Re: Kernel device for iwlwifi in 13.3?

From: Bjoern A. Zeeb <bz_at_freebsd.org>
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:13:41 UTC
On Wed, 12 Jun 2024, Warner Losh wrote:

> On Wed, Jun 12, 2024, 11:47 AM Roger Marquis <marquis@roble.com> wrote:
>
>>>> Also wondering why there is no iwl* in /usr/src/sys/amd64/conf/* and
>>>> what, if anything,
>>>
>>> Because it is a non-essential driver to boot and so we only build it as
>>> a module which is a continuation of that people once started in order to
>>> get GENERIC size down.  The module will be loaded at run-time
>>> automatically (in a default setup) if such a card is found in the system
>>> and the driver will then automatically load its firmware (which will
>>> hopefully eventually also not be in base anymore).
>>
>> That's the threat vector I'd like to avoid i.e, someone plugging-in a
>> usb (or other) wifi device.  I suppose it's not necessarily different
>> than plugging-in an ethernet device but as a general rule all vectors
>> that can be avoided should be.  This, and kernel compilation in general,
>> is one of the areas FreeBSD has an advantage over other OS.  Not being
>> able to prevent these and other kernel modules is just unnecessary
>> risk.
>>
>
> You can list exactly the modules to build to control that threat. See
> MODULES_OVERRIDE=

or raise securelevel.

-- 
Bjoern A. Zeeb                                                     r15:7