Linux Security Summit 2021

System security and safety have common goals, yet often follow divergent development paths. We are taking a look at the Linux kernel configuration features, many of which were originally designed for security, which can be used to enable safety critical applications. In this talk, we will give an overview of our recent work researching existing kernel features important to enable safety critical applications. The kernel configurations are mapped onto Common Weakness Enumerations, but more significantly we demonstrate how they are specifically relevant to support basic safety features such as kernel memory or avoiding race conditions. The work is in the context of ELISA (https://elisa.tech), striving to promote the acceptance of Linux in industries such as avionics, medical devices, and automotive, for which safety is an essential requirement. Our goal is to discuss our work with the Linux kernel developers engaged in the Linux Self-Protection Project and others interested in this area.