[patch 11/18] seccomp, treewide: Rename and convert __secure_computing() to return boolean
From: Thomas Gleixner
Date: Tue Jul 07 2026 - 15:11:04 EST
From: Jinjie Ruan <ruanjinjie@xxxxxxxxxx>
The return value of __secure_computing() currently uses 0 to indicate
that a system call should be allowed, and -1 to indicate that it should
be blocked/killed. This 0/-1 pattern is non-intuitive for a security
check function and makes the control flow at the call sites less readable.
Furthermore, any potential future changes to these return values would
require a high-risk, error-prone audit of all its users across different
architectures.
Sanitize this logic by converting the return type of __secure_computing()
to a proper boolean, where 'true' explicitly means 'allow' and 'false'
means 'fail/deny'.
Update all the two dozen or so call sites across the tree to align with
this new boolean semantic. No functional changes are intended, as the
callers still return -1 to the lower-level assembly entry code upon
seccomp denial.
Rename the function to __seccomp_permit_syscall() so that the purpose is
entirely clear.
[ tglx: Rename the function ]
Suggested-by: Thomas Gleixner <tglx@xxxxxxxxxx>
Suggested-by: Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@xxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Jinjie Ruan <ruanjinjie@xxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Thomas Gleixner <tglx@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Kees Cook <kees@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Andy Lutomirski <luto@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Oleg Nesterov <oleg@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Richard Henderson <richard.henderson@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Russell King <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Catalin Marinas <catalin.marinas@xxxxxxx>
Cc: Guo Ren <guoren@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Geert Uytterhoeven <geert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Thomas Bogendoerfer <tsbogend@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Helge Deller <deller@xxxxxx>
Cc: Yoshinori Sato <ysato@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Richard Weinberger <richard@xxxxxx>
Cc: Chris Zankel <chris@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: linux-arm-kernel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-alpha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-csky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-m68k@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-mips@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-parisc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-sh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: linux-um@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
---
arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/m68k/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c | 2 -
arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c | 2 -
arch/um/kernel/skas/syscall.c | 2 -
arch/x86/entry/vsyscall/vsyscall_64.c | 14 ++++++-------
arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c | 3 --
include/linux/entry-common.h | 9 +++-----
include/linux/seccomp.h | 12 +++++------
kernel/seccomp.c | 35 +++++++++++++++++-----------------
14 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 46 deletions(-)
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ asmlinkage unsigned long syscall_trace_e
* If this fails, seccomp may already have set up the return value
* (e.g. SECCOMP_RET_ERRNO / TRACE).
*/
- if (secure_computing() == -1) {
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall()) {
if (regs->r19 == 0 && regs->r0 == (unsigned long)-1)
syscall_set_return_value(current, regs, -ENOSYS, 0);
syscall_set_nr(current, regs, -1);
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ asmlinkage int syscall_trace_enter(struc
/* Do seccomp after ptrace; syscall may have changed. */
#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_SECCOMP_FILTER
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;
#else
/* XXX: remove this once OABI gets fixed */
--- a/arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -2420,7 +2420,7 @@ int syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *
}
/* Do the secure computing after ptrace; failures should be fast. */
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return NO_SYSCALL;
if (test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINT))
--- a/arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ asmlinkage int syscall_trace_enter(struc
if (ptrace_report_syscall_entry(regs))
return -1;
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;
if (test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINT))
--- a/arch/m68k/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/m68k/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ asmlinkage int syscall_trace_enter(void)
if (test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACE))
ret = ptrace_report_syscall_entry(task_pt_regs(current));
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;
return ret;
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -1328,7 +1328,7 @@ asmlinkage long syscall_trace_enter(stru
return -1;
}
- if (secure_computing())
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;
if (unlikely(test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINT)))
--- a/arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ long do_syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_re
}
/* Do the secure computing check after ptrace. */
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;
#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINTS
--- a/arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c
+++ b/arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ asmlinkage long do_syscall_trace_enter(s
return -1;
}
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;
if (unlikely(test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINT)))
--- a/arch/um/kernel/skas/syscall.c
+++ b/arch/um/kernel/skas/syscall.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ void handle_syscall(struct uml_pt_regs *
goto out;
/* Do the seccomp check after ptrace; failures should be fast. */
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
goto out;
syscall = UPT_SYSCALL_NR(r);
--- a/arch/x86/entry/vsyscall/vsyscall_64.c
+++ b/arch/x86/entry/vsyscall/vsyscall_64.c
@@ -118,10 +118,10 @@ static bool write_ok_or_segv(unsigned lo
static bool __emulate_vsyscall(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned long address)
{
- unsigned long caller;
- int vsyscall_nr, syscall_nr, tmp;
+ unsigned long caller, orig_dx;
+ int vsyscall_nr, syscall_nr;
+ bool skip;
long ret;
- unsigned long orig_dx;
/* Confirm that the fault happened in 64-bit user mode */
if (!user_64bit_mode(regs))
@@ -197,16 +197,16 @@ static bool __emulate_vsyscall(struct pt
*/
regs->orig_ax = syscall_nr;
regs->ax = -ENOSYS;
- tmp = secure_computing();
- if ((!tmp && regs->orig_ax != syscall_nr) || regs->ip != address) {
+ skip = !seccomp_permit_syscall();
+ if ((!skip && regs->orig_ax != syscall_nr) || regs->ip != address) {
warn_bad_vsyscall(KERN_DEBUG, regs,
"seccomp tried to change syscall nr or ip");
force_exit_sig(SIGSYS);
return true;
}
regs->orig_ax = -1;
- if (tmp)
- goto do_ret; /* skip requested */
+ if (skip)
+ goto do_ret;
/*
* With a real vsyscall, page faults cause SIGSEGV.
