24.7. Selecting between IMA and fapolicyd
IMA and fapolicyd are two different tools for enforcing file integrity. IMA is a kernel module that enforces file integrity by verifying the integrity of files at boot time. fapolicyd is a daemon that enforces file integrity by verifying the integrity of files at runtime.
The following list can help you determine which tool meets your requirements:
-
IMA verifies digital signatures to ensure integrity, while
fapolicydcurrently supports only hash-based verification. -
IMA operates in kernel space, while
fapolicydoperates in user space. -
fapolicydsupports basic integrity verification by checking file size and can also verify reference hash values stored insecurity.ima. -
IMA and
fapolicyduse different policy syntax. For example,fapolicydsupports path-based policies, but IMA does not.