[PATCH v3 25/27] x86/pie: Add option to build the kernel as PIE

Thomas Garnier
2018-05-23T19:54:19Z

Add the CONFIG_X86_PIE option which builds the kernel as a Position
Independent Executable (PIE). The kernel is currently build with the
mcmodel=kernel option which forces it to stay on the top 2G of the
virtual address space. With PIE, the kernel will be able to move below
the current limit.

The --emit-relocs linker option was kept instead of using -pie to limit
the impact on mapped sections. Any incompatible relocation will be
catch by the arch/x86/tools/relocs binary at compile time.

If segment based stack cookies are enabled, try to use the compiler
option to select the segment register. If not available, automatically
enabled global stack cookie in auto mode. Otherwise, recommend
compiler update or global stack cookie option.

Performance/Size impact:

Size of vmlinux (Default configuration):
File size:
- PIE disabled: +0.18%
- PIE enabled: -1.977% (less relocations)
.text section:
- PIE disabled: same
- PIE enabled: same

Size of vmlinux (Ubuntu configuration):
File size:
- PIE disabled: +0.21%
- PIE enabled: +10%
.text section:
- PIE disabled: same
- PIE enabled: +0.001%

The size increase is mainly due to not having access to the 32-bit signed
relocation that can be used with mcmodel=kernel. A small part is due to reduced
optimization for PIE code. This bug [1] was opened with gcc to provide a better
code generation for kernel PIE.

Hackbench (50% and 1600% on thread/process for pipe/sockets):
- PIE disabled: no significant change (avg -/+ 0.5% on latest test).
- PIE enabled: between -1% to +1% in average (default and Ubuntu config).

Kernbench (average of 10 Half and Optimal runs):
Elapsed Time:
- PIE disabled: no significant change (avg -0.5%)
- PIE enabled: average -0.5% to +0.5%
System Time:
- PIE disabled: no significant change (avg -0.1%)
- PIE enabled: average -0.4% to +0.4%.

[1] https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=82303

Signed-off-by: Thomas Garnier <thgarnie@google.com>

merge pie
---
arch/x86/Kconfig | 8 ++++++++
arch/x86/Makefile | 45 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
2 files changed, 52 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/Kconfig b/arch/x86/Kconfig
index 28eb2b3757bf..26d5d4942777 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/Kconfig
@@ -2215,6 +2215,14 @@ config X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR

If unsure, say N

+config X86_PIE
+ bool
+ depends on X86_64
+ select DEFAULT_HIDDEN
+ select WEAK_PROVIDE_HIDDEN
+ select DYNAMIC_MODULE_BASE
+ select MODULE_REL_CRCS if MODVERSIONS
+
config HOTPLUG_CPU
bool "Support for hot-pluggable CPUs"
depends on SMP
diff --git a/arch/x86/Makefile b/arch/x86/Makefile
index 20bb6cbd8938..c92bcca4400c 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Makefile
+++ b/arch/x86/Makefile
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ endif
KBUILD_CFLAGS += -mno-sse -mno-mmx -mno-sse2 -mno-3dnow
KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-mno-avx,)

+stackglobal := $(call cc-option-yn, -mstack-protector-guard=global)
+
ifeq ($(CONFIG_X86_32),y)
BITS := 32
UTS_MACHINE := i386
@@ -135,7 +137,48 @@ else

KBUILD_CFLAGS += -mno-red-zone
ifdef CONFIG_X86_PIE
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += -fPIE
KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE += -T $(srctree)/arch/x86/kernel/module.lds
+
+ # Relax relocation in both CFLAGS and LDFLAGS to support older compilers
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-Wa$(comma)-mrelax-relocations=no)
+ LDFLAGS_vmlinux += $(call ld-option,--no-relax)
+ KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE += $(call ld-option,--no-relax)
+
+ # Stack validation is not yet support due to self-referenced switches
+ifdef CONFIG_STACK_VALIDATION
+ $(warning CONFIG_STACK_VALIDATION is not yet supported for x86_64 pie \
+ build.)
+ SKIP_STACK_VALIDATION := 1
+ export SKIP_STACK_VALIDATION
+endif
+
+ifndef CONFIG_CC_STACKPROTECTOR_NONE
+ifndef CONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR
+ stackseg-flag := -mstack-protector-guard-reg=%gs
+ ifeq ($(call cc-option-yn,$(stackseg-flag)),n)
+ # Try to enable global stack cookie if possible
+ ifeq ($(stackglobal), y)
+ $(warning Cannot use CONFIG_CC_STACKPROTECTOR_* while \
+ building a position independent kernel. \
+ Default to global stack protector \
+ (CONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR).)
+ CONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR := y
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS += -DCONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR
+ else
+ $(error echo Cannot use \
+ CONFIG_CC_STACKPROTECTOR_(REGULAR|STRONG|AUTO) \
+ while building a position independent binary. \
+ Update your compiler or use \
+ CONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR)
+ endif
+ else
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(stackseg-flag)
+ endif
+endif
+endif
+
else
KBUILD_CFLAGS += -mcmodel=kernel
endif
@@ -146,7 +189,7 @@ endif
endif

ifdef CONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR
- ifeq ($(call cc-option, -mstack-protector-guard=global),)
+ ifeq ($(stackglobal), n)
$(error Cannot use CONFIG_X86_GLOBAL_STACKPROTECTOR: \
-mstack-protector-guard=global not supported \
by compiler)