2021-04-19 16:17:58

by Florent Revest

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: [PATCH bpf-next v5 2/6] bpf: Add a ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR argument type

This type provides the guarantee that an argument is going to be a const
pointer to somewhere in a read-only map value. It also checks that this
pointer is followed by a zero character before the end of the map value.

Signed-off-by: Florent Revest <[email protected]>
Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <[email protected]>
---
include/linux/bpf.h | 1 +
kernel/bpf/verifier.c | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2 files changed, 42 insertions(+)

diff --git a/include/linux/bpf.h b/include/linux/bpf.h
index 77d1d8c65b81..c160526fc8bf 100644
--- a/include/linux/bpf.h
+++ b/include/linux/bpf.h
@@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ enum bpf_arg_type {
ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID, /* pointer to in-kernel percpu type */
ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC, /* pointer to a bpf program function */
ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL, /* pointer to stack or NULL */
+ ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR, /* pointer to a null terminated read-only string */
__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX,
};

diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index 852541a435ef..5f46dd6f3383 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -4787,6 +4787,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types spin_lock_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALU
static const struct bpf_reg_types percpu_btf_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID } };
static const struct bpf_reg_types func_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_FUNC } };
static const struct bpf_reg_types stack_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_STACK } };
+static const struct bpf_reg_types const_str_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE } };

static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
[ARG_PTR_TO_MAP_KEY] = &map_key_value_types,
@@ -4817,6 +4818,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
[ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID] = &percpu_btf_ptr_types,
[ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC] = &func_ptr_types,
[ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL] = &stack_ptr_types,
+ [ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR] = &const_str_ptr_types,
};

static int check_reg_type(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 regno,
@@ -5067,6 +5069,45 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
if (err)
return err;
err = check_ptr_alignment(env, reg, 0, size, true);
+ } else if (arg_type == ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR) {
+ struct bpf_map *map = reg->map_ptr;
+ int map_off;
+ u64 map_addr;
+ char *str_ptr;
+
+ if (reg->type != PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE || !map ||
+ !bpf_map_is_rdonly(map)) {
+ verbose(env, "R%d does not point to a readonly map'\n", regno);
+ return -EACCES;
+ }
+
+ if (!tnum_is_const(reg->var_off)) {
+ verbose(env, "R%d is not a constant address'\n", regno);
+ return -EACCES;
+ }
+
+ if (!map->ops->map_direct_value_addr) {
+ verbose(env, "no direct value access support for this map type\n");
+ return -EACCES;
+ }
+
+ err = check_map_access(env, regno, reg->off,
+ map->value_size - reg->off, false);
+ if (err)
+ return err;
+
+ map_off = reg->off + reg->var_off.value;
+ err = map->ops->map_direct_value_addr(map, &map_addr, map_off);
+ if (err) {
+ verbose(env, "direct value access on string failed\n");
+ return err;
+ }
+
+ str_ptr = (char *)(long)(map_addr);
+ if (!strnchr(str_ptr + map_off, map->value_size - map_off, 0)) {
+ verbose(env, "string is not zero-terminated\n");
+ return -EINVAL;
+ }
}

return err;
--
2.31.1.368.gbe11c130af-goog


2021-04-19 22:56:37

by Alexei Starovoitov

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH bpf-next v5 2/6] bpf: Add a ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR argument type

On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 05:52:39PM +0200, Florent Revest wrote:
> This type provides the guarantee that an argument is going to be a const
> pointer to somewhere in a read-only map value. It also checks that this
> pointer is followed by a zero character before the end of the map value.
>
> Signed-off-by: Florent Revest <[email protected]>
> Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <[email protected]>
> ---
> include/linux/bpf.h | 1 +
> kernel/bpf/verifier.c | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> 2 files changed, 42 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/include/linux/bpf.h b/include/linux/bpf.h
> index 77d1d8c65b81..c160526fc8bf 100644
> --- a/include/linux/bpf.h
> +++ b/include/linux/bpf.h
> @@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ enum bpf_arg_type {
> ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID, /* pointer to in-kernel percpu type */
> ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC, /* pointer to a bpf program function */
> ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL, /* pointer to stack or NULL */
> + ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR, /* pointer to a null terminated read-only string */
> __BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX,
> };
>
> diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> index 852541a435ef..5f46dd6f3383 100644
> --- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> +++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> @@ -4787,6 +4787,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types spin_lock_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALU
> static const struct bpf_reg_types percpu_btf_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID } };
> static const struct bpf_reg_types func_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_FUNC } };
> static const struct bpf_reg_types stack_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_STACK } };
> +static const struct bpf_reg_types const_str_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE } };
>
> static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> [ARG_PTR_TO_MAP_KEY] = &map_key_value_types,
> @@ -4817,6 +4818,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> [ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID] = &percpu_btf_ptr_types,
> [ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC] = &func_ptr_types,
> [ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL] = &stack_ptr_types,
> + [ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR] = &const_str_ptr_types,
> };
>
> static int check_reg_type(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 regno,
> @@ -5067,6 +5069,45 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
> if (err)
> return err;
> err = check_ptr_alignment(env, reg, 0, size, true);
> + } else if (arg_type == ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR) {
> + struct bpf_map *map = reg->map_ptr;
> + int map_off;
> + u64 map_addr;
> + char *str_ptr;
> +
> + if (reg->type != PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE || !map ||

