Yes, we're looking into adding similar form of access control in libvirt.

The approach we're looking at is to inject AC as a module that intercepts calls from the libvirt core (libvirt.c) to the drivers.
Reason:
* AC module can be loaded/unloaded on the fly without need to recompile (can support several different AC-modules and load the appropriate one during "connect").
* Making use of (semi-stable) API between libvirt core and drivers (also hypervisor/storage/network driver independent)
   * Being in the call-path also enables AC-module to alter return values (such as filtering lists of VMs/NETs/Storages based on access rights)
* Minimal code changes in existing libvirt code (basically a one-liner in libvirt.c to inject AC)

What still is an issue is how to correctly get the identity of the user, especially over remote connection.
I guess you have the same problem? (you're only allowing local usage for now).
The best way would be to link some user-auth data with the virConnectPtr, but becomes a bit trickier when authentication is done prior (like in remote case) to virConnectOpen.

You implemented your own RBAC language to describe the AC-policies.
Have you looked at possibility to link with already existing RBAC mechanisms for Linux (like SELinux or maybe simpler AC-libs)?


Freundliche Grüsse / Best regards

Konrad Eriksson
Trusted Computing / Security & Assurance

Email: kon@zurich.ibm.com
Phone: +41 (0)44 724 84 28
IBM Zurich Research Laboratory
www.zurich.ibm.com
Saeumerstrasse 4
8803 Rueschlikon
Switzerland




From: Syunsuke HAYASHI <syunsuke@jp.fujitsu.com>
To: libvir-list@redhat.com
Cc: Konrad Eriksson1 <KON@zurich.ibm.com>, berrange@redhat.com, Atsushi SAKAI <sakaia@jp.fujitsu.com>, INAKOSHI Hiroya <inakoshi.hiroya@jp.fujitsu.com>
Date: 01/26/2009 11:25 AM
Subject: [Patch][RFC] Fine grained access control in libvirt by rbac (0/3)




The series of patches introduces a fine grained access control to
libvirt.  They enable libvirt to enforce users what operations to invoke
in role-based way.  Our team found that Konrad and Daniel have similar
interest to ours.  Comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Patches:
- Embedding hooks in libvirt (1/3)
- Access control library (2/3)
- Example policy files (3/3)