From: Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi <memxor@gmail.com>
To: bpf@vger.kernel.org
Cc: Alexei Starovoitov <ast@kernel.org>,
Andrii Nakryiko <andrii@kernel.org>,
Daniel Borkmann <daniel@iogearbox.net>,
Eduard Zingerman <eddyz87@gmail.com>,
Emil Tsalapatis <emil@etsalapatis.com>,
kkd@meta.com, kernel-team@meta.com
Subject: [PATCH bpf-next v4 09/16] bpf: Report Memory Safety bounds errors
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2026 01:33:12 +0200 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260812233326.3575958-10-memxor@gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260812233326.3575958-1-memxor@gmail.com>
Augment selected memory-range verifier failures with Memory Safety reports
while preserving the existing terse verifier messages for compatibility.
Cover stack spill corruption, uninitialized stack reads, variable stack helper
accesses, and check_mem_region_access() range-proof failures. The bounds report
spells out the required offset + access_size <= object_size proof with concrete
values and uses scoped diagnostic history for causal context.
Signed-off-by: Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi <memxor@gmail.com>
---
kernel/bpf/diagnostics.c | 75 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
kernel/bpf/diagnostics.h | 6 +++
kernel/bpf/verifier.c | 85 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----
3 files changed, 157 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.c b/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.c
index 53529475b0ec..66b5ac451108 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
#include <linux/kernel.h>
#include <linux/list.h>
#include <linux/seq_buf.h>
+#include <linux/overflow.h>
#include <linux/slab.h>
#include <linux/stdarg.h>
#include <linux/string.h>
@@ -1105,6 +1106,18 @@ void bpf_diag_stack_arg_uninit(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, int n
"call.");
}
+void bpf_diag_memory(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, const char *problem,
+ const char *reason, const char *suggestion)
+{
+ bpf_diag_header(env, MEMORY_SAFETY, problem);
+ diag_reason(env, "%s", reason);
+
+ diag_section(env, "At");
+ bpf_diag_source(env, insn_idx, "error", "%s", problem);
+
+ diag_suggestion(env, "%s", suggestion);
+}
+
void bpf_diag_record_branch(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, bool cond_true)
{
struct bpf_diag_history_event event = {
@@ -1623,6 +1636,68 @@ static const char *diag_scalar_range(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct cnum64
diag_u64_str(env, cnum64_umax(range)));
}
+const char *bpf_diag_fmt_s64_sum(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, s64 value, int addend)
+{
+ s64 sum;
+
+ if (check_add_overflow(value, (s64)addend, &sum))
+ return bpf_diag_fmt(env, "%lld plus %d (%s)", value, addend,
+ addend < 0 ? "below S64_MIN" : "above S64_MAX");
+
+ return bpf_diag_fmt(env, "%lld", sum);
+}
+
+static const char *diag_access_offset(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int off,
+ const struct bpf_reg_state *reg)
+{
+ if (tnum_is_const(reg->var_off))
+ return bpf_diag_fmt(env, "constant %s",
+ bpf_diag_fmt_s64_sum(env, (s64)reg->var_off.value, off));
+
+ if (tnum_is_unknown(reg->var_off) && diag_cnum64_unknown(reg->r64))
+ return bpf_diag_fmt(env, "unbounded");
+
+ if (off)
+ return bpf_diag_fmt(env,
+ "variable: known bits %#llx, unknown mask %#llx, plus fixed offset %d; %s",
+ (u64)reg->var_off.value, reg->var_off.mask, off,
+ diag_scalar_range(env, reg->r64));
+ return bpf_diag_fmt(env, "variable: known bits %#llx, unknown mask %#llx; %s",
+ (u64)reg->var_off.value, reg->var_off.mask,
+ diag_scalar_range(env, reg->r64));
+}
+
+void bpf_diag_mem_bounds(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, int regno,
+ const char *reg_name, const char *type_name, const char *proof,
+ int off, int size, u32 mem_size, const struct bpf_reg_state *reg)
+{
+ struct bpf_diag_history_opts opts = {
+ .scope = BPF_DIAG_HISTORY_SCOPE_REG,
+ .frameno = diag_current_frameno(env),
+ .regno = regno,
+ };
+ const char *offset_desc;
+
+ if (!bpf_diag_enabled(env))
+ return;
+
+ offset_desc = diag_access_offset(env, off, reg);
+
+ bpf_diag_header(env, MEMORY_SAFETY, "access outside bounds");
+ diag_reason(
+ env, "The verifier cannot prove offset + access_size <= object_size. Here, %s. %s is %s; offset is %s; access_size is %d; object_size is %u.",
+ proof, reg_name, type_name, offset_desc, size, mem_size);
+
+ diag_section(env, "At");
+ bpf_diag_source(env, insn_idx, "error", "access may be outside object bounds");
+
+ if (regno >= 0)
+ diag_print_history(env, &opts);
+
+ diag_suggestion(
+ env, "Add or adjust a bounds check that proves offset + access_size stays within the object.");
+}
+
static const char *diag_var_offset(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
const struct bpf_diag_reg_snapshot *snapshot)
{
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.h b/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.h
index 2f243306346e..51e6a527b075 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.h
+++ b/kernel/bpf/diagnostics.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ struct bpf_verifier_env;
struct bpf_verifier_state;
struct btf;
+const char *bpf_diag_fmt_s64_sum(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, s64 value, int addend);
