[tip: core/entry] seccomp, treewide: Rename and convert __secure_computing() to return boolean

From: tip-bot2 for Jinjie Ruan

Date: Sun Jul 12 2026 - 08:49:27 EST


The following commit has been merged into the core/entry branch of tip:

Commit-ID: 7ba2ba74713c83408cc942b60dd869ab2c34c84f
Gitweb: https://git.kernel.org/tip/7ba2ba74713c83408cc942b60dd869ab2c34c84f
Author: Jinjie Ruan <ruanjinjie@xxxxxxxxxx>
AuthorDate: Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:06:40 +02:00
Committer: Thomas Gleixner <tglx@xxxxxxxxxx>
CommitterDate: Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:38:02 +02:00

seccomp, treewide: Rename and convert __secure_computing() to return boolean

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>
Tested-by: Mukesh Kumar Chaurasiya (IBM) <mkchauras@xxxxxxxxx>
Reviewed-by: Mukesh Kumar Chaurasiya (IBM) <mkchauras@xxxxxxxxx>
Acked-by: Oleg Nesterov <oleg@xxxxxxxxxx>
Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20260707190254.230735780@xxxxxxxxxx
---
arch/Kconfig | 2 +-
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 | 36 ++++++++++++--------------
15 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 49 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/Kconfig b/arch/Kconfig
index 0c01521..d2dbed5 100644
--- a/arch/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/Kconfig
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ config HAVE_ARCH_SECCOMP_FILTER
- syscall_set_return_value()
- SIGSYS siginfo_t support
- secure_computing is called from a ptrace_event()-safe context
- - secure_computing return value is checked and a return value of -1
+ - secure_computing return value is checked and if false it
results in the system call being skipped immediately.
- seccomp syscall wired up
- if !HAVE_SPARSE_SYSCALL_NR, have SECCOMP_ARCH_NATIVE,
diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
index 0687760..2870101 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ asmlinkage unsigned long syscall_trace_enter(void)
* 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);
diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c
index 7951b2c..45076fc 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ asmlinkage int syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs)

/* 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 */
diff --git a/arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c
index 4d08598..253ce5d 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -2420,7 +2420,7 @@ int syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *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))
diff --git a/arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c
index 6bb685a..b902358 100644
--- a/arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ asmlinkage int syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs)
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))
diff --git a/arch/m68k/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/m68k/kernel/ptrace.c
index cfa2df2..28546d7 100644
--- 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;
diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c
index 3f4c94c..af1e005 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -1328,7 +1328,7 @@ asmlinkage long syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs)
return -1;
}

- if (secure_computing())
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;

if (unlikely(test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINT)))
diff --git a/arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c
index 8a17ab7..ac5d077 100644
--- a/arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ long do_syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs)
}

/* Do the secure computing check after ptrace. */
- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;

#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINTS
diff --git a/arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c b/arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c
index 06f765d..7594bd5 100644
--- a/arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c
+++ b/arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ asmlinkage long do_syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs)
return -1;
}

- if (secure_computing() == -1)
+ if (!seccomp_permit_syscall())
return -1;

if (unlikely(test_thread_flag(TIF_SYSCALL_TRACEPOINT)))
diff --git a/arch/um/kernel/skas/syscall.c b/arch/um/kernel/skas/syscall.c
index ba7494f..bc11773 100644
--- 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 *r)
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);
diff --git a/arch/x86/entry/vsyscall/vsyscall_64.c b/arch/x86/entry/vsyscall/vsyscall_64.c
index ea36de9..1b68c1c 100644
--- 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 long ptr, size_t size)

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 *regs, unsigned long address)
*/
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.
diff --git a/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
index b80d54b..5c3ebb0 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -553,8 +553,7 @@ int do_syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs)
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;
}
diff --git a/include/linux/entry-common.h b/include/linux/entry-common.h
index c837352..99c49a4 100644
--- a/include/linux/entry-common.h
+++ b/include/linux/entry-common.h
@@ -102,9 +102,8 @@ static __always_inline long syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned l

/* 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_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned l

syscall_enter_audit(regs, syscall);

- return ret ? : syscall;
+ return syscall;
}

/**
@@ -138,7 +137,7 @@ static __always_inline long syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned l
* 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)
diff --git a/include/linux/seccomp.h b/include/linux/seccomp.h
index 9b95997..fcb3eb9 100644
--- 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 seccomp *s)
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)
{
diff --git a/kernel/seccomp.c b/kernel/seccomp.c
index 0669093..86cf446 100644
--- a/kernel/seccomp.c
+++ b/kernel/seccomp.c
@@ -1100,12 +1100,13 @@ void secure_computing_strict(int this_syscall)
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 @@ out:
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_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
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)) {
@@ -1329,20 +1330,17 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
* a reload of all registers. This does not goto skip since
* a skip would have already been reported.
*/
- if (__seccomp_filter(this_syscall, true))
- return -1;
-
- return 0;
+ return __seccomp_filter(this_syscall, 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 +1348,7 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
* 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 +1365,46 @@ static int __seccomp_filter(int this_syscall, const bool recheck_after_trace)
} 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();
}