torvalds/linux

What:        /sys/fs/selinux/disable
Date:        April 2005 (predates git)
KernelVersion:    2.6.12-rc2 (predates git)
Contact:    selinux@vger.kernel.org
Description:

    REMOVAL UPDATE: The SELinux runtime disable functionality was removed
    in March 2023, the original deprecation notice is shown below.

    The selinuxfs "disable" node allows SELinux to be disabled at runtime
    prior to a policy being loaded into the kernel.  If disabled via this
    mechanism, SELinux will remain disabled until the system is rebooted.

    The preferred method of disabling SELinux is via the "selinux=0" boot
    parameter, but the selinuxfs "disable" node was created to make it
    easier for systems with primitive bootloaders that did not allow for
    easy modification of the kernel command line.  Unfortunately, allowing
    for SELinux to be disabled at runtime makes it difficult to secure the
    kernel's LSM hooks using the "__ro_after_init" feature.

    Thankfully, the need for the SELinux runtime disable appears to be
    gone, the default Kconfig configuration disables this selinuxfs node,
    and only one of the major distributions, Fedora, supports disabling
    SELinux at runtime.  Fedora is in the process of removing the
    selinuxfs "disable" node and once that is complete we will start the
    slow process of removing this code from the kernel.

    More information on /sys/fs/selinux/disable can be found under the
    CONFIG_SECURITY_SELINUX_DISABLE Kconfig option.