[PATCH AUTOSEL 6.5 05/13] binfmt_elf: Support segments with 0 filesz and misaligned starts

[PATCH AUTOSEL 6.5 05/13] binfmt_elf: Support segments with 0 filesz and misaligned starts

[Sasha Levin]

From: "Eric W. Biederman" <ebiederm@xmission.com>

[ Upstream commit 585a018627b4d7ed37387211f667916840b5c5ea ]

Implement a helper elf_load() that wraps elf_map() and performs all
of the necessary work to ensure that when "memsz > filesz" the bytes
described by "memsz > filesz" are zeroed.

An outstanding issue is if the first segment has filesz 0, and has a
randomized location. But that is the same as today.

In this change I replaced an open coded padzero() that did not clear
all of the way to the end of the page, with padzero() that does.

I also stopped checking the return of padzero() as there is at least
one known case where testing for failure is the wrong thing to do.
It looks like binfmt_elf_fdpic may have the proper set of tests
for when error handling can be safely completed.

I found a couple of commits in the old history
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tglx/history.git,
that look very interesting in understanding this code.

commit 39b56d902bf3 ("[PATCH] binfmt_elf: clearing bss may fail")
commit c6e2227e4a3e ("[SPARC64]: Missing user access return value checks in fs/binfmt_elf.c and fs/compat.c")
commit 5bf3be033f50 ("v2.4.10.1 -> v2.4.10.2")

Looking at commit 39b56d902bf3 ("[PATCH] binfmt_elf: clearing bss may fail"):
>  commit 39b56d902bf35241e7cba6cc30b828ed937175ad
>  Author: Pavel Machek <pavel@ucw.cz>
>  Date:   Wed Feb 9 22:40:30 2005 -0800
>
>     [PATCH] binfmt_elf: clearing bss may fail
>
>     So we discover that Borland's Kylix application builder emits weird elf
>     files which describe a non-writeable bss segment.
>
>     So remove the clear_user() check at the place where we zero out the bss.  I
>     don't _think_ there are any security implications here (plus we've never
>     checked that clear_user() return value, so whoops if it is a problem).
>
>     Signed-off-by: Pavel Machek <pavel@suse.cz>
>     Signed-off-by: Andrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org>
>     Signed-off-by: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org>

It seems pretty clear that binfmt_elf_fdpic with skipping clear_user() for
non-writable segments and otherwise calling clear_user(), aka padzero(),
and checking it's return code is the right thing to do.

I just skipped the error checking as that avoids breaking things.

And notably, it looks like Borland's Kylix died in 2005 so it might be
safe to just consider read-only segments with memsz > filesz an error.

Reported-by: Sebastian Ott <sebott@redhat.com>
Reported-by: Thomas Weißschuh <linux@weissschuh.net>
Closes: https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20230914-bss-alloc-v1-1-78de67d2c6dd@weissschuh.net
Signed-off-by: "Eric W. Biederman" <ebiederm@xmission.com>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/87sf71f123.fsf@email.froward.int.ebiederm.org
Tested-by: Pedro Falcato <pedro.falcato@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Sebastian Ott <sebott@redhat.com>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20230929032435.2391507-1-keescook@chromium.org
Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <keescook@chromium.org>
Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>
---
 fs/binfmt_elf.c | 111 +++++++++++++++++++++---------------------------
 1 file changed, 48 insertions(+), 63 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fs/binfmt_elf.c b/fs/binfmt_elf.c
index 7b3d2d4914073..2a615f476e44e 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_elf.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_elf.c
@@ -110,25 +110,6 @@ static struct linux_binfmt elf_format = {
 
 #define BAD_ADDR(x) (unlikely((unsigned long)(x) >= TASK_SIZE))
 
-static int set_brk(unsigned long start, unsigned long end, int prot)
-{
-	start = ELF_PAGEALIGN(start);
-	end = ELF_PAGEALIGN(end);
-	if (end > start) {
-		/*
-		 * Map the last of the bss segment.
-		 * If the header is requesting these pages to be
-		 * executable, honour that (ppc32 needs this).
-		 */
-		int error = vm_brk_flags(start, end - start,
-				prot & PROT_EXEC ? VM_EXEC : 0);
-		if (error)
-			return error;
-	}
-	current->mm->start_brk = current->mm->brk = end;
-	return 0;
-}
-
 /* We need to explicitly zero any fractional pages
    after the data section (i.e. bss).  This would
    contain the junk from the file that should not
@@ -406,6 +387,51 @@ static unsigned long elf_map(struct file *filep, unsigned long addr,
 	return(map_addr);
 }
 
