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Sep 5, 2024
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Runtime enable info for Intel CET shadow stack #563

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6 changes: 6 additions & 0 deletions docs/Compiler-Hardening-Guides/Compiler-Options-Hardening-Guide-for-C-and-C++.md
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Expand Up @@ -720,10 +720,16 @@ Return-oriented programming (ROP) uses an initial subversion (such as a buffer o

There are performance implications but they are typically mild due to hardware assistance. The `-fcf-protection=full` flag enables Intel's Control-Flow Enforcement Technology (CET) [^IntelCET], which introduces shadow stack (SHSTK) and indirect branch tracking (IBT). The `-mbranch-protection=standard` flag invokes similar protections in the AArch64. In clang `-mbranch-protection=standard` is equivalent to `-mbranch-protection=bti+pac-ret` and invokes the AArch64 Branch Target Identification (BTI) and Pointer Authentication using key A (pac-ret) [^Armclang].

#### Additional Considerations

Intel CET shadow stack requires Linux Kernel version 6.6 or higher and glibc version 2.39 or higher. Shadow stack support must, in addition, be enabled at run-time by setting the corresponding hardware capability tunable for glibc via the `GLIBC_TUNABLES` environmental variable [^glibc-tunables]: `export GLIBC_TUNABLES=glibc.cpu.hwcaps=SHSTK`.

[^Armclang]: ARM Developer, [Arm Compiler armclang Reference Guide Version 6.12 -mbranch-protection](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/100067/0612/armclang-Command-line-Options/-mbranch-protection).

[^IntelCET]: Intel, ["A Technical Look at Intel’s Control-flow Enforcement Technology"](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/technical-look-control-flow-enforcement-technology.html), 2020-06-13.

[^glibc-tunables]: GNU C Library team, [Tunables](https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/Tunables.html), GNU C Library (glibc) manual, 2024-07-22.

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### Restrict dlopen calls to shared objects
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