enum bpf_diag_mod_reason {
BPF_DIAG_MOD_WRITE,
BPF_DIAG_MOD_SPILL,
@@ -123,6 +124,11 @@ void bpf_diag_unreadable_reg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, int reg
void bpf_diag_stack_arg_uninit(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, int nargs,
int stack_arg_slot, const char *callee_name,
const char *arg_name);
+void bpf_diag_memory(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, const char *problem,
+ const char *reason, const char *suggestion);
+void bpf_diag_mem_bounds(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, int regno,
+ const char *reg_name, const char *type_name, const char *proof,
+ int off, int size, u32 mem_size, const struct bpf_reg_state *reg);
void bpf_diag_record_branch(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 insn_idx, bool cond_true);
void bpf_diag_mod_begin(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, const struct bpf_reg_state *reg,
const struct bpf_reg_state *origin, enum bpf_diag_mod_reason reason);
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index c8b28862939f..080c6b893fb0 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -3448,7 +3448,15 @@ static int check_stack_write_fixed_off(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
bpf_is_spilled_reg(&state->stack[spi]) &&
!bpf_is_spilled_scalar_reg(&state->stack[spi]) &&
size != BPF_REG_SIZE) {
+ const char *fmt = "This store writes %d bytes at stack offset %d into a stack slot that currently holds a spilled pointer. "
+ "Partial writes to spilled pointers are rejected because they can corrupt pointer metadata and leak kernel pointers.";
+ const char *reason;
+
verbose(env, "attempt to corrupt spilled pointer on stack\n");
+ reason = bpf_diag_fmt(env, fmt, size, off);
+ bpf_diag_memory(
+ env, insn_idx, "stack spill corruption", reason,
+ "Write the full 8-byte spilled pointer slot, or use a separate stack slot for scalar data before overwriting only part of it.");
return -EACCES;
}
@@ -3740,6 +3748,20 @@ static int mark_reg_stack_read(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
return 0;
}
+static void bpf_diag_stack_read_uninit(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int off, int i,
+ int size)
+{
+ const char *fmt = "This rejected read uses %d bytes at stack offset %d, but byte %d in that range is uninitialized on this path. "
+ "Programs loaded with CAP_PERFMON can be allowed to read uninitialized stack bytes, but this program is being rejected without that allowance.";
+ const char *reason;
+
+ reason = bpf_diag_fmt(env, fmt, size, off, i);
+ bpf_diag_memory(
+ env, env->insn_idx, "uninitialized stack read", reason,
+ "Initialize every byte in the stack range before reading it, adjust the offset and size so the read covers only initialized bytes, "
+ "or load with CAP_PERFMON if uninitialized stack reads are intended.");
+}
+
/* Read the stack at 'off' and put the results into the register indicated by
* 'dst_regno'. It handles reg filling if the addressed stack slot is a
* spilled reg.
@@ -3829,6 +3851,8 @@ static int check_stack_read_fixed_off(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
} else {
verbose(env, "invalid read from stack off %d+%d size %d\n",
off, i, size);
+ bpf_diag_stack_read_uninit(env, off, i,
+ size);
}
return -EACCES;
}
@@ -3887,6 +3911,7 @@ static int check_stack_read_fixed_off(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
} else {
verbose(env, "invalid read from stack off %d+%d size %d\n",
off, i, size);
+ bpf_diag_stack_read_uninit(env, off, i, size);
}
return -EACCES;
}
@@ -3979,11 +4004,18 @@ static int check_stack_read(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
* check_stack_read_fixed_off).
*/
if (dst_regno < 0 && var_off) {
+ const char *fmt = "The helper would access the stack through variable offset %s plus fixed offset %d and size %d. "
+ "Helper stack memory arguments require a constant stack offset and a precise initialized range.";
+ const char *reason;
char tn_buf[48];
tnum_strn(tn_buf, sizeof(tn_buf), reg->var_off);
verbose(env, "variable offset stack pointer cannot be passed into helper function; var_off=%s off=%d size=%d\n",
tn_buf, off, size);
+ reason = bpf_diag_fmt(env, fmt, tn_buf, off, size);
+ bpf_diag_memory(
+ env, env->insn_idx, "variable stack access", reason,
+ "Use a fixed stack offset for helper memory arguments, or copy the needed bytes into a fixed stack slot first.");
return -EACCES;
}
/* Variable offset is prohibited for unprivileged mode for simplicity
@@ -4222,10 +4254,13 @@ static int __check_mem_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state
}
/* check read/write into a memory region with possible variable offset */
-static int check_mem_region_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *reg, argno_t argno,
- int off, int size, u32 mem_size,
+static int check_mem_region_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *reg,
+ argno_t argno, int off, int size, u32 mem_size,
bool zero_size_allowed)
{
+ const char *proof = "";
+ const char *start;
+ s64 max_start, max_end;
int err;
/* We may have adjusted the register pointing to memory region, so we
@@ -4239,19 +4274,32 @@ static int check_mem_region_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_
* will have a set floor within our range.