I think the 'type' check is redundant,
since check_reg_type() did it via compatible_reg_types.
If so it's probably better to remove it here ?

'!map' looks unnecessary. Can it ever happen? If yes, it's a verifier bug.
For example in check_mem_access() we just deref reg->map_ptr without checking
which, I think, is correct.

> + !bpf_map_is_rdonly(map)) {

This check is needed, of course.

> + verbose(env, "R%d does not point to a readonly map'\n", regno);
> + return -EACCES;
> + }
> +
> + if (!tnum_is_const(reg->var_off)) {
> + verbose(env, "R%d is not a constant address'\n", regno);
> + return -EACCES;
> + }
> +
> + if (!map->ops->map_direct_value_addr) {
> + verbose(env, "no direct value access support for this map type\n");
> + return -EACCES;
> + }
> +
> + err = check_map_access(env, regno, reg->off,
> + map->value_size - reg->off, false);
> + if (err)
> + return err;
> +
> + map_off = reg->off + reg->var_off.value;
> + err = map->ops->map_direct_value_addr(map, &map_addr, map_off);
> + if (err) {

since the code checks it here the same check in check_bpf_snprintf_call() should
probably do:
if (err) {
verbose("verifier bug\n");
return -EFAULT;
}

instead of just "return err;"
?

> + verbose(env, "direct value access on string failed\n");

I think the message doesn't tell users much, but they probably should never
see it unless they try to do lookup from readonly array with
more than one element.
So I guess it's fine to keep this one as-is. Just flagging.

Anyway the whole set looks great, so I've applied to bpf-next.
Thanks!

2021-04-20 12:36:55

by Florent Revest

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH bpf-next v5 2/6] bpf: Add a ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR argument type

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 12:54 AM Alexei Starovoitov
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 05:52:39PM +0200, Florent Revest wrote:
> > This type provides the guarantee that an argument is going to be a const
> > pointer to somewhere in a read-only map value. It also checks that this
> > pointer is followed by a zero character before the end of the map value.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Florent Revest <[email protected]>
> > Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <[email protected]>
> > ---
> > include/linux/bpf.h | 1 +
> > kernel/bpf/verifier.c | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > 2 files changed, 42 insertions(+)
> >
> > diff --git a/include/linux/bpf.h b/include/linux/bpf.h
> > index 77d1d8c65b81..c160526fc8bf 100644
> > --- a/include/linux/bpf.h
> > +++ b/include/linux/bpf.h
> > @@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ enum bpf_arg_type {
> > ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID, /* pointer to in-kernel percpu type */
> > ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC, /* pointer to a bpf program function */
> > ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL, /* pointer to stack or NULL */
> > + ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR, /* pointer to a null terminated read-only string */
> > __BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX,
> > };
> >
> > diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > index 852541a435ef..5f46dd6f3383 100644
> > --- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > +++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > @@ -4787,6 +4787,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types spin_lock_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALU
> > static const struct bpf_reg_types percpu_btf_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID } };
> > static const struct bpf_reg_types func_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_FUNC } };
> > static const struct bpf_reg_types stack_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_STACK } };
> > +static const struct bpf_reg_types const_str_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE } };
> >
> > static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> > [ARG_PTR_TO_MAP_KEY] = &map_key_value_types,
> > @@ -4817,6 +4818,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> > [ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID] = &percpu_btf_ptr_types,
> > [ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC] = &func_ptr_types,
> > [ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL] = &stack_ptr_types,
> > + [ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR] = &const_str_ptr_types,
> > };
> >
> > static int check_reg_type(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 regno,
> > @@ -5067,6 +5069,45 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
> > if (err)
> > return err;
> > err = check_ptr_alignment(env, reg, 0, size, true);
> > + } else if (arg_type == ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR) {
> > + struct bpf_map *map = reg->map_ptr;
> > + int map_off;
> > + u64 map_addr;
> > + char *str_ptr;
> > +
> > + if (reg->type != PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE || !map ||
>
> I think the 'type' check is redundant,
> since check_reg_type() did it via compatible_reg_types.
> If so it's probably better to remove it here ?
>
> '!map' looks unnecessary. Can it ever happen? If yes, it's a verifier bug.
> For example in check_mem_access() we just deref reg->map_ptr without checking
> which, I think, is correct.

