[PATCH bpf v2] bpf: fix libelf endian handling in resolv_btfids

Tony Ambardar
2021-06-18T06:14:45Z

The vmlinux ".BTF_ids" ELF section is declared in btf_ids.h to hold a list
of zero-filled BTF IDs, which is then patched at link-time with correct
values by resolv_btfids. The section is flagged as "allocable" to preclude
compression, but notably the section contents (BTF IDs) are untyped.

When patching the BTF IDs, resolve_btfids writes in host-native endianness
and relies on libelf for any required translation on reading and updating
vmlinux. However, since the type of the .BTF_ids section content defaults
to ELF_T_BYTE (i.e. unsigned char), no translation occurs. This results in
incorrect patched values when cross-compiling to non-native endianness,
and can manifest as kernel Oops and test failures which are difficult to
troubleshoot [1].

Explicitly set the type of patched data to ELF_T_WORD, the architecture-
neutral ELF type corresponding to the u32 BTF IDs. This enables libelf to
transparently perform any needed endian conversions.

Fixes: fbbb68de80a4 ("bpf: Add resolve_btfids tool to resolve BTF IDs in ELF object")
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org # v5.10+
Cc: Frank Eigler <fche@redhat.com>
Cc: Mark Wielaard <mark@klomp.org>
Cc: Jiri Olsa <jolsa@kernel.org>
Cc: Yonghong Song <yhs@fb.com>
Link: [1] https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/CAPGftE_eY-Zdi3wBcgDfkz_iOr1KF10n=9mJHm1_a_PykcsoeA@mail.gmail.com/
Signed-off-by: Tony Ambardar <Tony.Ambardar@gmail.com>
Acked-by: Jiri Olsa <jolsa@redhat.com>
---
v1 -> v2:
* add context and elaborate on commit message per request
* include ACK from Jiri Olsa
---
tools/bpf/resolve_btfids/main.c | 3 +++
1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)

diff --git a/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids/main.c b/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids/main.c
index d636643ddd35..f32c059fbfb4 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids/main.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids/main.c
@@ -649,6 +649,9 @@ static int symbols_patch(struct object *obj)
if (sets_patch(obj))
return -1;

+ /* Set type to ensure endian translation occurs. */
+ obj->efile.idlist->d_type = ELF_T_WORD;
+
elf_flagdata(obj->efile.idlist, ELF_C_SET, ELF_F_DIRTY);

err = elf_update(obj->efile.elf, ELF_C_WRITE);
--
2.25.1