+static unsigned long elf_load(struct file *filep, unsigned long addr,
+		const struct elf_phdr *eppnt, int prot, int type,
+		unsigned long total_size)
+{
+	unsigned long zero_start, zero_end;
+	unsigned long map_addr;
+
+	if (eppnt->p_filesz) {
+		map_addr = elf_map(filep, addr, eppnt, prot, type, total_size);
+		if (BAD_ADDR(map_addr))
+			return map_addr;
+		if (eppnt->p_memsz > eppnt->p_filesz) {
+			zero_start = map_addr + ELF_PAGEOFFSET(eppnt->p_vaddr) +
+				eppnt->p_filesz;
+			zero_end = map_addr + ELF_PAGEOFFSET(eppnt->p_vaddr) +
+				eppnt->p_memsz;
+
+			/* Zero the end of the last mapped page */
+			padzero(zero_start);
+		}
+	} else {
+		map_addr = zero_start = ELF_PAGESTART(addr);
+		zero_end = zero_start + ELF_PAGEOFFSET(eppnt->p_vaddr) +
+			eppnt->p_memsz;
+	}
+	if (eppnt->p_memsz > eppnt->p_filesz) {
+		/*
+		 * Map the last of the segment.
+		 * If the header is requesting these pages to be
+		 * executable, honour that (ppc32 needs this).
+		 */
+		int error;
+
+		zero_start = ELF_PAGEALIGN(zero_start);
+		zero_end = ELF_PAGEALIGN(zero_end);
+
+		error = vm_brk_flags(zero_start, zero_end - zero_start,
+				     prot & PROT_EXEC ? VM_EXEC : 0);
+		if (error)
+			map_addr = error;
+	}
+	return map_addr;
+}
+
+
 static unsigned long total_mapping_size(const struct elf_phdr *phdr, int nr)
 {
 	elf_addr_t min_addr = -1;
@@ -829,7 +855,6 @@ static int load_elf_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	struct elf_phdr *elf_ppnt, *elf_phdata, *interp_elf_phdata = NULL;
 	struct elf_phdr *elf_property_phdata = NULL;
 	unsigned long elf_bss, elf_brk;
-	int bss_prot = 0;
 	int retval, i;
 	unsigned long elf_entry;
 	unsigned long e_entry;
@@ -1040,33 +1065,6 @@ static int load_elf_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 		if (elf_ppnt->p_type != PT_LOAD)
 			continue;
 
-		if (unlikely (elf_brk > elf_bss)) {
-			unsigned long nbyte;
-
-			/* There was a PT_LOAD segment with p_memsz > p_filesz
-			   before this one. Map anonymous pages, if needed,
-			   and clear the area.  */
-			retval = set_brk(elf_bss + load_bias,
-					 elf_brk + load_bias,
-					 bss_prot);
-			if (retval)
-				goto out_free_dentry;
-			nbyte = ELF_PAGEOFFSET(elf_bss);
-			if (nbyte) {
-				nbyte = ELF_MIN_ALIGN - nbyte;
-				if (nbyte > elf_brk - elf_bss)
-					nbyte = elf_brk - elf_bss;
-				if (clear_user((void __user *)elf_bss +
-							load_bias, nbyte)) {
-					/*
-					 * This bss-zeroing can fail if the ELF
-					 * file specifies odd protections. So
-					 * we don't check the return value
-					 */
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
 		elf_prot = make_prot(elf_ppnt->p_flags, &arch_state,
 				     !!interpreter, false);
 
@@ -1162,7 +1160,7 @@ static int load_elf_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 			}
 		}
 
-		error = elf_map(bprm->file, load_bias + vaddr, elf_ppnt,
+		error = elf_load(bprm->file, load_bias + vaddr, elf_ppnt,
 				elf_prot, elf_flags, total_size);
 		if (BAD_ADDR(error)) {
 			retval = IS_ERR_VALUE(error) ?
@@ -1217,10 +1215,8 @@ static int load_elf_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 		if (end_data < k)
 			end_data = k;
 		k = elf_ppnt->p_vaddr + elf_ppnt->p_memsz;
-		if (k > elf_brk) {
-			bss_prot = elf_prot;
+		if (k > elf_brk)
 			elf_brk = k;
-		}
 	}
 
 	e_entry = elf_ex->e_entry + load_bias;
@@ -1232,18 +1228,7 @@ static int load_elf_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	start_data += load_bias;
 	end_data += load_bias;
 
