Securing Your Server With SELinux - Security Enhanced Linux

What is SELinux?

SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) is a Linux kernel security module that provides a mechanism for supporting access control security policies, including United States Department of Defense-style mandatory access controls. It is an implementation of the Fedora/Red Hat project. Developed by the United States National Security Agency, it is included in all major Linux distributions.

How Does SELinux Work?

SELinux works by using a set of policies to define what type of access each user and process can have on the system. These policies can be configured to be as strict or as lenient as needed. When an action is performed on the system, SELinux will first check the policy to make sure that the action is allowed. If not, the action will be blocked by SELinux.

What are the Benefits of Using SELinux?

The main benefit of SELinux is its ability to provide a higher level of security than traditional Linux file system permissions. By enforcing access control policies, SELinux can prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive areas of the system, and can protect against malicious applications from gaining access to areas they should not have access to. Additionally, SELinux can prevent applications from carrying out malicious activities, such as changing system configuration files. By using SELinux, system administrators can have more control over who has access to their systems.