Add note that starting from Linux v5.9 CAP_PERFMON Linux capability is enough to conduct performance monitoring and observability using perf_events API. Signed-off-by: Alexey Budankov <alexey.budankov@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> --- Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst | 13 ++++++++----- 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst index 1307b5274a0f..57a65e27eeb9 100644 --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst @@ -84,11 +84,14 @@ capabilities then providing the process with CAP_PERFMON capability singly is recommended as the preferred secure approach to resolve double access denial logging related to usage of performance monitoring and observability. -Unprivileged processes using perf_events system call are also subject -for PTRACE_MODE_READ_REALCREDS ptrace access mode check [7]_ , whose -outcome determines whether monitoring is permitted. So unprivileged -processes provided with CAP_SYS_PTRACE capability are effectively -permitted to pass the check. +Prior Linux v5.9 unprivileged processes using perf_events system call +are also subject for PTRACE_MODE_READ_REALCREDS ptrace access mode check +[7]_ , whose outcome determines whether monitoring is permitted. +So unprivileged processes provided with CAP_SYS_PTRACE capability are +effectively permitted to pass the check. Starting from Linux v5.9 +CAP_SYS_PTRACE capability is not required and CAP_PERFMON is enough to +be provided for processes to make performance monitoring and observability +operations. Other capabilities being granted to unprivileged processes can effectively enable capturing of additional data required for later -- 2.24.1