+ mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous.patch added to mm-new branch

+ mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous.patch added to mm-new branch

[Andrew Morton]

The patch titled
     Subject: mm/vma: make MAP_PRIVATE-mapped /dev/zero mappings truly anonymous
has been added to the -mm mm-new branch.  Its filename is
     mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous.patch

This patch will shortly appear at
     https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/akpm/25-new.git/tree/patches/mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous.patch

This patch will later appear in the mm-new branch at
    git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/akpm/mm

Note, mm-new is a provisional staging ground for work-in-progress
patches, and acceptance into mm-new is a notification for others take
notice and to finish up reviews.  Please do not hesitate to respond to
review feedback and post updated versions to replace or incrementally
fixup patches in mm-new.

The mm-new branch of mm.git is not included in linux-next

If a few days of testing in mm-new is successful, the patch will me moved
into mm.git's mm-unstable branch, which is included in linux-next

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------------------------------------------------------
From: "Lorenzo Stoakes (ARM)" <ljs@kernel.org>
Subject: mm/vma: make MAP_PRIVATE-mapped /dev/zero mappings truly anonymous
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:38:39 +0100

When mapping /dev/zero with MAP_PRIVATE, one ends up with strange VMAs
originating from Linux's distant past.

These have vma->vm_file set but NULL vma->vm_ops, meaning they satisfy
vma_is_anonymous() but otherwise resemble a file-backed VMA.

The introduction of virtual page offsets and their subsequent use as
indexes for MAP_PRIVATE-file-backed mappings mean the rmap does the right
thing with these but we are left with inconsistencies.

The vma_start_pgoff(vma) == vma_start_virt_pgoff(vma) invariant is true
for all other anonymous VMAs, but not these.

These VMAs are also observable as files in /proc/<pid>/[s]maps but
otherwise behave like anonymous mappings.

Therefore let's make these VMAs actually anonymous at mapping time which
will activate the anonymous code path for mappings.

This means we no longer have to account for this discrepancy anywhere and
no longer have to think about these at all.

A previous commit gave us map_is_dev_zero() to positively identify these
mappings, so we expressly only do so for these alone.

The impact of this change should be low as likely very few are relying
upon this in any case, and in using them are asking for anonymous memory,
so no longer seeing these as file mappings in smaps should have no
meaningful impact.

Update assert_sane_pgoff(), the comment for vma_start_pgoff() and
linear_virt_page_index() to reflect the change.

We make this change in call_mmap_prepare() alone as /dev/zero has been
converted to an mmap_prepare hook and we do not permit nested MAP_PRIVATE
mapping of /dev/zero.

We also remove the now defunct vma_desc_set_anonymous() and eliminate the
temporary bisection hazard fix from the previous commit.

Also update the VMA userland tests to reflect the change.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/20260720-b4-scalable-cow-virt-pgoff-v2-13-2d549757a76f@kernel.org
Signed-off-by: Lorenzo Stoakes (ARM) <ljs@kernel.org>
Cc: Alistair Popple <apopple@nvidia.com>
Cc: Arnd Bergmann <arnd@arndb.de>
Cc: Baolin Wang <baolin.wang@linux.alibaba.com>
Cc: Barry Song <baohua@kernel.org>
Cc: Byungchul Park <byungchul@sk.com>
Cc: Chengming Zhou <chengming.zhou@linux.dev>
Cc: David Hildenbrand <david@kernel.org>
Cc: Dev Jain <dev.jain@arm.com>
Cc: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>
Cc: Gregory Price <gourry@gourry.net>
Cc: Harry Yoo <harry@kernel.org>
Cc: "Huang, Ying" <ying.huang@linux.alibaba.com>
Cc: Jan Kara <jack@suse.cz>
Cc: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>
Cc: Joshua Hahn <joshua.hahnjy@gmail.com>
Cc: Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>
Cc: Lance Yang <lance.yang@linux.dev>
Cc: Liam R. Howlett <liam@infradead.org>
Cc: Matthew Brost <matthew.brost@intel.com>
Cc: Matthew Wilcox (Oracle) <willy@infradead.org>
Cc: Miaohe Lin <linmiaohe@huawei.com>
Cc: Michal Hocko <mhocko@suse.com>
Cc: Mike Rapoport <rppt@kernel.org>
Cc: Naoya Horiguchi <nao.horiguchi@gmail.com>
Cc: Nico Pache <npache@redhat.com>
Cc: Pedro Falcato <pfalcato@suse.de>
Cc: Peter Xu <peterx@redhat.com>
Cc: Rakie Kim <rakie.kim@sk.com>
Cc: Rik van Riel <riel@surriel.com>
Cc: Ryan Roberts <ryan.roberts@arm.com>
Cc: Suren Baghdasaryan <surenb@google.com>
Cc: Vlastimil Babka <vbabka@kernel.org>
Cc: xu xin <xu.xin16@zte.com.cn>
Cc: Zi Yan <ziy@nvidia.com>
Signed-off-by: Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>
---

