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Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:09:59 +0100
From: Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@....com>
To: Catalin Marinas <catalin.marinas@....com>
Cc: Kees Cook <keescook@...omium.org>, kernel-hardening@...ts.openwall.com,
	Will Deacon <will.deacon@....com>,
	AKASHI Takahiro <takahiro.akashi@...aro.org>,
	James Morse <james.morse@....com>,
	linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2 1/7] arm64: Factor out PAN enabling/disabling into
 separate uaccess_* macros

On Mon, Sep 12, 2016 at 03:52:19PM +0100, Catalin Marinas wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 05, 2016 at 04:38:28PM +0100, Mark Rutland wrote:
> > On Fri, Sep 02, 2016 at 04:02:07PM +0100, Catalin Marinas wrote:
> > >  /*
> > > + * User access enabling/disabling.
> > > + */
> > > +#define uaccess_disable(alt)						\
> > > +do {									\
> > > +	asm(ALTERNATIVE("nop", SET_PSTATE_PAN(1), alt,			\
> > > +			CONFIG_ARM64_PAN));				\
> > > +} while (0)
> > > +
> > > +#define uaccess_enable(alt)						\
> > > +do {									\
> > > +	asm(ALTERNATIVE("nop", SET_PSTATE_PAN(0), alt,			\
> > > +			CONFIG_ARM64_PAN));				\
> > > +} while (0)
> > 
> > Passing the alternative down is somewhat confusing. e.g. in the futex
> > case it looks like we're only doing something when PAN is present,
> > whereas we'll manipulate TTBR0 in the absence of PAN.
> 
> I agree it's confusing (I got it wrong first time as well and used the
> wrong alternative for futex).
> 
> > If I've understood correctly, we need this to distinguish regular
> > load/store uaccess sequences (eg. the futex code) from potentially
> > patched unprivileged load/store sequences (e.g. {get,put}_user) when
> > poking PSTATE.PAN.
> > 
> > So perhaps we could ahve something like:
> > 
> > * privileged_uaccess_{enable,disable}()
> >   Which toggle TTBR0, or PAN (always).
> >   These would handle cases like the futex/swp code.
> >  
> > * (unprivileged_)uaccess_{enable,disable}()
> >   Which toggle TTBR0, or PAN (in the absence of UAO).
> >   These would handle cases like the {get,put}_user sequences.
> > 
> > Though perhaps that is just as confusing. ;)
> 
> I find it more confusing. 

Fair enough. :)

> In the non-UAO case, get_user etc. would
> normally have to use privileged_uaccess_enable() since ldr is not
> replaced with ldtr. Maybe uaccess_enable_for_exclusives() but it doesn't
> look any better. 

I strongly prefer uaccess_enable_exclusives(), or something of that sort
to both of the above. ;)

> I think adding some comments to the code (uaccess_enable macro) would
> work better, clarifying what the alternative is for.

That will make things smoewhat clearer, though only after one reads the
comments. In contrast, uaccess_enable_exclusives() would be
self-documenting w.r.t. the intented use-case.

Do we ever want to use the 8.1 atomics for futexes? If so, perhaps
uaccess_enable_atomics()?

Thanks,
Mark.

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