Linux 7.3 Kernel to Make Disabling Syscall User Dispatch Easier

Patches are making their way into the mainline branch of the Linux kernel that will make it easier to disable the Syscall User Dispatch feature. The corresponding changes are expected in the Linux 7.3 kernel release.

What Syscall User Dispatch Is

The Syscall User Dispatch mechanism was added to the Linux kernel almost six years ago and landed in mainline starting with version 5.11. It was originally created for the needs of gaming on Linux — more precisely, for running Windows games more efficiently through Wine.

Syscall User Dispatch makes it possible to intercept system calls from Windows applications, which helps Wine emulate Windows behavior more efficiently when running games and other software on Linux.

The Reason for the Change Is Security

Now kernel developers are preparing patches that will make disabling this mechanism simpler. As noted, the change is being made specifically for security reasons.

The message doesn't go into detail about exactly which risks are associated with Syscall User Dispatch or how precisely the procedure for disabling it will change. The patches are still at the stage of being pushed into the kernel's main development branch.

If the changes are accepted, they will become part of Linux 7.3 — one of the upcoming kernel versions.

Source: Phoronix