linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v2] kernel/fork: stop playing lockless games for exe

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Date:   Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:29:16 +0200
From:   David Hildenbrand <david@...hat.com>
To:     Mateusz Guzik <mjguzik@...il.com>, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Cc:     torvalds@...ux-foundation.org, brauner@...nel.org,
        ebiederm@...ssion.com, akpm@...ux-foundation.org,
        linux-mm@...ck.org, koct9i@...il.com, oleg@...hat.com,
        dave@...olabs.net
Subject: Re: [PATCH v2] kernel/fork: stop playing lockless games for exe_file
 replacement

On 14.08.23 19:21, Mateusz Guzik wrote:
> xchg originated in 6e399cd144d8 ("prctl: avoid using mmap_sem for
> exe_file serialization"). While the commit message does not explain
> *why* the change, I found the original submission [1] which ultimately
> claims it cleans things up by removing dependency of exe_file on the
> semaphore.
> 
> However, fe69d560b5bd ("kernel/fork: always deny write access to current
> MM exe_file") added a semaphore up/down cycle to synchronize the state
> of exe_file against fork, defeating the point of the original change.
> 
> This is on top of semaphore trips already present both in the replacing
> function and prctl (the only consumer).
> 
> Normally replacing exe_file does not happen for busy processes, thus
> write-locking is not an impediment to performance in the intended use
> case.  If someone keeps invoking the routine for a busy processes they
> are trying to play dirty and that's another reason to avoid any
> trickery.
> 
> As such I think the atomic here only adds complexity for no benefit.
> 
> Just write-lock around the replacement.
> 
> I also note that replacement races against the mapping check loop as
> nothing synchronizes actual assignment with with said checks but I am
> not addressing it in this patch. (Is the loop of any use to begin with?)
> 
> V2:
> - fix up comments
> - tweak commit message
> 
> Link: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-mm/1424979417.10344.14.camel@stgolabs.net/ [1]
> Signed-off-by: Mateusz Guzik <mjguzik@...il.com>
> ---


Acked-by: David Hildenbrand <david@...hat.com>

-- 
Cheers,

David / dhildenb