2395 words
12 minutes
eBPF for Security: Evolution or Revolution?
Anubhav Gain
2025-08-17
2025-08-26
eBPF
ebpf
/
security
/
linux
/
observability
/
cybersecurity
/
kernel
/
networking
/
cloud-security

eBPF for Security: Evolution or Revolution?#

More and more organizations and technologies are using eBPF for security. eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) is the new standard to program Linux kernel capabilities in a safe and efficient manner without requiring changes to kernel source code or loading kernel modules. It has enabled a new generation of high-performance tooling covering networking, security, and observability use cases.

eBPF is a core and increasingly ubiquitous technology for networking, observability, and security.

The Security Transformation#

eBPF has been evolving in Linux kernels for a decade, maturing as the way to secure workloads running on both Linux and Windows. It’s the increasing use cases and scope that is revolutionizing security across the cloud and the internet.

graph TB
    subgraph "eBPF Security Revolution"
        subgraph "Traditional Security"
            T1[Static Analysis] --> T2[Periodic Scans]
            T3[Agent-based Monitoring] --> T4[High Overhead]
            T5[Limited Visibility] --> T6[Reactive Response]
        end


        subgraph "eBPF-Powered Security"
            E1[Real-time Analysis] --> E2[Continuous Monitoring]
            E3[Kernel-level Visibility] --> E4[Low Overhead]
            E5[Deep Observability] --> E6[Proactive Defense]
        end
    end


    style E1 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E2 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E3 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E4 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E5 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E6 fill:#c8e6c9
    style T1 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T2 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T3 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T4 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T5 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T6 fill:#ffcdd2

When security and development professionals use eBPF for security, they are addressing these critical questions:

  • What happens after a project or product has been delivered?
  • How do we create a secure environment of continual improvement?
  • How do we ensure that our secure deployment or application stays secure?
  • How do we identify vulnerabilities and spot potential anomalies?

A Brief History of eBPF#

eBPF was originally developed as a way to filter network packets in the Linux kernel. It has matured into a powerful tool for tracing and analyzing system activity — but it is not just a packet filter anymore.

eBPF is a technology that allows running sandboxed programs in the kernel, extending its capabilities without changing its source code or loading kernel modules.

Brendan Gregg, a computer scientist at Intel, perfectly captured eBPF’s significance:

“eBPF is superpowers for Linux”

Where Did eBPF Come From?#

timeline
    title eBPF Evolution Timeline
    1993 : Original BPF
         : Network packet filtering
         : Limited instruction set
         : Two 32-bit registers


    2014 : eBPF Introduction
         : Extended instruction set
         : Ten 64-bit registers
         : In-kernel verifier
         : JIT compilation


    2016 : Production Adoption
         : Container monitoring
         : Network observability
         : Performance analysis


    2020 : Security Revolution
         : Runtime security
         : Threat detection
         : Zero-trust networking


    2024 : Cloud Native Standard
         : Multi-cloud security
         : Service mesh integration
         : AI/ML observability

eBPF evolved from the classic Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF), which was introduced in 1993 as a way of filtering network packets in the kernel.

Original BPF Limitations#

The original BPF had significant constraints:

  • Limited instruction set
  • Only two 32-bit registers
  • Basic packet filtering capabilities
  • No extensibility mechanisms

The eBPF Revolution (2014)#

Since 2014, Alexei Starovoitov and Daniel Borkmann proposed an extended version of BPF (eBPF), which introduced:

  • Ten 64-bit registers: Expanded computational capacity
  • New instructions: Enhanced programming capabilities
  • Call instruction: Function call support
  • Register passing convention: Standardized parameter passing
  • Different instruction encoding: Optimized for modern architectures

Critical Security Enhancement: The Verifier#

The most important addition was the in-kernel verifier that checks the safety and validity of programs before loading them into the kernel. The verifier ensures that programs:

  • Do not crash the system
  • Cannot hang or create infinite loops
  • Do not interfere with kernel operations negatively
  • Follow memory access patterns safely
  • Maintain system stability and security

Programs can be either interpreted or JIT compiled for native execution performance, providing flexibility between safety and speed.

