Re: [PATCH v2] x86/kvm: Disable KVM_ASYNC_PF_SEND_ALWAYS

From: Thomas Gleixner
Date: Sun Mar 08 2020 - 03:23:30 EST


Thomas Gleixner <tglx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> Andy Lutomirski <luto@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>> On Sat, Mar 7, 2020 at 7:47 AM Thomas Gleixner <tglx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> The host knows exactly when it injects a async PF and it can store CR2
>>> and reason of that async PF in flight.
>>>
>>> On the next VMEXIT it checks whether apf_reason is 0. If apf_reason is 0
>>> then it knows that the guest has read CR2 and apf_reason. All good
>>> nothing to worry about.
>>>
>>> If not it needs to be careful.
>>>
>>> As long as the apf_reason of the last async #PF is not cleared by the
>>> guest no new async #PF can be injected. That's already correct because
>>> in that case IF==0 which prevents a nested async #PF.
>>>
>>> If MCE, NMI trigger a real pagefault then the #PF injection needs to
>>> clear apf_reason and set the correct CR2. When that #PF returns then the
>>> old CR2 and apf_reason need to be restored.
>>
>> How is the host supposed to know when the #PF returns? Intercepting
>> IRET sounds like a bad idea and, in any case, is not actually a
>> reliable indication that #PF returned.
>
> The host does not care about the IRET. It solely has to check whether
> apf_reason is 0 or not. That way it knows that the guest has read CR2
> and apf_reason.

Bah. I'm a moron. Of course it needs to trap the IRET of the #PF in
order to restore CR2 and apf_reason. Alternatively it could trap the CR2
read of #PF, but yes that's all nasty.

Thanks,

tglx