[PATCH 19/21] KVM: VMX: Update MTF and ICEBP comments to document KVM's subtle behavior

Sean Christopherson
2022-03-11T03:29:51Z

Document the oddities of ICEBP interception (trap-like #DB is intercepted
as a fault-like exception), and how using VMX's inner "skip" helper
deliberately bypasses the pending MTF and single-step #DB logic.

No functional change intended.

Signed-off-by: Sean Christopherson <seanjc@google.com>
---
arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c | 16 +++++++++++-----
1 file changed, 11 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c b/arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c
index 0420bc6d418a..ae88d42289ce 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kvm/vmx/vmx.c
@@ -1570,9 +1570,13 @@ static void vmx_update_emulated_instruction(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)

/*
* Per the SDM, MTF takes priority over debug-trap exceptions besides
- * T-bit traps. As instruction emulation is completed (i.e. at the
- * instruction boundary), any #DB exception pending delivery must be a
- * debug-trap. Record the pending MTF state to be delivered in
+ * TSS T-bit traps and ICEBP (INT1). KVM doesn't emulate T-bit traps
+ * or ICEBP (in the emulator proper), and skipping of ICEBP after an
+ * intercepted #DB deliberately avoids single-step #DB and MTF updates
+ * as ICEBP is higher priority than both. As instruction emulation is
+ * completed at this point (i.e. KVM is at the instruction boundary),
+ * any #DB exception pending delivery must be a debug-trap of lower
+ * priority than MTF. Record the pending MTF state to be delivered in
* vmx_check_nested_events().
*/
if (nested_cpu_has_mtf(vmcs12) &&
@@ -4924,8 +4928,10 @@ static int handle_exception_nmi(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)
* instruction. ICEBP generates a trap-like #DB, but
* despite its interception control being tied to #DB,
* is an instruction intercept, i.e. the VM-Exit occurs
- * on the ICEBP itself. Note, skipping ICEBP also
- * clears STI and MOVSS blocking.
+ * on the ICEBP itself. Use the inner "skip" helper to
+ * avoid single-step #DB and MTF updates, as ICEBP is
+ * higher priority. Note, skipping ICEBP still clears
+ * STI and MOVSS blocking.
*
* For all other #DBs, set vmcs.PENDING_DBG_EXCEPTIONS.BS
* if single-step is enabled in RFLAGS and STI or MOVSS
--
2.35.1.723.g4982287a31-goog