Re: [PATCH v6 05/43] KVM: guest_memfd: Wire up kvm_get_memory_attributes() to per-gmem attributes

[Sean Christopherson]

On Thu, May 21, 2026, Fuad Tabba wrote:
> On Wed, 20 May 2026 at 22:44, Ackerley Tng <ackerleytng@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > Fuad Tabba <tabba@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> >
> > >
> > > [...snip...]
> > >
> > >> +unsigned long kvm_gmem_get_memory_attributes(struct kvm *kvm, gfn_t gfn)
> > >> +{
> > >> +       struct kvm_memory_slot *slot = gfn_to_memslot(kvm, gfn);
> > >> +       struct inode *inode;
> > >> +
> > >> +       /*
> > >> +        * If this gfn has no associated memslot, there's no chance of the gfn
> > >> +        * being backed by private memory, since guest_memfd must be used for
> > >> +        * private memory, and guest_memfd must be associated with some memslot.
> > >> +        */
> > >> +       if (!slot)
> > >> +               return 0;
> > >> +
> > >> +       CLASS(gmem_get_file, file)(slot);
> > >> +       if (!file)
> > >> +               return 0;
> > >> +
> > >> +       inode = file_inode(file);
> > >> +
> > >> +       /*
> > >> +        * Rely on the maple tree's internal RCU lock to ensure a
> > >> +        * stable result. This result can become stale as soon as the
> > >> +        * lock is dropped, so the caller _must_ still protect
> > >> +        * consumption of private vs. shared by checking
> > >> +        * mmu_invalidate_retry_gfn() under mmu_lock to serialize
> > >> +        * against ongoing attribute updates.
> > >> +        */
> > >> +       return kvm_gmem_get_attributes(inode, kvm_gmem_get_index(slot, gfn));
> > >> +}
> > >
> > > Doesn't this imply that all consumers of kvm_mem_is_private() should
> > > validate the result using mmu_lock and the invalidation sequence?
> >
> > Let me know how I can improve the comment.
> 
> Given Sean's context, the comment is good I think. I would quibble
> with the the "_must_ still protect" phrasing being a bit too strict.
> 
> Maybe just soften it slightly to acknowledge the exception? Something like:
> 
>   * lock is dropped, so callers that require a strict result _must_ protect
>   * consumption of private vs. shared by checking mmu_invalidate_retry_gfn()
>   * under mmu_lock to serialize against ongoing attribute updates. Callers
>   * doing lockless reads must be able to tolerate a stale result.
> 
> That aligns the comment with how KVM is actually using it today. That
> said, this is nitpicking. Feel free to use or ignore.

Hmm, I wonder if we can figure out a way to consolidate some documentation,
because this is _exactly_ the same pattern that x86's host_pfn_mapping_level()
deals with (see its big comment below).

There's also the stale comment in kvm_invalidate_memslot(), which, stating the
obvious, speaks to the memslot+SRCU side of things.

Maybe it makes sense to to find a central location for one giant comment about
how how MMU notifier events and memslot+SRCU protections work?  And then refer
to that in paths where some asset needs to be tied into MMU notifiers and/or
memslots+SRCU?

[*] https://lore.kernel.org/all/agcbWe8s9lmPuJwG@xxxxxxxxxx


/*
 * Lookup the mapping level for @gfn in the current mm.
 *
 * WARNING!  Use of host_pfn_mapping_level() requires the caller and the end
 * consumer to be tied into KVM's handlers for MMU notifier events!
 *
 * There are several ways to safely use this helper:
 *
 * - Check mmu_invalidate_retry_gfn() after grabbing the mapping level, before
 *   consuming it.  In this case, mmu_lock doesn't need to be held during the
 *   lookup, but it does need to be held while checking the MMU notifier.
 *
 * - Hold mmu_lock AND ensure there is no in-progress MMU notifier invalidation
 *   event for the hva.  This can be done by explicit checking the MMU notifier
 *   or by ensuring that KVM already has a valid mapping that covers the hva.
 *
 * - Do not use the result to install new mappings, e.g. use the host mapping
 *   level only to decide whether or not to zap an entry.  In this case, it's
 *   not required to hold mmu_lock (though it's highly likely the caller will
 *   want to hold mmu_lock anyways, e.g. to modify SPTEs).
 *
 * Note!  The lookup can still race with modifications to host page tables, but
 * the above "rules" ensure KVM will not _consume_ the result of the walk if a
 * race with the primary MMU occurs.
 */