linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v2] arm64: Branch predictor hardening for Cavium ThunderX2

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Message-ID: <20180116234554.GA38392@jc-sabre>
Date:   Tue, 16 Jan 2018 15:45:54 -0800
From:   Jayachandran C <jnair@...iumnetworks.com>
To:     Jon Masters <jcm@...masters.org>,
        Will Deacon <will.deacon@....com>, marc.zyngier@....com
Cc:     linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org, lorenzo.pieralisi@....com,
        ard.biesheuvel@...aro.org, catalin.marinas@....com,
        linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, labbott@...hat.com,
        christoffer.dall@...aro.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2] arm64: Branch predictor hardening for Cavium ThunderX2

On Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 04:52:53PM -0500, Jon Masters wrote:
> On 01/09/2018 07:47 AM, Jayachandran C wrote:
> 
> > Use PSCI based mitigation for speculative execution attacks targeting
> > the branch predictor. The approach is similar to the one used for
> > Cortex-A CPUs, but in case of ThunderX2 we add another SMC call to
> > test if the firmware supports the capability.
> > 
> > If the secure firmware has been updated with the mitigation code to
> > invalidate the branch target buffer, we use the PSCI version call to
> > invoke it.
> 
> What's the status of this patch currently? Previously you had suggested
> to hold while the SMC got standardized, but then you seemed happy with
> pulling in. What's the latest?

My understanding is that the SMC standardization is being worked on
but will take more time, and the KPTI current patchset will go to
mainline before that.

Given that, I would expect arm64 maintainers to pick up this patch for
ThunderX2, but I have not seen any comments so far.

Will/Marc, please let me know if you are planning to pick this patch
into the KPTI tree.

Thanks,
JC.