Dear All, We are academic researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. To foster a healthier Linux kernel community and enhance the overall security of Linux distributions, we are conducting a study on kernel security hardening deployments across various Linux distributions. In our research, we analyzed kernel config files and the /proc filesystem by installing and running multiple distribution ISO images. This allowed us to enumerate the default deployment of kernel defense mechanisms at runtime. So far, we have cataloged over 50 kernel security hardening features and documented inconsistencies in their deployment across different distributions. The results of our analysis are accessible via the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17QRr04pqK1K4-VoHXW2-9KgPd4uV8Q4I-NNk.... Given Arch Linux’s reputation for exceptional performance and rich features, we conducted a detailed investigation into its kernel security hardening strategies. To further deepen our understanding, we would greatly appreciate your input on the following questions: 1. Effectiveness of Kernel Security Hardening 1.1 Do you consider deploying kernel security hardening features to be an effective strategy for ensuring operating system security? 2. Configuration Strategy for Default Kernel Security Hardening Options 2.1 What are the primary criteria for selecting kernel security hardening options in your distribution? 2.2 How are configurable security hardening features (e.g., unprivileged_bpf_disabled) typically set (e.g., 0, 1, or 2), and what are the main considerations involved? 2.3 How do you balance the trade-off between side-effects (e.g., performance overhead) and the enhanced security introduced by kernel security hardening? 2.4 Does the tolerance for performance overhead vary across different application scenarios? 2.5 Are there other negative factors, such as compatibility issues, that are considered when enabling security hardening features? 3. Customized Configurations 3.1 Do you provide different kernel security hardening configurations tailored to specific user groups? 4. Best Practices and Recommendations 4.1 Are there any best practices or recommendations you can share regarding kernel security hardening? 4.2 Are there relevant documents or materials available for reference? The purpose of these questions is to gain a deeper understanding of your security protection strategies. Your insights would be immensely valuable to our study. Thank you for taking the time to review our questions. We look forward to your response. Best regards, Yinhao Hu, PhD candidate huyinhaodd@gmail.com Huazhong University of Science and Technology