Re: (ITS#6811) Patch - Mozilla NSS - disable pkcs11 fork checking for the software token

[richm@stanfordalumni.org]

On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 3:26 AM,  <hyc@symas.com> wrote:
> rmeggins@redhat.com wrote:
>> Full_Name: Rich Megginson
>> Version: 2.4.23 (current CVS HEAD)
>> OS: RHEL6
>> URL: ftp://ftp.openldap.org/incoming/openldap-2.4.23-moznss-disable-nofo=
rk-20110127.patch
>> Submission from: (NULL) (76.113.111.209)
>>
>>
>> There are some applications that acquire a crypto context in the parent =
process
>> and expect that crypto context to work after a fork(). =A0This does not =
work
>> with MozNSS using strict PKCS11 compliance mode. =A0We set the environme=
nt
>> variable NSS_STRICT_NOFORK=3DDISABLED in tlsm_init() to tell the softwar=
e
>> encryption module/token to allow crypto contexts to persist across a for=
k().
>> However, if you are using some other module or encryption device that su=
pports
>> and expects full PKCS11 semantics, the only recourse is to modify the
>> application to use atfork() handlers to save the crypto context in the p=
arent
>> and restore (and SECMOD_RestartModules) the context in the child.
>
> Sounds like this is a followon to #6802. Is this really critical at this
> point? We really need to close the window on RE24 patches so we can actua=
lly
> cut a release. But if ITS#6802 is actually incomplete, I guess we should =
roll
> this in.

Yes, it is a followon to 6802 - as it turns out, the patch to 6802 was
incomplete.  We have discovered some important applications such as
sshd/su/others that open an LDAP* connection in the parent process,
fork(), and attempt to use the same LDAP* handle in the child.  Some
of the other Fedora/Red Hat developers and I had a discussion with one
of the MozNSS developers about this issue, as ldap is not the only
affected area.  It was decided that the best thing is to simply
disable the fork() checking in the MozNSS software token pkcs11 crypto
module.  This will give us parity with openssl with respect to fork()
behavior.  It is a critical issue for Fedora/Red Hat.  I understand
that this is coming in late in the game and you may not be able to get
this into RE24.  If not, Fedora/Red Hat will carry a patch for this.

>
>> These patch files are derived from OpenLDAP Software. All of the
>> modifications to OpenLDAP Software represented in the following
>> patch(es) were developed by Red Hat. Red Hat has not assigned rights
>> and/or interest in this work to any party. I, Rich Megginson am
>> authorized by Red Hat, my employer, to release this work under the
>> following terms.
>>
>> Red Hat hereby place the following modifications to OpenLDAP Software
>> (and only these modifications) into the public domain. Hence, these
>> modifications may be freely used and/or redistributed for any purpose
>> with or without attribution and/or other notice.
>>
>
>
> --
> =A0 -- Howard Chu
> =A0 CTO, Symas Corp. =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 http://www.symas.com
> =A0 Director, Highland Sun =A0 =A0 http://highlandsun.com/hyc/
> =A0 Chief Architect, OpenLDAP =A0http://www.openldap.org/project/
>
>
>