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2.4. Security

A virtual machine uses SELinux and sVirt to improve security in virtualization. This section includes an overview of the security options available.

2.4.1. Virtualization Security Features

SELinux

Security-Enhanced Linux, or SELinux, provides Mandatory Access Control (MAC) for all Linux system, and thus benefits also Linux guests. Under the control of SELinux, all processes and files are given a type, and their access on the system is limited by fine-grained controls of various types. SELinux limits the abilities of an attacker and works to prevent many common security exploits such as buffer overflow attacks and privilege escalation.

SELinux strengthens the security model of Red Hat Enterprise Linux hosts and virtualized Red Hat Enterprise Linux guests. SELinux is configured and tested to work, by default, with all virtualization tools shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
sVirt

sVirt is a technology included in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 that integrates SELinux and virtualization. It applies Mandatory Access Control (MAC) to improve security when using virtual machines, and improves security and hardens the system against hypervisor bugs that might be used to attack the host or another virtual machine.

Note

For more information on security for virtualization, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Virtualization Security Guide.