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59 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
59 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
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# Feature status of clouds
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What works on which cloud? Currently, Confidential VMs (CVMs) are available in varying quality on the different clouds and software stacks.
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For Constellation, the ideal environment provides the following:
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1. Ability to run arbitrary software and images inside CVMs
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2. CVMs based on AMD SEV-SNP (available in EPYC CPUs since the Milan generation) or, in the future, Intel TDX (available in Xeon CPUs from the Sapphire Rapids generation onward)
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3. Ability for CVM guests to obtain raw hardware attestation statements
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4. Reviewable, open-source firmware inside CVMs
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5. Capability of the firmware to attest the integrity of the code it passes control to, e.g., with an embedded virtual TPM (vTPM)
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(1) is a functional must-have. (2)--(5) are required for remote attestation that fully keeps the infrastructure/cloud out. Constellation can work without them or with approximations, but won't protect against certain privileged attackers anymore.
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The following table summarizes the state of features for different infrastructures as of June 2023.
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| **Feature** | **Azure** | **GCP** | **AWS** | **OpenStack (Yoga)** |
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|-----------------------------------|-----------|---------|---------|----------------------|
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| **1. Custom images** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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| **2. SEV-SNP or TDX** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Depends on kernel/HV |
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| **3. Raw guest attestation** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Depends on kernel/HV |
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| **4. Reviewable firmware** | No* | No | Yes | Depends on kernel/HV |
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| **5. Confidential measured boot** | Yes | No | No | Depends on kernel/HV |
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## Microsoft Azure
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With its [CVM offering](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/confidential-computing/confidential-vm-overview), Azure provides the best foundations for Constellation.
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Regarding (3), Azure provides direct access to remote-attestation statements.
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The CVM firmware running in VM Privilege Level (VMPL) 0 provides a vTPM (5), but it's closed source (4).
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This firmware is signed by Azure.
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The signature is reflected in the remote-attestation statements of CVMs.
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Thus, the Azure closed-source firmware becomes part of Constellation's trusted computing base (TCB).
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\* Recently, Azure [announced](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-confidential-computing/azure-confidential-vms-using-sev-snp-dcasv5-ecasv5-are-now/ba-p/3573747) the *limited preview* of CVMs with customizable firmware. With this CVM type, (4) switches from *No* to *Yes*. Constellation will support customizable firmware on Azure in the future.
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## Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
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The [CVMs Generally Available in GCP](https://cloud.google.com/compute/confidential-vm/docs/create-confidential-vm-instance) are based on AMD SEV but don't have SNP features enabled.
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CVMs with SEV-SNP enabled are currently in [private preview](https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/identity-security/rsa-snp-vm-more-confidential). Regarding (3), with their SEV-SNP offering Google provides direct access to remote-attestation statements.
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However, regarding (4), the CVMs still include closed-source firmware.
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Intel and Google have [collaborated](https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/identity-security/rsa-google-intel-confidential-computing-more-secure) to enhance the security of TDX, and have recently [revealed](https://venturebeat.com/security/intel-launches-confidential-computing-solution-for-virtual-machines/) their plans to make TDX compatible with Google Cloud.
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## Amazon Web Services (AWS)
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Amazon EC2 [supports AMD SEV-SNP](https://aws.amazon.com/de/about-aws/whats-new/2023/04/amazon-ec2-amd-sev-snp/).
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Regarding (3), AWS provides direct access to remote-attestation statements.
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However, regarding (5), attestation is partially based on the [NitroTPM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/nitrotpm.html) for [measured boot](../architecture/attestation.md#measured-boot), which is a vTPM managed by the Nitro hypervisor.
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Hence, the hypervisor is currently part of Constellation's TCB.
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Regarding (4), the [firmware is open source](https://github.com/aws/uefi) and can be reproducibly built.
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## OpenStack
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OpenStack is an open-source cloud and infrastructure management software. It's used by many smaller CSPs and datacenters. In the latest *Yoga* version, OpenStack has basic support for CVMs. However, much depends on the employed kernel and hypervisor. Features (2)--(4) are likely to be a *Yes* with Linux kernel version 6.2. Thus, going forward, OpenStack on corresponding AMD or Intel hardware will be a viable underpinning for Constellation.
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## Conclusion
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The different clouds and software like the Linux kernel and OpenStack are in the process of building out their support for state-of-the-art CVMs. Azure has already most features in place. For Constellation, the status quo means that the TCB has different shapes on different infrastructures. With broad SEV-SNP support coming to the Linux kernel, we soon expect a normalization of features across infrastructures.
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