[PATCH 3/5] compiler_attributes: Add overflow_behavior macros __ob_trap and __ob_wrap

Kees Cook
2026-03-31T16:37:26Z

From: Justin Stitt <justinstitt@google.com>

When CONFIG_OVERFLOW_BEHAVIOR_TYPES=y, Clang 23+'s Overflow Behavior
Type[1] annotations are available (i.e. __ob_trap, __ob_wrap). When not
enabled, these need to be empty macros. Document the new annotation and
add links from sanitizer docs pointing to the arithmetic-overflow docs.

Link: https://clang.llvm.org/docs/OverflowBehaviorTypes.html [1]
Signed-off-by: Justin Stitt <justinstitt@google.com>
Co-developed-by: Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <kees@kernel.org>
---
Cc: Marco Elver <elver@google.com>
Cc: Andrey Konovalov <andreyknvl@gmail.com>
Cc: Andrey Ryabinin <ryabinin.a.a@gmail.com>
Cc: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>
Cc: Shuah Khan <skhan@linuxfoundation.org>
Cc: Miguel Ojeda <ojeda@kernel.org>
Cc: Nathan Chancellor <nathan@kernel.org>
Cc: <kasan-dev@googlegroups.com>
Cc: <linux-doc@vger.kernel.org>
Cc: <llvm@lists.linux.dev>
---
Documentation/dev-tools/ubsan.rst | 13 +
Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst | 323 ++++++++++++++++++
Documentation/process/deprecated.rst | 39 +++
Documentation/process/index.rst | 1 +
include/linux/compiler_attributes.h | 12 +
MAINTAINERS | 1 +
6 files changed, 389 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst

diff --git a/Documentation/dev-tools/ubsan.rst b/Documentation/dev-tools/ubsan.rst
index e3591f8e9d5b..9e0c0f048eef 100644
--- a/Documentation/dev-tools/ubsan.rst
+++ b/Documentation/dev-tools/ubsan.rst
@@ -71,6 +71,19 @@ unaligned accesses (CONFIG_HAVE_EFFICIENT_UNALIGNED_ACCESS=y). One could
still enable it in config, just note that it will produce a lot of UBSAN
reports.

+Additional sanitizer options include::
+
+ CONFIG_OVERFLOW_BEHAVIOR_TYPES=y
+
+This enables checking for integer arithmetic wrap-around (overflow/underflow).
+It instruments signed and unsigned integer overflow, as well as implicit
+truncation operations. This option is currently limited to specific types
+via the ``__ob_trap`` and ``__ob_wrap`` annotations.
+
+For detailed information about arithmetic overflow handling, overflow behavior
+annotations, and best practices, see:
+Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst
+
References
----------

