2021-09-14 15:29:50

by Amit Kachhap

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: [PATCH] arm64/traps: Avoid unnecessary kernel/user pointer conversion

Annotating a pointer from kernel to __user and then back again might
confuse sparse. In call_undef_hook() it can be avoided by not using the
intermediate user pointer variable.

Note: This patch adds no functional changes to code.

Cc: Catalin Marinas <[email protected]>
Cc: Will Deacon <[email protected]>
Signed-off-by: Amit Daniel Kachhap <[email protected]>
---
arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c | 3 ++-
1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c b/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
index b03e383d944a..357d10a8bbf5 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
+++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
@@ -404,7 +404,8 @@ static int call_undef_hook(struct pt_regs *regs)

if (!user_mode(regs)) {
__le32 instr_le;
- if (get_kernel_nofault(instr_le, (__force __le32 *)pc))
+ if (get_kernel_nofault(instr_le,
+ (__le32 *)instruction_pointer(regs)))
goto exit;
instr = le32_to_cpu(instr_le);
} else if (compat_thumb_mode(regs)) {
--
2.17.1


2021-09-14 16:03:28

by Mark Rutland

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] arm64/traps: Avoid unnecessary kernel/user pointer conversion

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 08:57:42PM +0530, Amit Daniel Kachhap wrote:
> Annotating a pointer from kernel to __user and then back again might
> confuse sparse. In call_undef_hook() it can be avoided by not using the
> intermediate user pointer variable.

When you say "might confuse sparse", does it complain today? If so, can
you include an example of what goes wrong?

> Note: This patch adds no functional changes to code.
>
> Cc: Catalin Marinas <[email protected]>
> Cc: Will Deacon <[email protected]>
> Signed-off-by: Amit Daniel Kachhap <[email protected]>
> ---
> arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c | 3 ++-
> 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>
> diff --git a/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c b/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
> index b03e383d944a..357d10a8bbf5 100644
> --- a/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
> +++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
> @@ -404,7 +404,8 @@ static int call_undef_hook(struct pt_regs *regs)
>
> if (!user_mode(regs)) {
> __le32 instr_le;
> - if (get_kernel_nofault(instr_le, (__force __le32 *)pc))
> + if (get_kernel_nofault(instr_le,
> + (__le32 *)instruction_pointer(regs)))

Can we make `pc` an unsigned long, instead?

It'd be nice to handle all three cases consistently, even if that means
adding __force to the two user cases.

Thanks,
Mark.

> goto exit;
> instr = le32_to_cpu(instr_le);
> } else if (compat_thumb_mode(regs)) {
> --
> 2.17.1
>

2021-09-15 14:00:03

by Amit Kachhap

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH] arm64/traps: Avoid unnecessary kernel/user pointer conversion

Hi,

On 9/14/21 9:30 PM, Mark Rutland wrote:
> On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 08:57:42PM +0530, Amit Daniel Kachhap wrote:
>> Annotating a pointer from kernel to __user and then back again might
>> confuse sparse. In call_undef_hook() it can be avoided by not using the
>> intermediate user pointer variable.
>
> When you say "might confuse sparse", does it complain today? If so, can
> you include an example of what goes wrong?

No it does not give warning. The __force option silences the warning. My
idea is to remove the unwanted __force annotations and not mix user and
kernel pointers.

>
>> Note: This patch adds no functional changes to code.
>>
>> Cc: Catalin Marinas <[email protected]>
>> Cc: Will Deacon <[email protected]>
>> Signed-off-by: Amit Daniel Kachhap <[email protected]>
>> ---
>> arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c | 3 ++-
>> 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>>
>> diff --git a/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c b/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
>> index b03e383d944a..357d10a8bbf5 100644
>> --- a/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
>> +++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/traps.c
>> @@ -404,7 +404,8 @@ static int call_undef_hook(struct pt_regs *regs)
>>
>> if (!user_mode(regs)) {
>> __le32 instr_le;
>> - if (get_kernel_nofault(instr_le, (__force __le32 *)pc))
>> + if (get_kernel_nofault(instr_le,
>> + (__le32 *)instruction_pointer(regs)))
>
> Can we make `pc` an unsigned long, instead?

I think it can be done.

>
> It'd be nice to handle all three cases consistently, even if that means
> adding __force to the two user cases.

Agree with your suggestion. Even in the 2 user cases, __force may not be
needed as the typecast will be from from unsigned long to user pointer.

BR,
Amit
>
> Thanks,
> Mark.
>
>> goto exit;
>> instr = le32_to_cpu(instr_le);
>> } else if (compat_thumb_mode(regs)) {
>> --
>> 2.17.1
>>