New security changes in Android Nougat protect the kernel's memory and reduce its attack surface Future versions of Android will be more resilient to exploits thanks to developers’ efforts to integrate the latest Linux kernel defenses into the operating system. Android’s security model relies heavily on the Linux kernel that sits at its core. As such, Android developers have always been interested in adding new security features that are intended to prevent potentially malicious code from reaching the kernel, which is the most privileged area of the operating system. One older example is Security Enhancements for Android (SEAndroid), a set of kernel add-ons and tools that make exploitation of certain vulnerabilities harder by enforcing access controls. SEAndroid, which is based on the NSA-developed SELinux project, started being used to enforce the application sandbox boundaries in Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean). In a blog post Wednesday, Jeff Vander Stoep, a member of the Android Security team, revealed some of the more recent kernel security additions that will make the upcoming Android Nougat and future Android versions harder to compromise. These include various memory protections, as well as changes intended to reduce the kernel’s attack surface. One new configuration option called CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA segments the kernel memory into multiple sections and limits how much of this memory is writeable and executable. Attackers need writeable and executable memory pages in order to inject malicious code into them via exploits, and then run that code with kernel privileges. Another config option, called CONFIG_CPU_SW_DOMAIN_PAN, prevents the kernel from directly accessing user space memory, giving attackers even less control over where their exploits can execute code. The existing protection against stack-based buffer overflows, a family of memory corruption vulnerabilities, has also been improved by providing coverage for more array types, Vander Stoep said. The attack surface of the kernel has been reduced by blocking default access to debugging features like the perf system, which used for performance monitoring. The access to IOCTL commands has also been restricted for third-party applications as much as possible without breaking legitimate functionality. “Most of the kernel vulnerabilities reported on Android occur in drivers and are reached using the ioctl syscall,” Vander Stoep said. Android developers have also hardened the OS’s media-handling processes, which have been a source of many vulnerabilities over the past year. This has been done through a sandboxing mechanism called seccomp, which was first introduced on Nexus devices in Android Lollipop. With Android Nougat, seccomp support will be required for all devices. Related content analysis At RSA, Cisco unveils Splunk integrations, Hypershield upgrades At RSA Conference 2024, Cisco announced plans to integrate its XDR platform and Splunk’s SIEM, bolster its Hypershield AI-native security architecture, and add to its Duo access-protection software. By Michael Cooney May 06, 2024 5 mins Network Management Software Network Security Networking how-to Download our Zero Trust network access (ZTNA) enterprise buyer’s guide From the editors of Network World, this enterprise buyer’s guide helps network and security IT staff understand what ZTNA can do for their organizations and how to choose the right solution. By Josh Fruhlinger and Steve Zurier May 06, 2024 1 min Network Security Enterprise Buyer’s Guides news Network jobs watch: Hiring, skills and certification trends What IT leaders need to know about expanding responsibilities, new titles and hot skills for network professionals and I&O teams. By Denise Dubie May 06, 2024 6 mins Careers Data Center Networking feature IBM’s bets on AI and hybrid cloud pay off Three key differentiators of IBM’s AI and cloud offerings are cross-platform automation, integration with multiple clouds, and tie-ins to IBM professional services. By Jeff Vance May 06, 2024 9 mins Hybrid Cloud Network Management Software Cloud Computing PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe