Security-Enhanced Linux secures the kernel processes via flexible mandatory access control.
The kernel processes execute with the kernel_t SELinux type. You can check if you have these processes running by executing the ps command with the -Z qualifier.
For example:
ps -eZ | grep kernel_t
You can see the context of a process using the -Z option to psP Policy governs the access confined processes have to files. SELinux kernel policy is very flexible allowing users to setup their kernel processes in as secure a method as possible.
The following process types are defined for kernel:
kernel_t
Note: semanage permissive -a kernel_t can be used to make the process type kernel_t permissive. SELinux does not deny access to permissive process types, but the AVC (SELinux denials) messages are still generated.
If you want to deny user domains applications to map a memory region as both executable and writable, this is dangerous and the executable should be reported in bugzilla, you must turn on the deny_execmem boolean. Disabled by default.
setsebool -P deny_execmem 1
If you want to allow all domains to execute in fips_mode, you must turn on the fips_mode boolean. Enabled by default.
setsebool -P fips_mode 1
If you want to control the ability to mmap a low area of the address space, as configured by /proc/sys/vm/mmap_min_addr, you must turn on the mmap_low_allowed boolean. Disabled by default.
setsebool -P mmap_low_allowed 1
If you want to allow any files/directories to be exported read/only via NFS, you must turn on the nfs_export_all_ro boolean. Enabled by default.
setsebool -P nfs_export_all_ro 1
If you want to allow any files/directories to be exported read/write via NFS, you must turn on the nfs_export_all_rw boolean. Enabled by default.
setsebool -P nfs_export_all_rw 1
If you want to allow system to run with NIS, you must turn on the nis_enabled boolean. Disabled by default.
setsebool -P nis_enabled 1
If you want to disable kernel module loading, you must turn on the secure_mode_insmod boolean. Disabled by default.
setsebool -P secure_mode_insmod 1
If you want to allow unconfined executables to make their heap memory executable. Doing this is a really bad idea. Probably indicates a badly coded executable, but could indicate an attack. This executable should be reported in bugzilla, you must turn on the selinuxuser_execheap boolean. Disabled by default.
setsebool -P selinuxuser_execheap 1
If you want to allow unconfined executables to make their stack executable. This should never, ever be necessary. Probably indicates a badly coded executable, but could indicate an attack. This executable should be reported in bugzilla, you must turn on the selinuxuser_execstack boolean. Enabled by default.
setsebool -P selinuxuser_execstack 1
The SELinux process type kernel_t can manage files labeled with the following file types. The paths listed are the default paths for these file types. Note the processes UID still need to have DAC permissions.
file_type
all files on the system
semanage permissive can also be used to manipulate whether or not a process type is permissive.
semanage module can also be used to enable/disable/install/remove policy modules.
semanage boolean can also be used to manipulate the booleans
system-config-selinux is a GUI tool available to customize SELinux policy settings.