syslog: check cap_syslog when dmesg_restrict

Eric Paris pointed out that it doesn't make sense to require both CAP_SYS_ADMIN and CAP_SYSLOG for certain syslog actions. So require CAP_SYSLOG, not CAP_SYS_ADMIN, when dmesg_restrict is set. (I'm also consolidating the now common error path) Signed-off-by: Serge E. Hallyn <[email protected]> Acked-by: Eric Paris <[email protected]> Acked-by: Kees Cook <[email protected]> Signed-off-by: James Morris <[email protected]>
iegor · Dec 8, 2010 · 38ef4c2 · 38ef4c2
1 parent 5c6d112
commit 38ef4c2
Show file tree

Hide file tree

Showing 2 changed files with 11 additions and 11 deletions.
diff --git a/Documentation/sysctl/kernel.txt b/Documentation/sysctl/kernel.txt
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ dmesg_restrict:
 This toggle indicates whether unprivileged users are prevented from using
 dmesg(8) to view messages from the kernel's log buffer.  When
 dmesg_restrict is set to (0) there are no restrictions.  When
-dmesg_restrict is set set to (1), users must have CAP_SYS_ADMIN to use
+dmesg_restrict is set set to (1), users must have CAP_SYSLOG to use
 dmesg(8).
 
 The kernel config option CONFIG_SECURITY_DMESG_RESTRICT sets the default

diff --git a/kernel/printk.c b/kernel/printk.c
@@ -279,18 +279,12 @@ int do_syslog(int type, char __user *buf, int len, bool from_file)
 	 * at open time.
 	 */
 	if (type == SYSLOG_ACTION_OPEN || !from_file) {
-		if (dmesg_restrict && !capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
-			return -EPERM;
+		if (dmesg_restrict && !capable(CAP_SYSLOG))
+			goto warn; /* switch to return -EPERM after 2.6.39 */
 		if ((type != SYSLOG_ACTION_READ_ALL &&
 		     type != SYSLOG_ACTION_SIZE_BUFFER) &&
-		    !capable(CAP_SYSLOG)) {
-			/* remove after 2.6.38 */
-			if (capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
-				WARN_ONCE(1, "Attempt to access syslog with "
-				  "CAP_SYS_ADMIN but no CAP_SYSLOG "
-				  "(deprecated and denied).\n");
-			return -EPERM;
-		}
+		    !capable(CAP_SYSLOG))
+			goto warn; /* switch to return -EPERM after 2.6.39 */
 	}
 
 	error = security_syslog(type);
@@ -434,6 +428,12 @@ int do_syslog(int type, char __user *buf, int len, bool from_file)
 	}
 out:
 	return error;
+warn:
+	/* remove after 2.6.39 */
+	if (capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
+		WARN_ONCE(1, "Attempt to access syslog with CAP_SYS_ADMIN "
+		  "but no CAP_SYSLOG (deprecated and denied).\n");
+	return -EPERM;
 }
 
 SYSCALL_DEFINE3(syslog, int, type, char __user *, buf, int, len)