-	/* Calling set_brk effectively mmaps the pages that we need
-	 * for the bss and break sections.  We must do this before
-	 * mapping in the interpreter, to make sure it doesn't wind
-	 * up getting placed where the bss needs to go.
-	 */
-	retval = set_brk(elf_bss, elf_brk, bss_prot);
-	if (retval)
-		goto out_free_dentry;
-	if (likely(elf_bss != elf_brk) && unlikely(padzero(elf_bss))) {
-		retval = -EFAULT; /* Nobody gets to see this, but.. */
-		goto out_free_dentry;
-	}
+	current->mm->start_brk = current->mm->brk = ELF_PAGEALIGN(elf_brk);
 
 	if (interpreter) {
 		elf_entry = load_elf_interp(interp_elf_ex,
-- 
2.42.0

[PATCH AUTOSEL 6.5 07/13] binfmt_misc: cleanup on filesystem umount

[Sasha Levin]

From: Christian Brauner <christian.brauner@ubuntu.com>

[ Upstream commit 1c5976ef0f7ad76319df748ccb99a4c7ba2ba464 ]

Currently, registering a new binary type pins the binfmt_misc
filesystem. Specifically, this means that as long as there is at least
one binary type registered the binfmt_misc filesystem survives all
umounts, i.e. the superblock is not destroyed. Meaning that a umount
followed by another mount will end up with the same superblock and the
same binary type handlers. This is a behavior we tend to discourage for
any new filesystems (apart from a few special filesystems such as e.g.
configfs or debugfs). A umount operation without the filesystem being
pinned - by e.g. someone holding a file descriptor to an open file -
should usually result in the destruction of the superblock and all
associated resources. This makes introspection easier and leads to
clearly defined, simple and clean semantics. An administrator can rely
on the fact that a umount will guarantee a clean slate making it
possible to reinitialize a filesystem. Right now all binary types would
need to be explicitly deleted before that can happen.

This allows us to remove the heavy-handed calls to simple_pin_fs() and
simple_release_fs() when creating and deleting binary types. This in
turn allows us to replace the current brittle pinning mechanism abusing
dget() which has caused a range of bugs judging from prior fixes in [2]
and [3]. The additional dget() in load_misc_binary() pins the dentry but
only does so for the sake to prevent ->evict_inode() from freeing the
node when a user removes the binary type and kill_node() is run. Which
would mean ->interpreter and ->interp_file would be freed causing a UAF.

This isn't really nicely documented nor is it very clean because it
relies on simple_pin_fs() pinning the filesystem as long as at least one
binary type exists. Otherwise it would cause load_misc_binary() to hold
on to a dentry belonging to a superblock that has been shutdown.
Replace that implicit pinning with a clean and simple per-node refcount
and get rid of the ugly dget() pinning. A similar mechanism exists for
e.g. binderfs (cf. [4]). All the cleanup work can now be done in
->evict_inode().

In a follow-up patch we will make it possible to use binfmt_misc in
sandboxes. We will use the cleaner semantics where a umount for the
filesystem will cause the superblock and all resources to be
deallocated. In preparation for this apply the same semantics to the
initial binfmt_misc mount. Note, that this is a user-visible change and
as such a uapi change but one that we can reasonably risk. We've
discussed this in earlier versions of this patchset (cf. [1]).

The main user and provider of binfmt_misc is systemd. Systemd provides
binfmt_misc via autofs since it is configurable as a kernel module and
is used by a few exotic packages and users. As such a binfmt_misc mount
is triggered when /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc is accessed and is only
provided on demand. Other autofs on demand filesystems include EFI ESP
which systemd umounts if the mountpoint stays idle for a certain amount
of time. This doesn't apply to the binfmt_misc autofs mount which isn't
touched once it is mounted meaning this change can't accidently wipe
binary type handlers without someone having explicitly unmounted
binfmt_misc. After speaking to systemd folks they don't expect this
change to affect them.

In line with our general policy, if we see a regression for systemd or
other users with this change we will switch back to the old behavior for
the initial binfmt_misc mount and have binary types pin the filesystem
again. But while we touch this code let's take the chance and let's
improve on the status quo.