I agree with all of the above. I only thought it's better to be safe
than sorry but if you'd like I could follow up with a patch that
removes some checks?

> > + !bpf_map_is_rdonly(map)) {
>
> This check is needed, of course.
>
> > + verbose(env, "R%d does not point to a readonly map'\n", regno);
> > + return -EACCES;
> > + }
> > +
> > + if (!tnum_is_const(reg->var_off)) {
> > + verbose(env, "R%d is not a constant address'\n", regno);
> > + return -EACCES;
> > + }
> > +
> > + if (!map->ops->map_direct_value_addr) {
> > + verbose(env, "no direct value access support for this map type\n");
> > + return -EACCES;
> > + }
> > +
> > + err = check_map_access(env, regno, reg->off,
> > + map->value_size - reg->off, false);
> > + if (err)
> > + return err;
> > +
> > + map_off = reg->off + reg->var_off.value;
> > + err = map->ops->map_direct_value_addr(map, &map_addr, map_off);
> > + if (err) {
>
> since the code checks it here the same check in check_bpf_snprintf_call() should
> probably do:
> if (err) {
> verbose("verifier bug\n");
> return -EFAULT;
> }
>
> instead of just "return err;"
> ?

Sure, does not hurt. I can also follow up with a patch unless if you
prefer doing it yourself.

> > + verbose(env, "direct value access on string failed\n");
>
> I think the message doesn't tell users much, but they probably should never
> see it unless they try to do lookup from readonly array with
> more than one element.
> So I guess it's fine to keep this one as-is. Just flagging.

Ack

> Anyway the whole set looks great, so I've applied to bpf-next.
> Thanks!

Thank you :D

2021-04-20 15:25:01

by Alexei Starovoitov

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH bpf-next v5 2/6] bpf: Add a ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR argument type

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 5:35 AM Florent Revest <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 12:54 AM Alexei Starovoitov
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 05:52:39PM +0200, Florent Revest wrote:
> > > This type provides the guarantee that an argument is going to be a const
> > > pointer to somewhere in a read-only map value. It also checks that this
> > > pointer is followed by a zero character before the end of the map value.
> > >
> > > Signed-off-by: Florent Revest <[email protected]>
> > > Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <[email protected]>
> > > ---
> > > include/linux/bpf.h | 1 +
> > > kernel/bpf/verifier.c | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > > 2 files changed, 42 insertions(+)
> > >
> > > diff --git a/include/linux/bpf.h b/include/linux/bpf.h
> > > index 77d1d8c65b81..c160526fc8bf 100644
> > > --- a/include/linux/bpf.h
> > > +++ b/include/linux/bpf.h
> > > @@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ enum bpf_arg_type {
> > > ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID, /* pointer to in-kernel percpu type */
> > > ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC, /* pointer to a bpf program function */
> > > ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL, /* pointer to stack or NULL */
> > > + ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR, /* pointer to a null terminated read-only string */
> > > __BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX,
> > > };
> > >
> > > diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > > index 852541a435ef..5f46dd6f3383 100644
> > > --- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > > +++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > > @@ -4787,6 +4787,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types spin_lock_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALU
> > > static const struct bpf_reg_types percpu_btf_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID } };
> > > static const struct bpf_reg_types func_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_FUNC } };
> > > static const struct bpf_reg_types stack_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_STACK } };
> > > +static const struct bpf_reg_types const_str_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE } };
> > >
> > > static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> > > [ARG_PTR_TO_MAP_KEY] = &map_key_value_types,
> > > @@ -4817,6 +4818,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> > > [ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID] = &percpu_btf_ptr_types,
> > > [ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC] = &func_ptr_types,
> > > [ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL] = &stack_ptr_types,
> > > + [ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR] = &const_str_ptr_types,
> > > };
> > >
> > > static int check_reg_type(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 regno,
> > > @@ -5067,6 +5069,45 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
> > > if (err)
> > > return err;
> > > err = check_ptr_alignment(env, reg, 0, size, true);
> > > + } else if (arg_type == ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR) {
> > > + struct bpf_map *map = reg->map_ptr;
> > > + int map_off;
> > > + u64 map_addr;
> > > + char *str_ptr;
> > > +
> > > + if (reg->type != PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE || !map ||
> >
> > I think the 'type' check is redundant,
> > since check_reg_type() did it via compatible_reg_types.
> > If so it's probably better to remove it here ?
> >
> > '!map' looks unnecessary. Can it ever happen? If yes, it's a verifier bug.
> > For example in check_mem_access() we just deref reg->map_ptr without checking
> > which, I think, is correct.
>
> I agree with all of the above. I only thought it's better to be safe
> than sorry but if you'd like I could follow up with a patch that
> removes some checks?
...
> Sure, does not hurt. I can also follow up with a patch unless if you
> prefer doing it yourself.