 include/linux/mm.h              |   10 ++--------
 include/linux/pagemap.h         |    3 +--
 mm/vma.c                        |   26 +++++++++++++++++---------
 mm/vma.h                        |    3 ---
 tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h |    3 +--
 5 files changed, 21 insertions(+), 24 deletions(-)

--- a/include/linux/mm.h~mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous
+++ a/include/linux/mm.h
@@ -1554,11 +1554,6 @@ static inline void vma_set_anonymous(str
 	vma->vm_ops = NULL;
 }
 
-static inline void vma_desc_set_anonymous(struct vm_area_desc *desc)
-{
-	desc->vm_ops = NULL;
-}
-
 static inline bool vma_is_anonymous(const struct vm_area_struct *vma)
 {
 	return !vma->vm_ops;
@@ -4352,9 +4347,8 @@ static inline unsigned long vma_pages(co
  * If @vma is a MAP_PRIVATE file-backed mapping, then this returns the
  * page offset within the file.
  *
- * Edge cases: nommu does not abide by these, MAP_PRIVATE-/dev/zero satisfies
- * vma_is_anonymous() but has file-backed page offset, and MAP_PRIVATE-pfnmap
- * regions have their page offset set to the first PFN in the range.
+ * Edge cases: nommu does not abide by these and CoW MAP_PRIVATE-pfnmap regions
+ * have their page offset set to the first PFN in the range.
  *
  * Returns: The page offset of the start of @vma.
  */
--- a/include/linux/pagemap.h~mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous
+++ a/include/linux/pagemap.h
@@ -1136,8 +1136,7 @@ static inline pgoff_t linear_virt_page_i
 	const pgoff_t pgoff = __linear_virt_page_index(vma, address);
 
 	VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(vma_test(vma, VMA_SHARED_BIT));
-	/* Account for MAP_PRIVATE-/dev/zero which is only semi-anonymous. */
-	if (vma_is_anonymous(vma) && !vma->vm_file)
+	if (vma_is_anonymous(vma))
 		VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(pgoff != linear_page_index(vma, address));
 
 	return pgoff;
--- a/mm/vma.c~mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous
+++ a/mm/vma.c
@@ -2622,6 +2622,13 @@ static bool map_is_dev_zero(const struct
 	return imajor(inode) == MEM_MAJOR && iminor(inode) == DEVZERO_MINOR;
 }
 
+static void map_set_anon(struct mmap_state *map)
+{
+	map->file = NULL;
+	map->vm_ops = NULL;
+	map->pgoff = map->addr >> PAGE_SHIFT;
+}
+
 static bool map_is_private(const struct mmap_state *map)
 {
 	return !vma_flags_test(&map->vma_flags, VMA_SHARED_BIT);
@@ -2629,10 +2636,7 @@ static bool map_is_private(const struct
 
 static bool map_is_anon(const struct mmap_state *map)
 {
-	if (!map_is_private(map))
-		return false;
-
-	return !map->file || map_is_dev_zero(map);
+	return map_is_private(map) && !map->file;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -2664,7 +2668,7 @@ static int __mmap_new_vma(struct mmap_st
 
 	vma_iter_config(vmi, map->addr, map->end);
 