*/
if (reg_smin(reg) < 0 &&
- (reg_smin(reg) == S64_MIN ||
- (off + reg_smin(reg) != (s64)(s32)(off + reg_smin(reg))) ||
- reg_smin(reg) + off < 0)) {
+ (reg_smin(reg) == S64_MIN || (off + reg_smin(reg) != (s64)(s32)(off + reg_smin(reg))) ||
+ reg_smin(reg) + off < 0)) {
verbose(env, "%s min value is negative, either use unsigned index or do a if (index >=0) check.\n",
reg_arg_name(env, argno));
- return -EACCES;
+ err = -EACCES;
+ if (bpf_diag_enabled(env)) {
+ start = bpf_diag_fmt_s64_sum(env, reg_smin(reg), off);
+ proof = bpf_diag_fmt(
+ env, "the minimal bound for a memory access is a negative value: %s",
+ start);
+ }
+ goto report_error;
}
+
err = __check_mem_access(env, reg, argno, reg_smin(reg) + off, size,
mem_size, zero_size_allowed);
if (err) {
verbose(env, "%s min value is outside of the allowed memory range\n",
reg_arg_name(env, argno));
- return err;
+ if (bpf_diag_enabled(env)) {
+ start = bpf_diag_fmt_s64_sum(env, reg_smin(reg), off);
+ proof = bpf_diag_fmt(
+ env, "the minimal bound for a memory access is %s and is outside of the object of size %u",
+ start, mem_size);
+ }
+ goto report_error;
}
/* If we haven't set a max value then we need to bail since we can't be
@@ -4261,17 +4309,36 @@ static int check_mem_region_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_
if (reg_umax(reg) >= BPF_MAX_VAR_OFF) {
verbose(env, "%s unbounded memory access, make sure to bounds check any such access\n",
reg_arg_name(env, argno));
- return -EACCES;
+ err = -EACCES;
+ if (bpf_diag_enabled(env))
+ proof = bpf_diag_fmt(
+ env, "the maximal bound for a memory access is %llu and exceeds maximum allowed offset of %u",
+ reg_umax(reg), BPF_MAX_VAR_OFF);
+ goto report_error;
}
+
err = __check_mem_access(env, reg, argno, reg_umax(reg) + off, size,
mem_size, zero_size_allowed);
if (err) {
verbose(env, "%s max value is outside of the allowed memory range\n",
reg_arg_name(env, argno));
- return err;
+ if (bpf_diag_enabled(env)) {
+ max_start = (s64)reg_umax(reg) + off;
+ max_end = max_start + size;
+ proof = bpf_diag_fmt(
+ env, "the maximal bound for a memory access is %lld: start %lld + access_size %d, beyond object_size %u",
+ max_end, max_start, size, mem_size);
+ }
+ goto report_error;
}
return 0;
+
+report_error:
+ bpf_diag_mem_bounds(env, env->insn_idx, reg_from_argno(argno),
+ reg_arg_name(env, argno), reg_type_str(env, reg->type), proof,
+ off, size, mem_size, reg);
+ return err;
}
static int __check_ptr_off_reg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
--
2.53.0
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-08-12 23:33 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 22+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-08-12 23:33 [PATCH bpf-next v4 00/16] Redesign Verification Errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 01/16] bpf: Add verifier diagnostics report helpers Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:41 ` sashiko-bot
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 02/16] bpf: Add source and instruction diagnostic context Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-13 0:15 ` sashiko-bot
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 03/16] bpf: Add verifier diagnostic event log Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 04/16] bpf: Prune verifier diagnostics when switching paths Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 05/16] bpf: Track verifier register diagnostic events Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:53 ` sashiko-bot
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 06/16] bpf: Track verifier reference " Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 07/16] bpf: Track verifier context " Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 08/16] bpf: Report Register Type Safety errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi [this message]
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 10/16] bpf: Report Resource Lifetime reference leaks Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 11/16] bpf: Report Call Type Safety argument errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:58 ` sashiko-bot
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 12/16] bpf: Report Execution Context Safety errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 13/16] bpf: Report Program Structure CFG errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 14/16] bpf: Report Policy helper and kfunc errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 15/16] bpf: Report Verifier Limit errors Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-12 23:33 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 16/16] bpf: Gate verifier diagnostics on log level Kumar Kartikeya Dwivedi
2026-08-13 1:38 ` [PATCH bpf-next v4 00/16] Redesign Verification Errors Eduard Zingerman
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