SELinux or Security-Enhanced Linux is a mandatory access control mechanism implemented in the Linux kernel. It provides an additional layer of security by enforcing access control policies on various system resources, such as files, directories, processes, and network interfaces.
SELinux policies define rules that determine what actions are allowed or denied for different subjects (users, processes) on different objects (files, directories, etc.). These policies are designed to restrict the potential damage caused by security vulnerabilities or malicious activities.
SELinux operates in two main modes: enforcing and permissive.
- Enforcing Mode: In this mode, SELinux actively enforces the defined security policies. If an action violates the policies, SELinux denies it and generates an audit log entry. Enforcing mode is the recommended setting for enhanced security.
- Permissive Mode: In permissive mode, SELinux logs policy violations but does not block any actions. It allows you to monitor the system and identify potential policy violations without actually preventing them. Permissive mode can be useful for troubleshooting or testing new policies before enforcing them.
here are the steps to Disable SELinux enforcement
setup platfrom tools & run below codes
adb shell su setenforce 0
Or on the kernel command line (during early device boot):
androidboot.selinux=permissive
Or via bootconfig in Android 12+:
androidboot.selinux=permissive