[1]: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20191216091220.465626-2-laurent@vivier.eu
[2]: commit 43a4f2619038 ("exec: binfmt_misc: fix race between load_misc_binary() and kill_node()"
[3]: commit 83f918274e4b ("exec: binfmt_misc: shift filp_close(interp_file) from kill_node() to bm_evict_inode()")
[4]: commit f0fe2c0f050d ("binder: prevent UAF for binderfs devices II")

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20211028103114.2849140-1-brauner@kernel.org (v1)
Cc: Sargun Dhillon <sargun@sargun.me>
Cc: Serge Hallyn <serge@hallyn.com>
Cc: Jann Horn <jannh@google.com>
Cc: Henning Schild <henning.schild@siemens.com>
Cc: Andrei Vagin <avagin@gmail.com>
Cc: Al Viro <viro@zeniv.linux.org.uk>
Cc: Laurent Vivier <laurent@vivier.eu>
Cc: linux-fsdevel@vger.kernel.org
Acked-by: Serge Hallyn <serge@hallyn.com>
Signed-off-by: Christian Brauner <christian.brauner@ubuntu.com>
Signed-off-by: Christian Brauner <brauner@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <keescook@chromium.org>
---
/* v2 */
- Christian Brauner <christian.brauner@ubuntu.com>:
  - Add more comments that explain what's going on.
  - Rename functions while changing them to better reflect what they are
    doing to make the code easier to understand.
  - In the first version when a specific binary type handler was removed
    either through a write to the entry's file or all binary type
    handlers were removed by a write to the binfmt_misc mount's status
    file all cleanup work happened during inode eviction.
    That includes removal of the relevant entries from entry list. While
    that works fine I disliked that model after thinking about it for a
    bit. Because it means that there was a window were someone has
    already removed a or all binary handlers but they could still be
    safely reached from load_misc_binary() when it has managed to take
    the read_lock() on the entries list while inode eviction was already
    happening. Again, that perfectly benign but it's cleaner to remove
    the binary handler from the list immediately meaning that ones the
    write to then entry's file or the binfmt_misc status file returns
    the binary type cannot be executed anymore. That gives stronger
    guarantees to the user.
Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>
---
 fs/binfmt_misc.c | 216 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------
 1 file changed, 168 insertions(+), 48 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fs/binfmt_misc.c b/fs/binfmt_misc.c
index bb202ad369d53..740dac1012ae8 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_misc.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_misc.c
@@ -60,12 +60,11 @@ typedef struct {
 	char *name;
 	struct dentry *dentry;
 	struct file *interp_file;
+	refcount_t users;		/* sync removal with load_misc_binary() */
 } Node;
 
 static DEFINE_RWLOCK(entries_lock);
 static struct file_system_type bm_fs_type;
-static struct vfsmount *bm_mnt;
-static int entry_count;
 
 /*
  * Max length of the register string.  Determined by:
@@ -82,19 +81,23 @@ static int entry_count;
  */
 #define MAX_REGISTER_LENGTH 1920
 
-/*
- * Check if we support the binfmt
- * if we do, return the node, else NULL
- * locking is done in load_misc_binary
+/**
+ * search_binfmt_handler - search for a binary handler for @bprm
+ * @misc: handle to binfmt_misc instance
+ * @bprm: binary for which we are looking for a handler
+ *
+ * Search for a binary type handler for @bprm in the list of registered binary
+ * type handlers.
+ *
+ * Return: binary type list entry on success, NULL on failure
  */
-static Node *check_file(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
+static Node *search_binfmt_handler(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 {
 	char *p = strrchr(bprm->interp, '.');
-	struct list_head *l;
+	Node *e;
 
 	/* Walk all the registered handlers. */
-	list_for_each(l, &entries) {
-		Node *e = list_entry(l, Node, list);
+	list_for_each_entry(e, &entries, list) {
 		char *s;
 		int j;
 
