Solaris Trusted Extensions Administrator's Procedures

Chapter 25 Software Management in Trusted Extensions (Tasks)

This chapter contains information about ensuring that third-party software runs in a trustworthy manner on a system that is configured with Solaris Trusted Extensions.

Adding Software to Trusted Extensions

Any software that can be added to a Solaris system can be added to a system that is configured with Trusted Extensions. Additionally, programs that use Trusted Extensions APIs can be added. Adding software to a Trusted Extensions system is similar to adding software to a Solaris system that is running non-global zones.

For example, packaging issues affect systems that have installed non-global zones. Package parameters define the following:

In Trusted Extensions, programs are typically installed in the global zone for use by regular users in labeled zones. For details about installing packages in zones, see Chapter 23, Packages on an OpenSolaris System With Zones Installed, in System Administration Guide: Virtualization Using the Solaris Operating System. Also, see the pkgadd(1M) man page.

At a Trusted Extensions site, the system administrator and the security administrator work together to install software. The security administrator evaluates software additions for adherence to security policy. When the software requires privileges or authorizations to succeed, the Security Administrator role assigns an appropriate rights profile to the users of that software.

To import software from removable media requires authorization. An account with the Allocate Device authorization can import or export data from removable media. Data can include executable code. A regular user can only import data at a label within that user's clearance.

The System Administrator role is responsible for adding the programs that the security administrator approves.

Solaris Security Mechanisms for Software

Trusted Extensions uses the same security mechanisms as the Solaris OS. The mechanisms include the following:

Evaluating Software for Security

When software has been assigned privileges or when it runs with an alternate user ID or group ID, the software becomes trusted. Trusted software can bypass aspects of the Trusted Extensions security policy. Be aware that you can make software trusted even though it might not be worthy of trust. The security administrator must wait to give privileges to software until careful scrutiny has revealed that the software uses the privileges in a trustworthy manner.

Programs fall into three categories on a trusted system:

Developer Responsibilities When Creating Trusted Programs

Even though a program's developer can manipulate privilege sets in the source code, if the security administrator does not assign the required privileges to the program, the program will fail. The developer and security administrator need to cooperate when creating trusted programs.

    A developer who writes a trusted program must do the following:

  1. Understand where the program requires privileges to do its work.

  2. Know and follow techniques, such as privilege bracketing, for safely using privileges in programs.

  3. Be aware of the security implications when assigning privileges to a program. The program must not violate security policy.

  4. Compile the program by using shared libraries that are linked to the program from a trusted directory.

    For additional information, see Solaris Security for Developers Guide. For examples of code for Trusted Extensions, see Solaris Trusted Extensions Developer’s Guide.

Security Administrator Responsibilities for Trusted Programs

The security administrator is responsible for testing and evaluating new software. After determining that the software is trustworthy, the security administrator configures rights profiles and other security-relevant attributes for the program.

    The security administrator responsibilities include the following:

  1. Make sure that the programmer and the program distribution process is trusted.

  2. From one of the following sources, determine which privileges are required by the program:

    • Ask the programmer.

    • Search the source code for any privileges that the program expects to use.

    • Search the source code for any authorizations that the program requires of its users.

    • Use the debugging options to the ppriv command to search for use of privilege. For examples, see the ppriv(1) man page.

  3. Examine the source code to make sure that the code behaves in a trustworthy manner regarding the privileges that the program needs to operate.

    If the program fails to use privilege in a trustworthy manner, and you can modify the program's source code, then modify the code. A security consultant or developer who is knowledgeable about security can modify the code. Modifications might include privilege bracketing or checking for authorizations.

    The assignment of privileges must be manual. A program that fails due to lack of privilege can be assigned privileges. Alternatively, the security administrator might decide to assign an effective UID or GID to make the privilege unnecessary.

Managing Software in Trusted Extensions (Tasks)

Managing software in Trusted Extensions is similar to managing software on a Solaris system that has installed non-global zones. For details about zones, see Part II, Zones, in System Administration Guide: Virtualization Using the Solaris Operating System.

ProcedureHow to Add a Software Package in Trusted Extensions

Before You Begin

You must be in a role that can allocate a device.

  1. Start from the appropriate workspace.

  2. Allocate the CD-ROM drive.

    For details, see How to Allocate a Device in Trusted Extensions in Solaris Trusted Extensions User’s Guide.

  3. Install the software.

    For details, see Where to Find Software Management Tasks in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

  4. Deallocate the device when you are finished.

    For details, see How to Allocate a Device in Trusted Extensions in Solaris Trusted Extensions User’s Guide.

ProcedureHow to Install a Java Archive File in Trusted Extensions

This procedure downloads a JavaTM archive (JAR) file to the global zone. From the global zone, the administrator can make it available to regular users.

Before You Begin

The security administrator has verified that the source of the Java program is trustworthy, that the method of delivery is secure, and that the program can run in a trustworthy manner.

You are in the System Administrator role in the global zone.

  1. Download the JAR file to the /tmp directory.

    For example, if you are selecting software from http://www.sunfreeware.com, use the site's “Solaris pkg-get tool” instructions.

  2. Open the File Browser and navigate to the /tmp directory.

  3. Double-click the downloaded file.

  4. To install the software, answer the questions in the dialog boxes.

  5. Read the installation log.


Example 25–1 Downloading a JAR File to a User Label

To limit the security risk, the system administrator downloads the software to a single label within a regular user's accreditation range. Then, the security administrator tests the JAR file at that label. When the software passes the test, the security administrator then downgrades the label to ADMIN_LOW. The system administrator installs the software on an NFS server to make it available to all users.

  1. First, the system administrator creates a workspace at a user label.

  2. In that workspace, he downloads the JAR file.

  3. At that label, the security administrator tests the file.

  4. Then, the security administrator changes the label of the file to ADMIN_LOW.

  5. Finally, the system administrator copies the file to an NFS server whose label is ADMIN_LOW.