Please send a follow up patch.
I consider this kind of "safe than sorry" to be defensive programming that
promotes less-thinking-is-fine-because-its-faster-to-code style.
I'm sure you've seen my rants against defensive programming in the past :)

2021-04-22 08:45:04

by Florent Revest

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: [PATCH bpf-next v5 2/6] bpf: Add a ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR argument type

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 5:23 PM Alexei Starovoitov
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 5:35 AM Florent Revest <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 12:54 AM Alexei Starovoitov
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > On Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 05:52:39PM +0200, Florent Revest wrote:
> > > > This type provides the guarantee that an argument is going to be a const
> > > > pointer to somewhere in a read-only map value. It also checks that this
> > > > pointer is followed by a zero character before the end of the map value.
> > > >
> > > > Signed-off-by: Florent Revest <[email protected]>
> > > > Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <[email protected]>
> > > > ---
> > > > include/linux/bpf.h | 1 +
> > > > kernel/bpf/verifier.c | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > > > 2 files changed, 42 insertions(+)
> > > >
> > > > diff --git a/include/linux/bpf.h b/include/linux/bpf.h
> > > > index 77d1d8c65b81..c160526fc8bf 100644
> > > > --- a/include/linux/bpf.h
> > > > +++ b/include/linux/bpf.h
> > > > @@ -309,6 +309,7 @@ enum bpf_arg_type {
> > > > ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID, /* pointer to in-kernel percpu type */
> > > > ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC, /* pointer to a bpf program function */
> > > > ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL, /* pointer to stack or NULL */
> > > > + ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR, /* pointer to a null terminated read-only string */
> > > > __BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX,
> > > > };
> > > >
> > > > diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > > > index 852541a435ef..5f46dd6f3383 100644
> > > > --- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > > > +++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
> > > > @@ -4787,6 +4787,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types spin_lock_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALU
> > > > static const struct bpf_reg_types percpu_btf_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID } };
> > > > static const struct bpf_reg_types func_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_FUNC } };
> > > > static const struct bpf_reg_types stack_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_STACK } };
> > > > +static const struct bpf_reg_types const_str_ptr_types = { .types = { PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE } };
> > > >
> > > > static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> > > > [ARG_PTR_TO_MAP_KEY] = &map_key_value_types,
> > > > @@ -4817,6 +4818,7 @@ static const struct bpf_reg_types *compatible_reg_types[__BPF_ARG_TYPE_MAX] = {
> > > > [ARG_PTR_TO_PERCPU_BTF_ID] = &percpu_btf_ptr_types,
> > > > [ARG_PTR_TO_FUNC] = &func_ptr_types,
> > > > [ARG_PTR_TO_STACK_OR_NULL] = &stack_ptr_types,
> > > > + [ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR] = &const_str_ptr_types,
> > > > };
> > > >
> > > > static int check_reg_type(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 regno,
> > > > @@ -5067,6 +5069,45 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
> > > > if (err)
> > > > return err;
> > > > err = check_ptr_alignment(env, reg, 0, size, true);
> > > > + } else if (arg_type == ARG_PTR_TO_CONST_STR) {
> > > > + struct bpf_map *map = reg->map_ptr;
> > > > + int map_off;
> > > > + u64 map_addr;
> > > > + char *str_ptr;
> > > > +
> > > > + if (reg->type != PTR_TO_MAP_VALUE || !map ||
> > >
> > > I think the 'type' check is redundant,
> > > since check_reg_type() did it via compatible_reg_types.
> > > If so it's probably better to remove it here ?
> > >
> > > '!map' looks unnecessary. Can it ever happen? If yes, it's a verifier bug.
> > > For example in check_mem_access() we just deref reg->map_ptr without checking
> > > which, I think, is correct.
> >
> > I agree with all of the above. I only thought it's better to be safe
> > than sorry but if you'd like I could follow up with a patch that
> > removes some checks?
> ...
> > Sure, does not hurt. I can also follow up with a patch unless if you
> > prefer doing it yourself.
>
> Please send a follow up patch.

Okay, doing that today :)

> I consider this kind of "safe than sorry" to be defensive programming that
> promotes less-thinking-is-fine-because-its-faster-to-code style.

Fair

> I'm sure you've seen my rants against defensive programming in the past :)

Ahah, I haven't yet but I surely don't want to make you rant again ;)