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Provide the option to enable AMD SEV-ES and SEV-SNP #341

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Merged
adrelanos merged 4 commits into from
Dec 19, 2025
Merged

Provide the option to enable AMD SEV-ES and SEV-SNP #341

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6a17255
Provide option to enable AMD SEV-ES
raja-grewal Dec 11, 2025
72f295a
Provide option to enable AMD SEV-SNP
raja-grewal Dec 11, 2025
7d90121
Add reference for AMD SEV
raja-grewal Dec 11, 2025
969d4d8
Add references for AMD SME
raja-grewal Dec 16, 2025
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9 changes: 8 additions & 1 deletion etc/default/grub.d/40_kernel_hardening.cfg#security-misc-shared
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Expand Up @@ -255,24 +255,31 @@ GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX erst_disable"
## Enable AMD Secure Memory Encryption (SME) and Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV).
## SME encrypts memory with a single key at the kernel level to protect against cold boot attacks.
## SEV extends SME to VMs by encrypting the memory of each with a unique key for guest isolation.
## SEV-ES (Encrypted State) extends SEV by encrypting each guests virtual CPU register state during VM exits.
## SEV-SNP (Secure Nested Paging) extends SEV by activating hardware-level memory integrity.
## This is hardware-based encryption managed by the proprietary and closed-source AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP).
## Both require a compatible AMD CPU and support for SME to first be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI.
## Likely unavailable in consumer-grade AMD CPUs where Transparent SME (TSME) can be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI to achieve SME.
## Note the corresponding Intel Total Memory Encryption (TME) can also be enabled via the BIOS/UEFI.
## May cause boot failure on certain hardware with incompatible DMA masks.
## May cause boot failure on certain hardware with incompatible DMA masks especially if IOMMU is disabled.
##
## https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/next/x86/amd-memory-encryption.html
## https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/virt/kvm/x86/amd-memory-encryption.html
## https://docs.amd.com/v/u/en-US/memory-encryption-white-paper
## https://docs.amd.com/v/u/en-US/SEV-SNP-strengthening-vm-isolation-with-integrity-protection-and-more
## https://github.com/AMDESE/AMDSEV
## https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/x86/sme
## https://lore.kernel.org/all/YWRgN63FOrQGO8jS@zn.tnic/
## https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/YWvy9bSRaC+m1sV+@zn.tnic/T/#m01bcb37040b6b0d119d385d9a34b9c7ac4ce5f84
## https://mricher.fr/post/amd-memory-encryption/
## https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Dev/confidential_computing#AMD
## https://github.com/secureblue/secureblue/pull/1631#issuecomment-3655501478
## https://forums.whonix.org/t/enable-secure-memory-encryption-sme-kernel-parameter-mem-encrypt-by-default/10393
##
#GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX mem_encrypt=on"
#GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX kvm_amd.sev=1"
#GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX kvm_amd.sev_es=1"
#GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="$GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX kvm_amd.sev_snp=1"

## Prevent processes from writing to block devices that are mounted by filesystems.
## Enhances system stability and security by protecting against runaway privileged processes.
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