[PATCH -tip v6 26/27] Documentation: kprobes: Add how to change the execution path

Masami Hiramatsu
2018-06-19T16:17:14Z

Add a section that explaining how to change the execution
path with kprobes and warnings for some arch.

Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu <mhiramat@kernel.org>
Cc: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>
Cc: linux-doc@vger.kernel.org
---
Documentation/kprobes.txt | 20 ++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 20 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Documentation/kprobes.txt b/Documentation/kprobes.txt
index 3e9e99ea751b..8a98eed1521b 100644
--- a/Documentation/kprobes.txt
+++ b/Documentation/kprobes.txt
@@ -80,6 +80,26 @@ After the instruction is single-stepped, Kprobes executes the
"post_handler," if any, that is associated with the kprobe.
Execution then continues with the instruction following the probepoint.

+Changing Execution Path
+-----------------------
+
+Since the kprobes can probe into a running kernel code, it can change
+the register set, including instruction pointer. This operation
+requires maximum attention, such as keeping the stack frame, recovering
+execution path etc. Since it is operated on running kernel and need deep
+knowladge of the archtecture and concurrent computing, you can easily
+shot your foot.
+
+If you change the instruction pointer (and set up other related
+registers) in pre_handler, you must return !0 so that the kprobes
+stops single stepping and just returns to given address.
+This also means post_handler should not be called anymore.
+
+Note that this operation may be harder on some architectures which
+use TOC (Table of Contents) for function call, since you have to
+setup new TOC for your function in your module, and recover old
+one after back from it.
+
Return Probes
-------------