Security-Enhanced Linux secures the vmtools_helper processes via flexible mandatory access control.
The vmtools_helper processes execute with the vmtools_helper_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 vmtools_helper_t
The vmtools_helper_t SELinux type can be entered via the vmtools_helper_exec_t file type.
The default entrypoint paths for the vmtools_helper_t domain are the following:
/usr/bin/vmware-user-suid-wrapper
You can see the context of a process using the -Z option to psP Policy governs the access confined processes have to files. SELinux vmtools_helper policy is very flexible allowing users to setup their vmtools_helper processes in as secure a method as possible.
The following process types are defined for vmtools_helper:
vmtools_helper_t
Note: semanage permissive -a vmtools_helper_t can be used to make the process type vmtools_helper_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 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 vmtools_helper_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
You can see the context of a file using the -Z option to lsP Policy governs the access confined processes have to these files. SELinux vmtools_helper policy is very flexible allowing users to setup their vmtools_helper processes in as secure a method as possible.
The following file types are defined for vmtools_helper:
vmtools_helper_exec_t
- Set files with the vmtools_helper_exec_t type, if you want to transition an executable to the vmtools_helper_t domain.
Note: File context can be temporarily modified with the chcon command. If you want to permanently change the file context you need to use the semanage fcontext command. This will modify the SELinux labeling database. You will need to use restorecon to apply the labels.
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.