eBPF Evolution: From Simple Filter to Security Platform#

In the past decade, eBPF has been enhanced with numerous features that transformed it into a comprehensive security platform:

graph TB
    subgraph "eBPF Feature Evolution"
        subgraph "Core Features"
            CF1[Maps] --> CF2[Tail Calls]
            CF3[Helper Functions] --> CF4[Program Types]
        end


        subgraph "Connectivity"
            C1[Hook Points] --> C2[User Space Libraries]
            C3[Kernel Integration] --> C4[System Calls]
        end


        subgraph "Security Applications"
            SA1[Runtime Protection] --> SA2[Threat Detection]
            SA3[Network Security] --> SA4[Container Security]
        end


        CF1 --> SA1
        CF2 --> SA2
        C1 --> SA3
        C2 --> SA4
    end


    style CF1 fill:#e1f5fe
    style CF2 fill:#e1f5fe
    style CF3 fill:#e1f5fe
    style CF4 fill:#e1f5fe
    style SA1 fill:#c8e6c9
    style SA2 fill:#c8e6c9
    style SA3 fill:#c8e6c9
    style SA4 fill:#c8e6c9

Enhanced Features#

  • Maps: Efficient data structures for communication between kernel and user space
  • Tail calls: Program chaining for complex processing pipelines
  • Helper functions: Rich API for kernel interaction
  • Program types: Specialized programs for different use cases
  • Hook points: Strategic kernel attachment points
  • User space libraries: Simplified development and deployment

Community and Industry Adoption#

eBPF has attracted a large community of contributors and users from various domains and industries. Even Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, recognized its value:

“BPF has actually been really useful, and the real power of it is how it allows people to do specialized code that isn’t enabled until asked for. Things like tracing and statistics (and obviously network filters) are prime examples of things where people want to do specialized work.”

eBPF Architecture for Security#

graph TB
    subgraph "eBPF Security Architecture"
        subgraph "User Space"
            US1[Security Applications]
            US2[Management Tools]
            US3[Policy Engines]
            US4[Alert Systems]
        end


        subgraph "eBPF Runtime"
            ER1[Verifier]
            ER2[JIT Compiler]
            ER3[Maps]
            ER4[Helper Functions]
        end


        subgraph "Kernel Space"
            KS1[Network Hooks]
            KS2[System Call Hooks]
            KS3[Tracepoints]
            KS4[LSM Hooks]
        end


        subgraph "Hardware"
            HW1[CPU]
            HW2[Memory]
            HW3[Network Interface]
            HW4[Storage]
        end


        US1 --> ER1
        US2 --> ER2
        US3 --> ER3
        US4 --> ER4


        ER1 --> KS1
        ER2 --> KS2
        ER3 --> KS3
        ER4 --> KS4


        KS1 --> HW1
        KS2 --> HW2
        KS3 --> HW3
        KS4 --> HW4
    end


    style US1 fill:#e1f5fe
    style ER1 fill:#fff3e0
    style KS1 fill:#e8f5e8
    style HW1 fill:#f3e5f5

How is eBPF Used in Security?#

eBPF’s ability to trace system activity in real-time has made it particularly useful in cybersecurity, where it can identify unusual behavior and potential attacks.

Two Major Security Technology Areas#

1. Application Security#

eBPF provides unprecedented visibility into application behavior:

graph LR
    subgraph "Application Security with eBPF"
        AS1[Runtime Monitoring] --> AS2[API Call Tracking]
        AS3[Memory Access Control] --> AS4[Process Behavior Analysis]
        AS5[File System Monitoring] --> AS6[Network Activity Tracking]
        AS7[Library Loading Detection] --> AS8[Code Injection Prevention]
    end


    style AS1 fill:#e1f5fe
    style AS3 fill:#e1f5fe
    style AS5 fill:#e1f5fe
    style AS7 fill:#e1f5fe

Key Application Security Use Cases:

  • Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP): Real-time threat detection and response
  • API Security: Monitoring and protecting API endpoints
  • Container Security: Runtime protection for containerized applications
  • Zero-day Detection: Identifying unknown threats through behavioral analysis
  • Compliance Monitoring: Ensuring applications adhere to security policies

2. Infrastructure Security#

eBPF enables comprehensive infrastructure protection:

graph LR
    subgraph "Infrastructure Security with eBPF"
        IS1[Network Traffic Analysis] --> IS2[DDoS Detection]
        IS3[Kernel-level Monitoring] --> IS4[Privilege Escalation Detection]
        IS5[System Call Filtering] --> IS6[Malware Prevention]
        IS7[Resource Usage Monitoring] --> IS8[Anomaly Detection]
    end


    style IS1 fill:#f3e5f5
    style IS3 fill:#f3e5f5
    style IS5 fill:#f3e5f5
    style IS7 fill:#f3e5f5