--- a/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -553,8 +553,7 @@ int do_syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_reg
return 0;
}
- if (regs->syscall == NO_SYSCALL ||
- secure_computing() == -1) {
+ if (regs->syscall == NO_SYSCALL || !seccomp_permit_syscall()) {
do_syscall_trace_leave(regs);
return 0;
}
--- a/include/linux/entry-common.h
+++ b/include/linux/entry-common.h
@@ -102,9 +102,8 @@ static __always_inline long syscall_trac
/* Do seccomp after ptrace, to catch any tracer changes. */
if (work & SYSCALL_WORK_SECCOMP) {
- ret = __secure_computing();
- if (ret == -1L)
- return ret;
+ if (!__seccomp_permit_syscall())
+ return -1L;
}
/* Either of the above might have changed the syscall number */
@@ -115,7 +114,7 @@ static __always_inline long syscall_trac
syscall_enter_audit(regs, syscall);
- return ret ? : syscall;
+ return syscall;
}
/**
@@ -138,7 +137,7 @@ static __always_inline long syscall_trac
* It handles the following work items:
*
* 1) syscall_work flag dependent invocations of
- * ptrace_report_syscall_entry(), __secure_computing(), trace_sys_enter()
+ * ptrace_report_syscall_entry(), __seccomp_permit_syscall(), trace_sys_enter()
* 2) Invocation of audit_syscall_entry()
*/
static __always_inline long syscall_enter_from_user_mode_work(struct pt_regs *regs, long syscall)
--- a/include/linux/seccomp.h
+++ b/include/linux/seccomp.h
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@
#include <linux/atomic.h>
#include <asm/seccomp.h>
-extern int __secure_computing(void);
+extern bool __seccomp_permit_syscall(void);
#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_SECCOMP_FILTER
-static inline int secure_computing(void)
+static __always_inline bool seccomp_permit_syscall(void)
{
if (unlikely(test_syscall_work(SECCOMP)))
- return __secure_computing();
- return 0;
+ return __seccomp_permit_syscall();
+ return true;
}
#else
extern void secure_computing_strict(int this_syscall);
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ static inline int seccomp_mode(struct se
struct seccomp_data;
#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_SECCOMP_FILTER
-static inline int secure_computing(void) { return 0; }
+static inline bool seccomp_permit_syscall(void) { return true; }
#else
static inline void secure_computing_strict(int this_syscall) { return; }
#endif
-static inline int __secure_computing(void) { return 0; }
+static inline bool __seccomp_permit_syscall(void) { return true; }
static inline long prctl_get_seccomp(void)
{
--- a/kernel/seccomp.c
+++ b/kernel/seccomp.c
@@ -1100,12 +1100,13 @@ void secure_computing_strict(int this_sy
else
BUG();
}
-int __secure_computing(void)
+
+bool __seccomp_permit_syscall(void)
{
int this_syscall = syscall_get_nr(current, current_pt_regs());
secure_computing_strict(this_syscall);
- return 0;
+ return true;
}
#else
@@ -1256,7 +1257,7 @@ static int seccomp_do_user_notification(
return -1;
}
-static int __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
+static bool __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
{
u32 filter_ret, action;
struct seccomp_data sd;
@@ -1294,7 +1295,7 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_sys
case SECCOMP_RET_TRACE:
/* We've been put in this state by the ptracer already. */
if (recheck_after_trace)
- return 0;
+ return true;
/* ENOSYS these calls if there is no tracer attached. */
if (!ptrace_event_enabled(current, PTRACE_EVENT_SECCOMP)) {
@@ -1330,19 +1331,19 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_sys
* a skip would have already been reported.
*/
if (__seccomp_filter(this_syscall, true))
- return -1;
+ return false;
- return 0;
+ return true;
case SECCOMP_RET_USER_NOTIF:
if (seccomp_do_user_notification(this_syscall, match, &sd))
goto skip;
- return 0;
+ return true;
case SECCOMP_RET_LOG:
seccomp_log(this_syscall, 0, action, true);
- return 0;
+ return true;
case SECCOMP_RET_ALLOW:
/*
@@ -1350,7 +1351,7 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_sys
* this action since SECCOMP_RET_ALLOW is the starting
* state in seccomp_run_filters().
*/
- return 0;
+ return true;
case SECCOMP_RET_KILL_THREAD:
case SECCOMP_RET_KILL_PROCESS:
@@ -1367,46 +1368,46 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_sys
} else {
do_exit(SIGSYS);
}
- return -1; /* skip the syscall go directly to signal handling */
+ return false; /* skip the syscall go directly to signal handling */
}
unreachable();
skip:
seccomp_log(this_syscall, 0, action, match ? match->log : false);
- return -1;
+ return false;
}
#else
-static int __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
+static bool __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
{
BUG();
- return -1;
+ return false;
}
#endif
-int __secure_computing(void)
+bool __seccomp_permit_syscall(void)
{
int mode = current->seccomp.mode;
int this_syscall;
if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_CHECKPOINT_RESTORE) &&
unlikely(current->ptrace & PT_SUSPEND_SECCOMP))
- return 0;
+ return true;
this_syscall = syscall_get_nr(current, current_pt_regs());
switch (mode) {
case SECCOMP_MODE_STRICT:
__secure_computing_strict(this_syscall); /* may call do_exit */
- return 0;
+ return true;
case SECCOMP_MODE_FILTER:
return __seccomp_filter(this_syscall, false);
/* Surviving SECCOMP_RET_KILL_* must be proactively impossible. */
case SECCOMP_MODE_DEAD:
WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
do_exit(SIGKILL);
- return -1;
+ return false;
default:
BUG();
}