Re: [PATCH bpf-next] selftests/bpf: add helper retval linked scalar pruning selftest

["Alexei Starovoitov" <alexei.starovoitov@gmail.com>]

On Thu Jun 11, 2026 at 9:07 AM PDT, Zhenzhong Wu wrote:
> Add a verifier runtime test for a branch pattern where a helper return
> value and a related scalar stay live across the same control-flow
> sequence. Rust/Aya-generated eBPF can naturally produce this shape when
> a match on a helper status keeps data derived before the helper call
> live across the same branches. Such code commonly uses the helper return
> value in r0, where 0 means success, producing an r0 == 0 / r0 != 0
> branch shape.
>
> The test preserves that branch shape but shifts the success value to 1
> before branching. Using r0 == 1 / r0 != 1 avoids depending on the
> verifier's not-equal-zero refinement, so the test exercises linked
> scalar precision and pruning behavior directly instead of being masked
> by zero-specific range refinement.
>
> On affected kernels the verifier can explore an impossible path where
> r0 and r7 are linked by scalar ID, keep the wrong branch, and make the
> test return 1. With linked scalar precision tracked per instruction,
> state pruning keeps the real success path, and the test returns 0.
>
> Suggested-by: Shung-Hsi Yu <shung-hsi.yu@suse.com>
> Signed-off-by: Zhenzhong Wu <jt26wzz@gmail.com>
> ---
>  .../selftests/bpf/progs/verifier_scalar_ids.c | 35 +++++++++++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 35 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/verifier_scalar_ids.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/verifier_scalar_ids.c
> index 70ae14d60..de71d547f 100644
> --- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/verifier_scalar_ids.c
> +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/verifier_scalar_ids.c
> @@ -448,6 +448,41 @@ __naked void linked_regs_broken_link_2(void)
>  	: __clobber_all);
>  }
>  
> +SEC("tc")
> +__description("helper retval linked scalar pruning")
> +__success __retval(0)
> +__naked void helper_retval_linked_scalar_pruning(void)
> +{
> +	asm volatile (
> +	"r7 = *(u32 *)(r1 + %[__sk_buff_data_end]);"
> +	"r5 = *(u32 *)(r1 + %[__sk_buff_data]);"
> +	"r7 -= r5;"
> +	"r2 = 0;"
> +	"r3 = r10;"
> +	"r3 += -8;"
> +	"r4 = 1;"
> +	"call %[bpf_skb_load_bytes];"
> +	"r0 += 1;"
> +	"r6 = 1;"
> +	/* success path keeps r7 independent; failure path links r7 to r0. */
> +	"if r0 == 1 goto l0_%=;"

this exercises linked registers with BPF_ADD_CONST logic.
We already have such tests. Why do we need this one?
How is it different?

pw-bot: cr