What is the purpose of the SELinux feature in RHEL?

The SELinux feature in RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) is specifically designed to enforce mandatory access control (MAC). This means it provides a robust framework for defining and enforcing security policies that restrict how processes and users can access resources on the system. By implementing strict access controls, SELinux enhances the overall security posture of the operating system.

Mandatory access control differs from discretionary access control (DAC) in that, with DAC, a user can modify access rights to their resources, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities. In contrast, SELinux policies are enforced system-wide and cannot be bypassed by individual users or processes, thus providing a higher level of security.

Administrators can configure SELinux to operate in different modes, such as enforcing, permissive, or disabled, which gives them flexibility in how they apply security policies based on their particular environment and operational needs. This feature is crucial for protecting sensitive information and maintaining system integrity, especially in environments that require compliance with regulatory standards.