diff --git a/Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst b/Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2f19990f189b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+.. _arithmetic_overflow:
+
+Arithmetic Overflow Resolutions for Linux
+=========================================
+
+Background
+----------
+
+When a calculation's result exceeds the involved storage ranges, several
+strategies can be followed to handle such an overflow (or underflow),
+including:
+
+ - Undefined (i.e. pretend it's impossible and the result depends on hardware)
+ - Wrap around (this is what 2s-complement representation does by default)
+ - Trap (create an exception so the problem can be handled in another way)
+ - Saturate (explicitly hold the maximum or minimum representable value)
+
+In the C standard, three basic types can be involved in arithmetic, and each
+has a default strategy for solving the overflow problem:
+
+ - Signed overflow is undefined
+ - Unsigned overflow explicitly wraps around
+ - Pointer overflow is undefined
+
+The Linux kernel uses ``-fno-strict-overflow`` which implies ``-fwrapv``
+and ``-fwrapv-pointer`` which treats signed integer overflow and pointer
+overflow respectively as being consistent with two's complement. This flag
+allows for consistency within the codebase about the expectations of
+overflowing arithmetic as well as prevents eager compiler optimizations.
+Note that :ref:`open-coded intentional arithmetic wrap-around is deprecated <open_coded_wrap_around>`.
+
+From here on, arithmetic overflow concerning signed, unsigned, or
+pointer types will be referred to as "wrap-around" since it is the
+default strategy for the kernel. There is no such thing as "undefined
+behavior" for arithmetic in Linux: it always wraps.
+
+Overflow Behavior Types
+-----------------------
+
+The newly available ``__ob_trap`` and ``__ob_wrap`` annotations provide
+fine-grained control over overflow behavior. These can be applied to
+integer types to unambiguously specify how arithmetic operations are
+expected to behave upon overflow. Currently, only Clang supports these
+annotations. The annotation defines two possible overflow behaviors:
+
+* ``wrap``: Ensures arithmetic operations wrap on overflow, providing
+ well-defined two's complement semantics according to the bitwidth of the
+ underlying type, regardless of any associated ``-fwrapv`` options or
+ sanitizers (integer overflow and truncation checks are suppressed)
+* ``trap``: Enables overflow and truncation checking for the type, even when
+ associated ``-fwrapv`` options are enabled. Without the sanitizer enabled
+ the compiler emits a trap instruction, otherwise the integer overflow
+ and truncation warnings are emitted but execution continues.
+
+Note that the sanitizer infrastructure is used for instrumentation shows
+up in logs as the "Undefined Behavior" sanitizer (UBSan), which may be
+confusing. Instead this should be thought of as the "Unexpected Behavior"
+sanitizer. Its infrastructure is used to report on unexpected wrapping
+behaviors: none of integer operations are "undefined" any more, as per
+the use of ``-fno-strict-overflow``, but instead UBSan will kick in when
+a type is explicitly marked as non-wrapping (i.e. trapping).
+
+
+Enablement
+~~~~~~~~~~
+
+When supported by the compiler, kernels can build with either
+``CONFIG_OVERFLOW_BEHAVIOR_TYPES_TRAP=y`` for trapping mode (i.e.
+mitigation enabled), or ``CONFIG_OVERFLOW_BEHAVIOR_TYPES_WARN=y`` which
+enables warn-only mode, which logs the overflows but will continue as
+if the type was not marked with ``__ob_trap``.
+
+Compiler Options
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Usage of the ``overflow_behavior`` attribute is gated behind the
+``-fexperimental-overflow-behavior-types`` compiler flag which
+is a ``-cc1`` flag, meaning the kernel passes it as ``-Xclang
+-fexperimental-overflow-behavior-types``.
+
+Sanitizer Case Lists
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Linux uses a Sanitizer Case List file to selectively enable certain
+sanitizers for specific types. Specifically, the overflow and truncation
+sanitizers have had their standard instrumentation disabled for all
+types. To "allowlist" specific types for instrumentation the kernel
+makes use of the in-source ``__ob_trap`` annotations to gain reporting
+by the sanitizers.
+
+Currently, type-based entries within a sanitizer case list are only
+supported by Clang. For more information on the syntax for SCL files
+refer to the Clang docs:
+https://clang.llvm.org/docs/SanitizerSpecialCaseList.html
+
+Syntax
+~~~~~~
+
+Creating Overflow Behavior Types is possible via two syntactic forms;
+
+**Attribute syntax:**
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ typedef unsigned int __attribute__((overflow_behavior(trap))) safe_uint;
+ typedef unsigned int __attribute__((overflow_behavior(wrap))) wrapping_uint;
+
+**Keyword syntax:**
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ typedef unsigned int __ob_trap safe_uint;
+ typedef unsigned int __ob_wrap wrapping_uint;
+
+Both forms are semantically identical. The keyword syntax is shorter and can
+appear in the same positions as ``const`` or ``volatile``. The attribute syntax
+is more self-documenting, so Linux uses this form.
+
+When ``-fexperimental-overflow-behavior-types`` is not enabled, both the
+keywords (``__ob_wrap``, ``__ob_trap``) and the attribute are ignored with a
+warning.
+
+The feature can be queried with either
+``__has_extension(overflow_behavior_types)`` or
+``__has_attribute(overflow_behavior)``.
+
+Basic Usage
+^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ typedef unsigned int __ob_wrap counter_t;
+ typedef unsigned long __ob_trap safe_size_type;
+
+ counter_t increment_counter(counter_t count) {
+ return count + 1;
+ }
+
+ safe_size_type calculate_buffer_size(safe_size_type base,
+ safe_size_type extra) {
+ return base + extra;
+ }
+
+In the first function, arithmetic on ``counter_t`` is well-defined
+wrapping. Its overflow will never be reported and unlike an plain
+``unsigned int`` its purpose is unambiguous: it is expected to wrap
+around. In the second function, arithmetic on ``safe_size_type`` is
+checked -- overflow will result in a trap or sanitizer report depending
+on the build configuration.
+
+Variables can be annotated directly:
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ void foo(int num) {
+ int __ob_trap a = num;
+ a += 42;
+
+ unsigned char __ob_wrap b = 255;
+ b += 10;
+ }
+
+
+Interaction with Compiler Options
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Overflow behavior annotations override many global compiler flags and
+sanitizer configurations:
+
+* ``wrap`` types suppress UBSan's integer overflow checks
+ (``signed-integer-overflow``, ``unsigned-integer-overflow``) and implicit
+ truncation checks (``implicit-signed-integer-truncation``,
+ ``implicit-unsigned-integer-truncation``). They also suppress ``-ftrapv``
+ for the annotated type.
+* ``trap`` types enable overflow checking even when ``-fwrapv``
+ is globally enabled. When no sanitizer runtime is available, the compiler
+ emits a trap instruction directly.
+* Both forms override Sanitizer Special Case List (SSCL) entries.
+
+Common overflow idioms are excluded from instrumentation via
+``-fsanitize-undefined-ignore-overflow-pattern=``. These overflow idioms have
+their instrumentation withheld even under the presence of overflow behavior
+annotations. For more details see:
+https://clang.llvm.org/docs/UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer.html#disabling-instrumentation-for-common-overflow-patterns
+
+Truncation Semantics
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Truncation and overflow are related -- both are often desirable in some
+contexts and undesirable in others. Overflow behavior types control truncation
+instrumentation at the type level as well:
+
+* If a ``trap`` type is involved as source or destination of a truncation, the
+ compiler inserts truncation checks. These will either trap or report via
+ sanitizer depending on the build configuration.
+* If a ``wrap`` type is involved as source or destination, truncation checks
+ are suppressed regardless of compiler flags.
+* If both ``trap`` and ``wrap`` are involved in the same truncation, ``wrap``
+ takes precedence (truncation checks are suppressed) since the explicit
+ wrapping intent covers truncation as well.
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ void checked(char a, int __ob_trap b) {
+ a = b;
+ }
+
+ void wrapping(char a, int __ob_wrap b) {
+ a = b;
+ }
+
+
+Promotion Rules
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Overflow behavior types follow standard C integer promotion rules while
+preserving the overflow behavior annotation through expressions:
+
+* When an overflow behavior type is mixed with a standard integer type, the
+ result carries the overflow behavior annotation. Standard C conversion rules
+ determine the resulting width and signedness.
+* When two overflow behavior types of the same kind (both ``wrap`` or both
+ ``trap``) are mixed, the result follows standard C arithmetic conversion
+ rules with that behavior applied.
+* When ``wrap`` and ``trap`` are mixed, ``trap`` dominates. The result follows
+ standard C conversions with ``trap`` behavior.
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ typedef int __ob_wrap wrap_int;
+ typedef int __ob_trap trap_int;
+
+ wrap_int a = 1;
+ trap_int b = 2;
+ /* a + b results in __ob_trap int (trap dominates) */
+
+
+Type Compatibility
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Overflow behavior types are distinct from their underlying types for type
+checking purposes. Assigning between types with different overflow behaviors
+(``wrap`` vs ``trap``) is an error:
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ int __ob_wrap w;
+ int __ob_trap t;
+ w = t; /* error: incompatible overflow behavior types */
+
+Assigning from an overflow behavior type to a plain integer type discards the
+overflow behavior. The compiler can warn about this with
+``-Wimplicit-overflow-behavior-conversion`` (implied by ``-Wconversion``).
+
+Intentionally discarding the overflow behavior should use an explicit
+cast:
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ unsigned long __ob_trap checked_size;
+ unsigned long regular_size;
+
+ regular_size = checked_size; /* warning: discards overflow behavior */
+ regular_size = (unsigned long)checked_size; /* OK, explicit cast */
+
+If truncation should be allowed for a cast away from ``trap``, an
+explicit ``wrap`` cast is needed to suppress run-time instrumentation:
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ unsigned long __ob_trap checked_size;
+ unsigned char small_size;
+
+ small_size = checked_size; /* may trap at run-time on truncation */
+ small_size = (unsigned long __ob_wrap)checked_size; /* OK, explicit cast */
+
+
+Pointer Semantics
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Pointers to overflow behavior types are treated as distinct from pointers to
+their underlying types. Converting between them produces a warning controlled
+by ``-Wincompatible-pointer-types-discards-overflow-behavior``:
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+ unsigned long *px;
+ unsigned long __ob_trap *py;
+
+ px = py; /* warning: discards overflow behavior */
+ py = px; /* warning: discards overflow behavior */
+
+
+Best Practices
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+1. **Use ``__ob_trap`` for sizes and counts** where overflow indicates bugs:
+
+ .. code-block:: c
+
+ typedef unsigned long long __ob_trap no_wrap_u64;
+ no_wrap_u64 buffer_len = kmalloc_size + header_size;
+
+2. **Use ``__ob_wrap`` for arithmetic that intentionally overflows**:
+
+ .. code-block:: c
+
+ typedef u32 __ob_wrap hash_t;
+ hash_t hash = (hash * 31) + byte;
+
+3. **Don't mix different overflow behavior types**:
+
+ .. code-block:: c
+
+ int __ob_wrap a;
+ int __ob_trap b;
+
+ a = b; /* error: incompatible overflow behavior types */
+
+ a = (int __ob_wrap)b; /* OK, explicit cast */
+ a = (int)b; /* OK, cast to underlying type */
diff --git a/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst b/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst
index fed56864d036..1c20f7ff0798 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst
@@ -109,6 +109,45 @@ For more details, also see array3_size() and flex_array_size(),
as well as the related check_mul_overflow(), check_add_overflow(),
check_sub_overflow(), and check_shl_overflow() family of functions.