-	if (is_anon && !map->file)
+	if (is_anon)
 		vma_set_anonymous(vma);
 
 	vma_set_range(vma, map->addr, map->end, map->pgoff, map->virt_pgoff);
@@ -2682,10 +2686,6 @@ static int __mmap_new_vma(struct mmap_st
 	else if (!is_anon)
 		error = shmem_zero_setup(vma);
 
-	/* Temporary MAP_PRIVATE-/dev/zero workaround. */
-	if (is_anon && map->file)
-		vma_set_anonymous(vma);
-
 	if (error)
 		goto free_iter_vma;
 
@@ -2814,6 +2814,14 @@ static int call_mmap_prepare(struct mmap
 	map->vm_ops = desc->vm_ops;
 	map->vm_private_data = desc->private_data;
 
+	/*
+	 * MAP_PRIVATE-/dev/zero mappings are an ancient way of getting
+	 * anonymous mappings. Rather than allowing these mappings to be odd
+	 * outliers, simply make them truly anonymous.
+	 */
+	if (map_is_private(map) && map_is_dev_zero(map))
+		map_set_anon(map);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
--- a/mm/vma.h~mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous
+++ a/mm/vma.h
@@ -267,9 +267,6 @@ static inline void assert_sane_pgoff(str
 	 */
 	if (!vma_is_anonymous(vma))
 		return;
-	/* MAP_PRIVATE-/dev/zero is anon, non-NULL vm_file, but has file pgoff. */
-	if (vma->vm_file)
-		return;
 	/* If faulted in, could have been remapped. */
 	if (vma->anon_vma)
 		return;
--- a/tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h~mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous
+++ a/tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h
@@ -1646,8 +1646,7 @@ static inline pgoff_t linear_virt_page_i
 	const pgoff_t pgoff = __linear_virt_page_index(vma, address);
 
 	VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(vma_test(vma, VMA_SHARED_BIT));
-	/* Account for MAP_PRIVATE-/dev/zero which is only semi-anonymous. */
-	if (vma_is_anonymous(vma) && !vma->vm_file)
+	if (vma_is_anonymous(vma))
 		VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(pgoff != linear_page_index(vma, address));
 
