From: Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>
To: Bill Wendling <morbo@google.com>
Cc: Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>, Steven Rostedt <rostedt@goodmis.org>,
Andy Shevchenko <andriy.shevchenko@linux.intel.com>,
Petr Mladek <pmladek@suse.com>,
"Matthew Wilcox (Oracle)" <willy@infradead.org>,
Shuvam Pandey <shuvampandey1@gmail.com>,
David Gow <david@davidgow.net>,
Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>,
linux-hardening@vger.kernel.org
Subject: [PATCH 4/7] seq_buf: Add seq_buf_strlen()
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:23:16 -0700 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260917002333.2306346-4-kees@kernel.org> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260917002312.i.923-kees@kernel.org>
seq_buf_used() is not the length of the string in a seq_buf. Once the
buffer is full or has overflowed it returns the buffer size, which
counts the byte that seq_buf_str() replaces with the NUL, so a caller
that needs the string and its length has to call seq_buf_str() and then
walk the string with strlen().
Move the termination out of seq_buf_str() into a helper that returns
where it put the NUL, and add seq_buf_strlen(), which terminates the
buffer in the same way and returns that offset.
Add tests comparing seq_buf_strlen() against strlen() of seq_buf_str()
for empty, appended, truncated, exactly full, and overflowed buffers,
and checking that seq_buf_strlen() alone terminates a full buffer.
Tests passed under qemu on ARCH=x86_64 with GCC 16.2.0 and CONFIG_KASAN=y,
and on big-endian ARCH=s390 with GCC s390x-linux-gnu 16.1.0.
Assisted-by: LLM
Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>
---
Cc: Steven Rostedt <rostedt@goodmis.org>
Cc: Andy Shevchenko <andriy.shevchenko@linux.intel.com>
Cc: Petr Mladek <pmladek@suse.com>
Cc: "Matthew Wilcox (Oracle)" <willy@infradead.org>
Cc: Shuvam Pandey <shuvampandey1@gmail.com>
Cc: David Gow <david@davidgow.net>
Cc: Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>
---
include/linux/seq_buf.h | 55 ++++++++++++++++++++---
lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c | 94 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2 files changed, 144 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
diff --git a/include/linux/seq_buf.h b/include/linux/seq_buf.h
index 0c0a0db04b09..45e7a6b4ca6f 100644
--- a/include/linux/seq_buf.h
+++ b/include/linux/seq_buf.h
@@ -89,6 +89,27 @@ static inline unsigned int seq_buf_used(struct seq_buf *s)
return min(s->len, s->size);
}
+/*
+ * NUL-terminate the buffer in @s: directly after the data when there is
+ * room for it, otherwise in the last byte of the buffer. @s->size must not
+ * be zero.
+ *
+ * Returns: the offset of the NUL.
+ */
+static inline size_t __seq_buf_terminate(struct seq_buf *s)
+{
+ size_t end;
+
+ if (seq_buf_buffer_left(s))
+ end = s->len;
+ else
+ end = s->size - 1;
+
+ s->buffer[end] = 0;
+
+ return end;
+}
+
/**
* seq_buf_str - get NUL-terminated C string from seq_buf
* @s: the seq_buf handle
@@ -98,7 +119,9 @@ static inline unsigned int seq_buf_used(struct seq_buf *s)
*
* Note, if this is called when the buffer has overflowed, then
* the last byte of the buffer is zeroed, and the len will still
- * point passed it.
+ * point passed it. The same happens when the buffer is exactly
+ * full: the NUL takes the place of the last byte written, which is
+ * lost, though seq_buf_used() still counts it.
*
* After this function is called, s->buffer is safe to use
* in string operations.
@@ -110,14 +133,36 @@ static inline const char *seq_buf_str(struct seq_buf *s)
if (WARN_ON(s->size == 0))
return "";
- if (seq_buf_buffer_left(s))
- s->buffer[s->len] = 0;
- else
- s->buffer[s->size - 1] = 0;
+ __seq_buf_terminate(s);
return s->buffer;
}
+/**
+ * seq_buf_strlen - get the length of the NUL-terminated C string in seq_buf
+ * @s: the seq_buf handle
+ *
+ * This makes sure that the buffer in @s is NUL-terminated, exactly as
+ * seq_buf_str() does, and returns the length of the resulting string
+ * without walking it. Unlike seq_buf_used(), this does not count the byte
+ * given up to the NUL when the buffer is full or has overflowed. When the
+ * buffer is exactly full, that byte is the last one written, and calling
+ * either function loses it.
