs.vu.nl/~herbertb/papers/srop_sp14.pdf
•   https://web.archive.org/web/20221002135950/https://lkml.org/lkml/2014/5/15/660
•   https://web.archive.org/web/20221002123657/https://lkml.org/lkml/2014/5/15/661
•   https://web.archive.org/web/20221002130349/https://lkml.org/lkml/2014/5/15/657
•   https://web.archive.org/web/20221002135459/https://lkml.org/lkml/2014/5/15/858
•   https://lwn.net/Articles/674861
•   https://lore.kernel.org/all/1454801964-50385-1-git-send-email-sbauer@eng.utah.edu/
•   https://lore.kernel.org/all/1454801964-50385-2-git-send-email-sbauer@eng.utah.edu/
•   https://lore.kernel.org/all/1454801964-50385-3-git-send-email-sbauer@eng.utah.edu/
•   https://marc.info/?l=openbsd-tech&m=146281531025185
•   https://isopenbsdsecu.re/mitigations/srop/

  Speculative Execution Mitigation

As of version 3.30.0, Syd integrates a robust mitigation mechanism leveraging the prctl(2) system call to enforce speculative execution controls to fortify the sandbox against advanced speculative execution vulnerabilities, such as Spectre and related side-channel attacks. Upon initialization, Syd attempts to apply the "PR_SPEC_FORCE_DISABLE" setting for critical speculative execution features -- namely "PR_SPEC_STORE_BYPASS", "PR_SPEC_INDIRECT_BRANCH", and "PR_SPEC_L1D_FLUSH" -- thereby irrevocably disabling these CPU-level misfeatures when permissible. This proactive stance ensures that, where supported by the underlying kernel and hardware, speculative execution is constrained to eliminate potential avenues for data leakage and privilege escalation across privilege domains. The mitigation is conditionally enforced based on the availability of per-task control via prctl(2), and any inability to apply these settings due to architectural constraints or insufficient permissions results in logged informational messages without disrupting sandbox operations. Furthermore, administrators retain the capability to override this stringent security posture through the "trace/allow_unsafe_spec_exec:1" configuration option, permitting flexibility in environments where speculative execution controls may need to be relaxed for compatibility or performance reasons. This dual approach balances rigorous security enforcement with operational adaptability, ensuring that Syd maintains a hardened execution environment while providing mechanisms for controlled exceptions. By systematically disabling speculative execution vulnerabilities at the kernel interface level, Syd significantly mitigates the risk of sophisticated side-channel exploits, thereby enhancing the overall integrity and confidentiality of sandboxed applications. Refer to the links below for more information:

•   https://docs.kernel.org/admin-guide/hw-vuln/spectre.html
•   https://docs.kernel.org/userspace-api/spec_ctrl.html

  Cryptographically Randomized Sysinfo

Since Syd 3.28.0, the sysinfo(2) system call has been cryptographically obfuscated by applying high-entropy offsets to memory fields (e.g., total RAM, free RAM) and constraining them to plausible power-of-two boundaries, frustrating trivial attempts at system fingerprinting. Specifically, uptime and idle counters each incorporate a distinct offset up to 0xFF_FFFF (~194 days), while load averages are randomized in fixed-point format and clamped to realistic upper limits. Administrators seeking genuine system metrics may disable these transformations via "trace/allow_unsafe_sysinfo:1", albeit at the cost of enabling straightforward correlation and potential data leakage.

HISTORY & DESIGN

•   sydbox-0 https://git.sr.ht/~alip/syd/tree/sydbox-0 is a ptrace(2) based sandbox.
•   sydbox-1 https://git.sr.ht/~alip/syd/tree/sydbox-1 is a ptrace(2) and seccomp(2) based sandbox.
•   sydbox-2 https://git.sr.ht/~alip/syd/tree/sydbox-1 is a seccomp(2) and seccomp-notify based sandbox.
•   sydbox-3 is a rewrite of sydbox-2 in Rust and it's what you are looking at.

This codebase has a history of a bit over 15 years and up to this point we have used C11 as our implementation language for various reasons. With sydbox-3 we are moving forwards one step and writing the sandbox from scratch using the Rust programming language with the only non-Rust dependency being libseccomp. Although we inherit many ideas and design decisions from the old codebase, we also don't shy away from radically changing the internal implementation making it much simpler, idiomatic, and less prone to bugs. We have proper multiarch support since release 3.0.11, e.g on x86-64, you can run your x32 or x86 binaries just fine under Syd.

This version takes advantage of multithreading and handles system calls using a thread pool whose size is equal to the number of CPUs on the running machine and utilises globsets to match a list of patterns at once, thus continues to perform reasonably well even with very long rulesets. Moreover, access violations are logged into syslog(3), so you may use a command like "journalctl SYSLOG_IDENTIFIER=syd" (or shortly syd-log(1)) to view the sandbox logs. This version also comes with four new sandboxing types called Lock Sandboxing, Memory Sandboxing, PID sandboxing, Stat Sandboxing, Force Sandboxing: Lock Sandboxing utilises the Landlock Linux Security Module (LSM), Memory Sandboxing allows the user to define a per-process memory limit, PID sandboxing allows the user to define a limit on the maximum number of running tasks under the sandbox, Stat Sandboxing can be used to effectively hide files and directories from the sandboxed process whereas Force Sandboxing can be used to verify file checksums prior to exec, similar to HardenedBSD's Integriforce and NetBSD's Veriexec.

Finally, the new Syd has support for namespaces. Use e.g. "syd -m unshare/user:1" to create a user namespace. You may use "mount", "uts", "ipc", "pid", "net", and "cgroup" instead of "user" to create various namespaces. You may use the "container" profile as a shorthand to create namespaces with "syd -pcontainer".

You may use Syd as your login shell because it is very practical to have a restricted user. To do this simply add "/path/to/syd" to the file "/etc/shells" and do "chsh -s /path/to/syd username" as root. In this mode the sandbox may be configured using the files "/etc/user.syd-3" and "~/.user.syd-3". If you want to restrict user configuration of the sandbox, lock the sandbox using "lock:on" at the end of the site-wide configuration file.

EXHERBO

Syd is the default sandbox of Exherbo Linux. We use it to provide a restricted environment under which package builds run with controlled access to file system and network resources. exheres-0 has a function called esandbox to interact with Syd.

SEE ALSO

syd(1), syd(2), syd(5), seccomp(2), pidfd_getfd(2), pidfd_send signal(2), ioctl(2), ioctl_tty(2), prctl(2), namespaces(7), cgroup_namespaces(7), ipc_namespaces(7), mount_namespaces(7), network_namespaces(7), pid_namespaces(7), user_namespaces(7), uts_namespaces(7)

•   https://exherbolinux.org/docs/eapi/exheres-for-smarties.html#sandboxing

AUTHORS

Maintained by Ali Polatel. Up-to-date sources can be found at https://gitlab.exherbo.org/sydbox/sydbox.git and bugs/patches can be submitted to https://gitlab.exherbo.org/groups/sydbox/-/issues. Discuss in #sydbox on Libera Chat or in #sydbox:mailstation.de on Matrix.