 	return pgoff;
_

Patches currently in -mm which might be from ljs@kernel.org are

mm-vmalloc-acquire-init_mm-lock-on-huge-vmap-to-avoid-ptdump-uaf.patch
x86-mm-pat-acquire-init_mm-write-lock-on-collapse-to-avoid-uaf.patch
x86-mm-pat-acquire-init_mm-read-lock-on-attribute-change-to-avoid-uaf.patch
mm-ptdump-always-stabilise-against-page-table-freeing-using-init_mm.patch
arm64-remove-redundant-concurrent-ptdump-uaf-mitigation.patch
mm-move-alloc-tag-to-mm.patch
mm-move-vma_start_pgoff-into-mmh-and-clean-up.patch
mm-add-kdoc-comments-for-vma_start-last_pgoff.patch
tools-testing-vma-use-vma_start_pgoff-in-merge-tests.patch
mm-introduce-and-use-vma_end_pgoff.patch
mm-rmap-update-mm-interval_treec-comments.patch
mm-rmap-parameterise-vma_interval_tree_-by-address_space.patch
mm-rmap-elide-unnecessary-static-inlines-in-interval_treec.patch
mm-rmap-rename-vma_interval_tree_-to-mapping_rmap_tree_.patch
mm-rmap-parameterise-anon_vma_interval_tree_-by-anon_vma.patch
mm-rmap-rename-anon_vma_interval_tree_-params-and-use-pgoff_t.patch
mm-rmap-rename-anon_vma_interval_tree_-to-anon_rmap_tree_.patch
maintainers-move-mm-interval_treec-to-rmap-section.patch
mm-vma-introduce-and-use-vmg_pages-vmg__pgoff.patch
mm-vma-clean-up-anon_vma_compatible.patch
mm-vma-refactor-vmg_adjust_set_range-for-clarity.patch
mm-vma-minor-cleanup-of-expand_.patch
mm-introduce-and-use-linear_page_delta.patch
mm-vma-use-vma_start_pgoff-linear_page_index-in-mm-code.patch
mm-prefer-vma__pgoff-to-vma-vm_pgoff-in-kernel.patch
mm-vma-remove-duplicative-vma_pgoff_offset-helper.patch
mm-use-linear_page_-consistently.patch
mm-vma-introduce-vma_assert_can_modify.patch
mm-vma-add-and-use-vma__pgoff.patch
mm-vma-move-__install_special_mapping-to-vmac.patch
mm-vma-make-vma_set_range-static-drop-insert_vm_struct-decl.patch
mm-vma-update-vma_shrink-to-not-pass-start-pgoff-parameters.patch
mm-vma-update-vmg_adjust_set_range-to-offset-pgoff-instead.patch
mm-vma-slightly-rework-the-anonymous-check-in-__mmap_new_vma.patch
mm-vma-introduce-and-use-vma_set_pgoff.patch
mm-vma-correct-incorrect-vmah-inclusion.patch
mm-vma-use-guard-clauses-in-can_vma_merge_.patch
tools-testing-vma-default-vma-mm-flag-bits-to-64-bit.patch
tools-testing-vma-output-compared-expression-on-assert_.patch
mm-introduce-vma_flags_can_grow-and-vma_can_grow.patch
mm-vma-update-do_mmap-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-convert-__get_unmapped_area-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-update-generic_get_unmapped_area-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-prefer-mm-def_vma_flags-in-mm-logic.patch
mm-vma-convert-vm_pgprot_modify-to-use-vma_flags_t-and-rename.patch
mm-vma-rename-vma_get_page_prot-to-vma_flags_to_page_prot.patch
mm-introduce-vma_get_page_prot-and-use-it.patch
mm-vma-update-create_init_stack_vma-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-vma-convert-miscellaneous-uses-of-vma-flags-in-core-mm.patch
mm-mlock-convert-mlock-code-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-mprotect-convert-mprotect-code-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-mremap-convert-mremap-code-to-use-vma_flags_t.patch
mm-mseal-remove-superfluous-comments-fix-confusion-around-mm.patch
mm-mseal-limit-scope-of-mseal-address-zero-to-address-zero.patch
mm-mseal-remove-further-superfluous-comments-do_mseal.patch
mm-vma-introduce-vma-virtual-page-offset-field-and-add-helpers.patch
mm-introduce-linear_virt_page_index.patch
mm-abstract-vma_address-and-introduce-vma_anon_address.patch
mm-update-print_bad_page_map-to-show-virtual-page-index.patch
mm-introduce-and-use-vma_filebacked_address.patch
mm-propagate-vma-virtual-page-offset-on-map-remap-split-merge.patch
mm-rmap-track-whether-the-page-vma-mapped-walk-is-anonymous.patch
mm-introduce-and-use-linear_folio_page_index.patch
mm-rmap-use-virt-pgoff-for-map_private-file-backed-anon-folios.patch
tools-testing-vma-expand-vma-merge-tests-to-assert-virt-pgoff.patch
tools-testing-selftests-mm-test-virtual-page-offset-merge-behaviour.patch
mm-vma-only-permit-map_private-dev-zero-to-be-mapped-anonymous.patch
mm-vma-make-map_private-mapped-dev-zero-mappings-truly-anonymous.patch
tools-testing-vma-add-test-to-assert-map_private-dev-zero-is-anon.patch
tools-testing-selftests-mm-add-map_private-dev-zero-merge-tests.patch