@@ -123,9 +126,49 @@ static Node *check_file(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 		if (j == e->size)
 			return e;
 	}
+
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+/**
+ * get_binfmt_handler - try to find a binary type handler
+ * @misc: handle to binfmt_misc instance
+ * @bprm: binary for which we are looking for a handler
+ *
+ * Try to find a binfmt handler for the binary type. If one is found take a
+ * reference to protect against removal via bm_{entry,status}_write().
+ *
+ * Return: binary type list entry on success, NULL on failure
+ */
+static Node *get_binfmt_handler(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
+{
+	Node *e;
+
+	read_lock(&entries_lock);
+	e = search_binfmt_handler(bprm);
+	if (e)
+		refcount_inc(&e->users);
+	read_unlock(&entries_lock);
+	return e;
+}
+
+/**
+ * put_binfmt_handler - put binary handler node
+ * @e: node to put
+ *
+ * Free node syncing with load_misc_binary() and defer final free to
+ * load_misc_binary() in case it is using the binary type handler we were
+ * requested to remove.
+ */
+static void put_binfmt_handler(Node *e)
+{
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&e->users)) {
+		if (e->flags & MISC_FMT_OPEN_FILE)
+			filp_close(e->interp_file, NULL);
+		kfree(e);
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * the loader itself
  */
@@ -139,12 +182,7 @@ static int load_misc_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	if (!enabled)
 		return retval;
 
-	/* to keep locking time low, we copy the interpreter string */
-	read_lock(&entries_lock);
-	fmt = check_file(bprm);
-	if (fmt)
-		dget(fmt->dentry);
-	read_unlock(&entries_lock);
+	fmt = get_binfmt_handler(bprm);
 	if (!fmt)
 		return retval;
 
@@ -198,7 +236,16 @@ static int load_misc_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 
 	retval = 0;
 ret:
-	dput(fmt->dentry);
+
+	/*
+	 * If we actually put the node here all concurrent calls to
+	 * load_misc_binary() will have finished. We also know
+	 * that for the refcount to be zero ->evict_inode() must have removed
+	 * the node to be deleted from the list. All that is left for us is to
+	 * close and free.
+	 */
+	put_binfmt_handler(fmt);
+
 	return retval;
 }
 
@@ -553,30 +600,90 @@ static struct inode *bm_get_inode(struct super_block *sb, int mode)
 	return inode;
 }
 
+/**
+ * bm_evict_inode - cleanup data associated with @inode
+ * @inode: inode to which the data is attached
+ *
+ * Cleanup the binary type handler data associated with @inode if a binary type
+ * entry is removed or the filesystem is unmounted and the super block is
+ * shutdown.
+ *
+ * If the ->evict call was not caused by a super block shutdown but by a write
+ * to remove the entry or all entries via bm_{entry,status}_write() the entry
+ * will have already been removed from the list. We keep the list_empty() check
+ * to make that explicit.
+*/
 static void bm_evict_inode(struct inode *inode)
 {
 	Node *e = inode->i_private;
 
-	if (e && e->flags & MISC_FMT_OPEN_FILE)
-		filp_close(e->interp_file, NULL);
-
 	clear_inode(inode);
-	kfree(e);
+
+	if (e) {
+		write_lock(&entries_lock);
+		if (!list_empty(&e->list))
+			list_del_init(&e->list);
+		write_unlock(&entries_lock);
+		put_binfmt_handler(e);
+	}
 }
 
-static void kill_node(Node *e)
+/**
+ * unlink_binfmt_dentry - remove the dentry for the binary type handler
+ * @dentry: dentry associated with the binary type handler
+ *
+ * Do the actual filesystem work to remove a dentry for a registered binary
+ * type handler. Since binfmt_misc only allows simple files to be created
+ * directly under the root dentry of the filesystem we ensure that we are
+ * indeed passed a dentry directly beneath the root dentry, that the inode
+ * associated with the root dentry is locked, and that it is a regular file we
+ * are asked to remove.
+ */
+static void unlink_binfmt_dentry(struct dentry *dentry)
 {
-	struct dentry *dentry;
+	struct dentry *parent = dentry->d_parent;
+	struct inode *inode, *parent_inode;
+
+	/* All entries are immediate descendants of the root dentry. */
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(dentry->d_sb->s_root != parent))
+		return;
 