Key Infrastructure Security Use Cases:

  • Network Security: Traffic analysis, intrusion detection, and DDoS mitigation
  • Host-based Security: System call monitoring, file integrity checking
  • Cloud Security: Multi-tenant isolation, network microsegmentation
  • Kubernetes Security: Pod security policies, network policies enforcement
  • Compliance: Audit trail generation, regulatory requirement adherence

Security Use Cases in Managed Security Operations#

eBPF is now extensively used across various security domains:

  1. High-performance networking and load-balancing in modern data centers and cloud native environments
  2. Extracting fine-grained security observability data at low overhead
  3. Helping application developers trace applications for security analysis
  4. Providing insights for network performance monitoring and troubleshooting
  5. Preventive application and container runtime security enforcement in cloud vulnerability management

Real-World Security Implementations#

Network Security with eBPF#

// Example: Network packet inspection for DDoS detection
#include <linux/bpf.h>
#include <linux/if_ether.h>
#include <linux/ip.h>
#include <linux/tcp.h>
#include <bpf/bpf_helpers.h>


struct {
    __uint(type, BPF_MAP_TYPE_HASH);
    __uint(max_entries, 10000);
    __type(key, __u32);
    __type(value, __u64);
} connection_count SEC(".maps");


SEC("xdp")
int ddos_protection(struct xdp_md *ctx) {
    void *data_end = (void *)(long)ctx->data_end;
    void *data = (void *)(long)ctx->data;


    struct ethhdr *eth = data;
    if ((void *)(eth + 1) > data_end)
        return XDP_PASS;


    if (eth->h_proto != __constant_htons(ETH_P_IP))
        return XDP_PASS;


    struct iphdr *ip = (void *)(eth + 1);
    if ((void *)(ip + 1) > data_end)
        return XDP_PASS;


    if (ip->protocol != IPPROTO_TCP)
        return XDP_PASS;


    // Track connection attempts per source IP
    __u32 src_ip = ip->saddr;
    __u64 *count = bpf_map_lookup_elem(&connection_count, &src_ip);
    __u64 current_count = count ? *count : 0;
    current_count++;


    // DDoS threshold: 1000 connections per IP
    if (current_count > 1000) {
        return XDP_DROP;
    }


    bpf_map_update_elem(&connection_count, &src_ip, &current_count, BPF_ANY);
    return XDP_PASS;
}


char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";

Runtime Security Monitoring#

// Example: System call monitoring for privilege escalation detection
#include <linux/bpf.h>
#include <bpf/bpf_helpers.h>
#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>


struct security_event {
    __u32 pid;
    __u32 uid;
    __u32 gid;
    __u64 timestamp;
    char comm[16];
};


struct {
    __uint(type, BPF_MAP_TYPE_RINGBUF);
    __uint(max_entries, 256 * 1024);
} events SEC(".maps");


SEC("tp/syscalls/sys_enter_setuid")
int trace_setuid(struct trace_event_raw_sys_enter *ctx) {
    struct security_event *event;
    __u64 pid_tgid = bpf_get_current_pid_tgid();
    __u32 pid = pid_tgid >> 32;
    __u64 uid_gid = bpf_get_current_uid_gid();


    // Check for suspicious UID changes
    __u32 target_uid = ctx->args[0];
    if (target_uid == 0) { // Attempting to become root
        event = bpf_ringbuf_reserve(&events, sizeof(*event), 0);
        if (event) {
            event->pid = pid;
            event->uid = uid_gid & 0xFFFFFFFF;
            event->gid = uid_gid >> 32;
            event->timestamp = bpf_ktime_get_ns();
            bpf_get_current_comm(event->comm, sizeof(event->comm));


            bpf_ringbuf_submit(event, 0);
        }
    }


    return 0;
}


char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";

The Future of eBPF in Security#

While eBPF has evolved over the past decade, it is revolutionizing security in ways that will define the next generation of cybersecurity solutions.