+ *
+ * After this function is called, s->buffer is safe to use
+ * in string operations.
+ *
+ * Returns: the offset of the NUL in @s->buffer, which is the length of the
+ * string unless the data written to @s itself contains a NUL.
+ */
+static inline size_t seq_buf_strlen(struct seq_buf *s)
+{
+ if (WARN_ON(s->size == 0))
+ return 0;
+
+ return __seq_buf_terminate(s);
+}
+
/**
* seq_buf_get_buf - get buffer to write arbitrary data to
* @s: the seq_buf handle
diff --git a/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c b/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c
index 94fe928d537e..2b8cacf000cb 100644
--- a/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c
+++ b/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c
@@ -341,6 +341,96 @@ static void seq_buf_path_overflow_test(struct kunit *test)
KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), expected);
}
+static void seq_buf_strlen_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 0);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "");
+
+ seq_buf_puts(&s, "hello");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 5);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ seq_buf_printf(&s, " %s", "world");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 11);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+}
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_printf_overflow_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(t, 8);
+
+ seq_buf_printf(&s, "%s", "1234567890abcdefghij");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&s), 16);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 15);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "1234567890abcde");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ /* Output one byte too long for the NUL. */
+ seq_buf_printf(&t, "%s", "12345678");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&t));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&t), 8);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), 7);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&t), "1234567");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), strlen(seq_buf_str(&t)));
+}
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_full_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 4);
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(t, 8);
+ char *buf;
+ size_t len;
+
+ /* Filled exactly, with no room left for a NUL, but not overflowed. */
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'a');
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'b');
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'c');
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'd');
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_FALSE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&s), 4);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 3);
+ /* seq_buf_strlen() terminates the buffer by itself. */
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, s.buffer[3], '\0');
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, strnlen(s.buffer, s.size), 3);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "abc");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ /* A printf into a full buffer writes nothing. */
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_printf(&s, "%s", "x"), -1);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 3);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "abc");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ len = seq_buf_get_buf(&t, &buf);
+ KUNIT_ASSERT_EQ(test, len, 8);
+ memset(buf, 'z', len);
+ seq_buf_commit(&t, len);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_FALSE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&t));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), 7);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, t.buffer[7], '\0');
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, strnlen(t.buffer, t.size), 7);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&t), "zzzzzzz");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), strlen(seq_buf_str(&t)));
+}
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_puts_overflow_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+
+ /* A puts that does not fit copies as much as fits. */
+ seq_buf_puts(&s, "hello");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_puts(&s, " this does not fit"), -1);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 15);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "hello this does");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+}
+
static struct kunit_case seq_buf_test_cases[] = {
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_init_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_declare_test),
@@ -357,6 +447,10 @@ static struct kunit_case seq_buf_test_cases[] = {
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_puts_partial_overflow_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_putmem_hex_partial_overflow_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_path_overflow_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_printf_overflow_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_full_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_puts_overflow_test),
{}
};
--
2.34.1
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-09-17 0:23 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 14+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-09-17 0:23 [PATCH 0/7] seq_buf: Add seq_buf_strlen() Kees Cook
2026-09-17 0:23 ` [PATCH 1/7] seq_buf: Do not pop from an overflowed seq_buf Kees Cook
2026-09-17 0:23 ` [PATCH 2/7] seq_buf: Copy what fits when seq_buf_puts() and seq_buf_putmem() overflow Kees Cook
2026-09-17 0:23 ` [PATCH 3/7] seq_buf: Clear what a writer did not claim when a seq_buf overflows Kees Cook
2026-09-17 0:23 ` Kees Cook [this message]
2026-09-17 0:23 ` [PATCH 5/7] seq_buf: Use seq_buf_strlen() for the string end in seq_buf_do_printk() Kees Cook
2026-09-17 0:23 ` [PATCH 6/7] powerpc/papr_scm: Return the string length from the sysfs show functions Kees Cook
2026-09-17 12:50 ` Andy Shevchenko
2026-09-17 21:19 ` Kees Cook
2026-09-17 0:23 ` [PATCH 7/7] nvdimm: ndtest: Return the string length from flags_show() Kees Cook
2026-09-18 3:24 ` Dave Jiang
2026-09-17 12:51 ` [PATCH 0/7] seq_buf: Add seq_buf_strlen() Andy Shevchenko
2026-09-17 21:21 ` Kees Cook
2026-09-18 7:45 ` Steven Rostedt
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