+.. _open_coded_wrap_around:
+
+open-coded intentional arithmetic wrap-around
+---------------------------------------------
+Depending on arithmetic wrap-around without annotations means the
+kernel cannot distinguish between intentional wrap-around and accidental
+wrap-around (when using things like the overflow sanitizers).
+
+For example, where an addition is intended to wrap around::
+
+ magic = counter + rotation;
+
+please use the wrapping_add() helper::
+
+ magic = wrapping_add(int, counter, rotation);
+
+To help minimize needless code churn, the kernel uses overflow idiom exclusions
+(currently only supported by Clang). Some commonly used overflow-dependent code
+patterns will not be instrumented by overflow sanitizers. The currently
+supported patterns are::
+
+ /* wrap-around test */
+ if (var + offset < var) ...
+
+ /* standalone unsigned decrement used in while loop */
+ while(size--)
+
+ /* negated unsigned constants */
+ -1UL;
+ -5U;
+
+In rare cases where helpers aren't available (e.g. in early boot code, etc) but
+overflow instrumentation still needs to be avoided, utilize wrap-around tests
+to check wrap-around outcomes before performing calculations::
+
+ if (var + offset < var) {
+ /* wrap-around has occurred */
+ }
+
simple_strtol(), simple_strtoll(), simple_strtoul(), simple_strtoull()
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The simple_strtol(), simple_strtoll(),
diff --git a/Documentation/process/index.rst b/Documentation/process/index.rst
index dbd6ea16aca7..620257eca00e 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/index.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/index.rst
@@ -111,3 +111,4 @@ developers:

kernel-docs
deprecated
+ arithmetic-overflow
diff --git a/include/linux/compiler_attributes.h b/include/linux/compiler_attributes.h
index c16d4199bf92..65f57ff378bb 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler_attributes.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler_attributes.h
@@ -396,6 +396,18 @@
# define __disable_sanitizer_instrumentation
#endif

+/*
+ * Optional: only supported by Clang with -Xclang -experimental-foverflow-behavior-types
+ * passed via CONFIG_OVERFLOW_BEHAVIOR_TYPES. When not available, define empty macros for
+ * the trap/wrap annotations.
+ *
+ * clang: https://clang.llvm.org/docs/OverflowBehaviorTypes.html
+ */
+#if !__has_attribute(overflow_behavior) || !defined(OVERFLOW_BEHAVIOR_TYPES)
+# define __ob_trap
+# define __ob_wrap
+#endif
+
/*
* gcc: https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Common-Function-Attributes.html#index-weak-function-attribute
* gcc: https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Common-Variable-Attributes.html#index-weak-variable-attribute
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index a9f067164203..342a550c25b5 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -19925,6 +19925,7 @@ M: Justin Stitt <justinstitt@google.com>
L: linux-hardening@vger.kernel.org
S: Supported
T: git git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/kees/linux.git for-next/hardening
+F: Documentation/process/arithmetic-overflow.rst
F: scripts/integer-wrap-ignore.scl
F: scripts/Makefile.obt

--
2.34.1