graph TB
    subgraph "Future eBPF Security Trends"
        subgraph "AI/ML Integration"
            AI1[Real-time ML Models] --> AI2[Behavioral Analytics]
            AI3[Anomaly Detection] --> AI4[Predictive Security]
        end


        subgraph "Cloud Native Security"
            CN1[Service Mesh Security] --> CN2[Zero Trust Networking]
            CN3[Multi-cloud Protection] --> CN4[Edge Security]
        end


        subgraph "Advanced Threat Detection"
            AT1[APT Detection] --> AT2[Supply Chain Security]
            AT3[Insider Threat Detection] --> AT4[Quantum-safe Security]
        end
    end


    style AI1 fill:#e1f5fe
    style CN1 fill:#f3e5f5
    style AT1 fill:#e8f5e8

Key Future Developments#

1. Enhanced AI/ML Integration#

  • Real-time machine learning models running in eBPF programs
  • Behavioral analysis for zero-day threat detection
  • Adaptive security policies based on learned patterns
  • Automated threat response with minimal latency

2. Cloud-Native Security Evolution#

  • Service mesh security with eBPF-powered micro-segmentation
  • Zero-trust networking implemented at the kernel level
  • Multi-cloud security with unified eBPF policies
  • Edge computing security for IoT and distributed systems

3. Advanced Threat Detection Capabilities#

  • Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) detection through long-term behavioral analysis
  • Supply chain security monitoring for software integrity
  • Insider threat detection using privilege and access analysis
  • Quantum-safe security preparations for post-quantum cryptography

Essential Skills for Security Professionals#

eBPF will be deployed in more security use cases, applications, and infrastructure in the coming years. It will be considered an essential skill for any security technologist.

As threats become more sophisticated and attacks become more frequent, tools like eBPF will be essential for detecting and mitigating potential risks.

Platform Expansion#

Windows eBPF Support#

Microsoft has been actively working on eBPF for Windows, extending security capabilities beyond Linux:

graph LR
    subgraph "Cross-Platform eBPF Security"
        Linux[Linux eBPF] --> Windows[Windows eBPF]
        Windows --> Hybrid[Hybrid Environments]
        Hybrid --> Universal[Universal Security Policies]
    end


    style Linux fill:#e8f5e8
    style Windows fill:#e1f5fe
    style Hybrid fill:#f3e5f5
    style Universal fill:#fff3e0

Container and Orchestration Integration#

  • Kubernetes native security policies
  • Docker security monitoring and enforcement
  • Service mesh integration (Istio, Linkerd)
  • Serverless security for AWS Lambda, Azure Functions

Performance and Scalability Advantages#

Low Overhead Security#

graph TB
    subgraph "eBPF vs Traditional Security Performance"
        subgraph "Traditional Security"
            T1[User-space Agents] --> T2[High CPU Usage]
            T3[Context Switching] --> T4[Memory Overhead]
            T5[Network Latency] --> T6[Scalability Issues]
        end


        subgraph "eBPF Security"
            E1[Kernel-space Execution] --> E2[Minimal CPU Impact]
            E3[No Context Switching] --> E4[Efficient Memory Usage]
            E5[Zero Network Latency] --> E6[Linear Scalability]
        end
    end


    style E1 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E2 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E3 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E4 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E5 fill:#c8e6c9
    style E6 fill:#c8e6c9
    style T1 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T2 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T3 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T4 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T5 fill:#ffcdd2
    style T6 fill:#ffcdd2

Performance Benefits#

  • Sub-microsecond latency for security decisions
  • < 1% CPU overhead for comprehensive monitoring
  • Zero network impact for local security processing
  • Linear scalability across cores and nodes

Industry Adoption and Ecosystem#

Major Security Vendors Using eBPF#

  • Falco: Runtime security monitoring
  • Cilium: Network security and observability
  • Tracee: Runtime security and forensics
  • Tetragon: Runtime enforcement and observability
  • Sysdig: Container and cloud security

Enterprise Integration#

graph TB
    subgraph "Enterprise eBPF Security Ecosystem"
        subgraph "SIEM Integration"
            S1[Splunk] --> S2[Elastic Security]
            S3[IBM QRadar] --> S4[Microsoft Sentinel]
        end


        subgraph "Cloud Platforms"
            C1[AWS Security Hub] --> C2[Azure Security Center]
            C3[Google Security Command Center] --> C4[Kubernetes Security]
        end


        subgraph "DevSecOps Tools"
            D1[GitLab Security] --> D2[GitHub Security]
            D3[Jenkins Security] --> D4[CI/CD Integration]
        end
    end


    style S1 fill:#e1f5fe
    style C1 fill:#f3e5f5
    style D1 fill:#e8f5e8

Continuous Security with eBPF#

Once workloads are deployed, they must be continuously secured. This is where eBPF truly shines:

Continuous Security Model#

graph LR
    subgraph "eBPF Continuous Security Cycle"
        CS1[Deploy] --> CS2[Monitor]
        CS2 --> CS3[Analyze]
        CS3 --> CS4[Respond]
        CS4 --> CS5[Adapt]
        CS5 --> CS1
    end


    style CS1 fill:#e1f5fe
    style CS2 fill:#f3e5f5
    style CS3 fill:#e8f5e8
    style CS4 fill:#fff3e0
    style CS5 fill:#f8bbd9

Key Capabilities#

  • Real-time threat detection without performance impact
  • Adaptive security policies that evolve with threats
  • Automated incident response at kernel speed
  • Continuous compliance monitoring with detailed audit trails
  • Zero-downtime security updates through dynamic program loading

Challenges and Considerations#

Technical Challenges#

  • Complexity: eBPF programming requires kernel knowledge
  • Debugging: Limited debugging tools for kernel-space programs
  • Portability: Kernel version compatibility issues
  • Resource Management: Memory and CPU constraints in kernel space

Security Considerations#

  • Privilege Requirements: Root access needed for program loading
  • Verifier Limitations: Some valid programs may be rejected
  • Side-channel Attacks: Potential for timing-based information leakage
  • Supply Chain Security: Ensuring eBPF program integrity

Getting Started with eBPF Security#

Learning Path#

  1. Understand Linux Kernel Basics

    • System calls and kernel architecture
    • Memory management and process management
    • Networking stack fundamentals

  2. Learn eBPF Fundamentals

    • BPF instruction set and verifier
    • Maps and helper functions
    • Program types and attachment points

  3. Security-Specific Knowledge

    • Security event types and sources
    • Threat detection methodologies
    • Incident response procedures

  4. Hands-on Practice

    • Build simple monitoring programs
    • Implement security policies
    • Integrate with existing security tools
  • BCC (BPF Compiler Collection): Python-based eBPF development
  • libbpf: C library for eBPF program management
  • bpftrace: High-level tracing language
  • Cilium: Network security and observability platform
  • Falco: Runtime security monitoring

Conclusion#

eBPF represents a paradigm shift in cybersecurity—from reactive, high-overhead security solutions to proactive, efficient, kernel-level protection. Originally developed as a simple packet filter, eBPF has evolved into a comprehensive security platform that is revolutionizing how we protect modern computing environments.

Key Takeaways#

  • Revolutionary Impact: eBPF is transforming security from evolution to revolution
  • Real-time Protection: Kernel-level security with minimal performance impact
  • Comprehensive Visibility: Deep observability into system and application behavior
  • Future-Ready: Essential technology for next-generation security solutions
  • Industry Standard: Becoming the de facto standard for modern security platforms

The Road Ahead#

As threats become more sophisticated, tools like eBPF will be essential for detecting and mitigating potential risks. The future of eBPF is promising, with new use cases emerging and continuous improvements in performance and functionality.

eBPF represents an exciting development in cybersecurity—one that is likely to have a significant impact in the years to come. Its ability to trace system activity in real-time has made it particularly valuable for identifying unusual behavior and potential attacks.

The question is not whether eBPF will become central to security—it already has. The question is how quickly organizations will adopt and integrate this revolutionary technology into their security strategies.

Learn More About eBPF Security#

Official Resources#

Training and Certification#

  • Getting Started with eBPF Lab - Hands-on learning environment
  • Linux Foundation eBPF Training - Comprehensive certification program
  • Cloud Native Security with eBPF - Specialized security courses

Community and Support#

  • eBPF Foundation - Industry consortium and governance
  • Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) - eBPF project hosting
  • Linux Kernel Community - Core development and support

Inspired by the original article by Steve Chambers on SJULTRA Blog

eBPF for Security: Evolution or Revolution?
https://mranv.pages.dev/posts/ebpf-security-evolution-or-revolution/
Author
Anubhav Gain
Published at
2025-08-17
License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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