Controlling Script Execution in Linux - Security Mechanisms and Challenges

Explore a comprehensive conference talk on controlling script execution in Linux, presented by Mickaël Salaün from Microsoft. Delve into the challenges of managing executable code in Linux, with a focus on the unique issues posed by scripts executed by user space interpreters. Discover a novel approach to script execution control that leverages the kernel for maintaining a consistent global execution policy. Examine the evolution of this solution, from the initial O_MAYEXEC open flag to the dedicated trusted_for syscall. Gain insights into various use cases and implementation challenges that shaped the current approach to script execution control in Linux systems.