+	/* We only expect to be called on regular files. */
+	inode = d_inode(dentry);
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!S_ISREG(inode->i_mode)))
+		return;
+
+	/* The parent inode must be locked. */
+	parent_inode = d_inode(parent);
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!inode_is_locked(parent_inode)))
+		return;
+
+	if (simple_positive(dentry)) {
+		dget(dentry);
+		simple_unlink(parent_inode, dentry);
+		d_delete(dentry);
+		dput(dentry);
+	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * remove_binfmt_handler - remove a binary type handler
+ * @misc: handle to binfmt_misc instance
+ * @e: binary type handler to remove
+ *
+ * Remove a binary type handler from the list of binary type handlers and
+ * remove its associated dentry. This is called from
+ * binfmt_{entry,status}_write(). In the future, we might want to think about
+ * adding a proper ->unlink() method to binfmt_misc instead of forcing caller's
+ * to use writes to files in order to delete binary type handlers. But it has
+ * worked for so long that it's not a pressing issue.
+ */
+static void remove_binfmt_handler(Node *e)
+{
 	write_lock(&entries_lock);
 	list_del_init(&e->list);
 	write_unlock(&entries_lock);
-
-	dentry = e->dentry;
-	drop_nlink(d_inode(dentry));
-	d_drop(dentry);
-	dput(dentry);
-	simple_release_fs(&bm_mnt, &entry_count);
+	unlink_binfmt_dentry(e->dentry);
 }
 
 /* /<entry> */
@@ -603,8 +710,8 @@ bm_entry_read(struct file *file, char __user *buf, size_t nbytes, loff_t *ppos)
 static ssize_t bm_entry_write(struct file *file, const char __user *buffer,
 				size_t count, loff_t *ppos)
 {
-	struct dentry *root;
-	Node *e = file_inode(file)->i_private;
+	struct inode *inode = file_inode(file);
+	Node *e = inode->i_private;
 	int res = parse_command(buffer, count);
 
 	switch (res) {
@@ -618,13 +725,22 @@ static ssize_t bm_entry_write(struct file *file, const char __user *buffer,
 		break;
 	case 3:
 		/* Delete this handler. */
-		root = file_inode(file)->i_sb->s_root;
-		inode_lock(d_inode(root));
+		inode = d_inode(inode->i_sb->s_root);
+		inode_lock(inode);
 
+		/*
+		 * In order to add new element or remove elements from the list
+		 * via bm_{entry,register,status}_write() inode_lock() on the
+		 * root inode must be held.
+		 * The lock is exclusive ensuring that the list can't be
+		 * modified. Only load_misc_binary() can access but does so
+		 * read-only. So we only need to take the write lock when we
+		 * actually remove the entry from the list.
+		 */
 		if (!list_empty(&e->list))
-			kill_node(e);
+			remove_binfmt_handler(e);
 
-		inode_unlock(d_inode(root));
+		inode_unlock(inode);
 		break;
 	default:
 		return res;
@@ -683,13 +799,7 @@ static ssize_t bm_register_write(struct file *file, const char __user *buffer,
 	if (!inode)
 		goto out2;
 
-	err = simple_pin_fs(&bm_fs_type, &bm_mnt, &entry_count);
-	if (err) {
-		iput(inode);
-		inode = NULL;
-		goto out2;
-	}
-
+	refcount_set(&e->users, 1);
 	e->dentry = dget(dentry);
 	inode->i_private = e;
 	inode->i_fop = &bm_entry_operations;
@@ -733,7 +843,8 @@ static ssize_t bm_status_write(struct file *file, const char __user *buffer,
 		size_t count, loff_t *ppos)
 {
 	int res = parse_command(buffer, count);
-	struct dentry *root;
+	Node *e, *next;
+	struct inode *inode;
 
 	switch (res) {
 	case 1:
@@ -746,13 +857,22 @@ static ssize_t bm_status_write(struct file *file, const char __user *buffer,
 		break;
 	case 3:
 		/* Delete all handlers. */
-		root = file_inode(file)->i_sb->s_root;
-		inode_lock(d_inode(root));
+		inode = d_inode(file_inode(file)->i_sb->s_root);
+		inode_lock(inode);
 
-		while (!list_empty(&entries))
-			kill_node(list_first_entry(&entries, Node, list));
+		/*
+		 * In order to add new element or remove elements from the list
+		 * via bm_{entry,register,status}_write() inode_lock() on the
+		 * root inode must be held.
+		 * The lock is exclusive ensuring that the list can't be
+		 * modified. Only load_misc_binary() can access but does so
+		 * read-only. So we only need to take the write lock when we
+		 * actually remove the entry from the list.
+		 */
+		list_for_each_entry_safe(e, next, &entries, list)
+			remove_binfmt_handler(e);
 
-		inode_unlock(d_inode(root));
+		inode_unlock(inode);
 		break;
 	default:
 		return res;
-- 
2.42.0