[PATCH v2 5/9] seq_buf: Add seq_buf_strlen()
From: Kees Cook
Date: Fri Sep 18 2026 - 20:29:48 EST
Several strlcat() call sites being converted to seq_buf need behavior
seq_buf doesn't currently provide. The return from seq_buf_used() is
not the length of the string in a seq_buf. Once the buffer is full or
has overflowed it returns the buffer size, which counts the byte that
seq_buf_str() replaces with the NUL, so a caller that needs the string
and its length has to call seq_buf_str() and then walk the string with
strlen().
Move the termination out of seq_buf_str() into a helper that returns
where it put the NUL, and add seq_buf_strlen(), which terminates the
buffer in the same way and returns that offset.
Add tests comparing seq_buf_strlen() against strlen() of seq_buf_str()
for empty, appended, truncated, exactly full, and overflowed buffers,
and checking that seq_buf_strlen() alone terminates a full buffer.
Tests passed under qemu on ARCH=x86_64 with GCC 16.2.0 and CONFIG_KASAN=y,
and on big-endian ARCH=s390 with GCC s390x-linux-gnu 16.1.0.
Assisted-by: LLM
Reviewed-by: Andy Shevchenko <andriy.shevchenko@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <kees@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
Cc: "Matthew Wilcox (Oracle)" <willy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Andrew Morton <akpm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Andy Shevchenko <andriy.shevchenko@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: David Gow <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Petr Mladek <pmladek@xxxxxxxx>
Cc: Shuvam Pandey <shuvampandey1@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Steven Rostedt <rostedt@xxxxxxxxxxx>
---
include/linux/seq_buf.h | 57 +++++++++++++++++--
lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c | 114 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2 files changed, 166 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
diff --git a/include/linux/seq_buf.h b/include/linux/seq_buf.h
index 0c0a0db04b09..7f025c7a68be 100644
--- a/include/linux/seq_buf.h
+++ b/include/linux/seq_buf.h
@@ -89,6 +89,27 @@ static inline unsigned int seq_buf_used(struct seq_buf *s)
return min(s->len, s->size);
}
+/*
+ * NUL-terminate the buffer in @s: directly after the data when there is
+ * room for it, otherwise in the last byte of the buffer. @s->size must not
+ * be zero.
+ *
+ * Returns: the offset of the NUL.
+ */
+static inline size_t __seq_buf_terminate(struct seq_buf *s)
+{
+ size_t end;
+
+ if (seq_buf_buffer_left(s))
+ end = s->len;
+ else
+ end = s->size - 1;
+
+ s->buffer[end] = 0;
+
+ return end;
+}
+
/**
* seq_buf_str - get NUL-terminated C string from seq_buf
* @s: the seq_buf handle
@@ -98,7 +119,9 @@ static inline unsigned int seq_buf_used(struct seq_buf *s)
*
* Note, if this is called when the buffer has overflowed, then
* the last byte of the buffer is zeroed, and the len will still
- * point passed it.
+ * point passed it. The same happens when the buffer is exactly
+ * full: the NUL takes the place of the last byte written, which is
+ * lost, though seq_buf_used() still counts it.
*
* After this function is called, s->buffer is safe to use
* in string operations.
@@ -110,14 +133,38 @@ static inline const char *seq_buf_str(struct seq_buf *s)
if (WARN_ON(s->size == 0))
return "";
- if (seq_buf_buffer_left(s))
- s->buffer[s->len] = 0;
- else
- s->buffer[s->size - 1] = 0;
+ __seq_buf_terminate(s);
return s->buffer;
}
+/**
+ * seq_buf_strlen - get the length of the NUL-terminated C string in seq_buf
+ * @s: the seq_buf handle
+ *
+ * This makes sure that the buffer in @s is NUL-terminated, exactly as
+ * seq_buf_str() does, and returns the length of the resulting string
+ * without walking it. Unlike seq_buf_used(), this does not count the byte
+ * given up to the NUL when the buffer is full or has overflowed. When the
+ * buffer is exactly full, that byte is the last one written, and calling
+ * either function loses it.
+ *
+ * After this function is called, s->buffer is safe to use
+ * in string operations.
+ *
+ * Returns: the offset of the NUL that terminates @s->buffer. That is the
+ * length of the string unless an earlier NUL is in the way, either one the
+ * data written to @s carried itself, or one seq_buf_set_overflow() left
+ * behind when it cleared what no writer had claimed.
+ */
+static inline size_t seq_buf_strlen(struct seq_buf *s)
+{
+ if (WARN_ON(s->size == 0))
+ return 0;
+
+ return __seq_buf_terminate(s);
+}
+
/**
* seq_buf_get_buf - get buffer to write arbitrary data to
* @s: the seq_buf handle
diff --git a/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c b/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c
index 852eb645e253..0259c8506b89 100644
--- a/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c
+++ b/lib/tests/seq_buf_kunit.c
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ static void seq_buf_init_test(struct kunit *test)
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_buffer_left(&s), 32);
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&s), 0);
KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 0);
}
+
static void seq_buf_declare_test(struct kunit *test)
{
DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 24);
@@ -510,6 +512,113 @@ static void seq_buf_path_overflow_test(struct kunit *test)
KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), expected);
}
+static void seq_buf_strlen_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 0);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "");
+
+ seq_buf_puts(&s, "hello");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 5);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ seq_buf_printf(&s, " %s", "world");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 11);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+}
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_printf_overflow_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(t, 8);
+
+ seq_buf_printf(&s, "%s", "1234567890abcdefghij");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&s), 16);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 15);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "1234567890abcde");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ /* Output one byte too long for the NUL. */
+ seq_buf_printf(&t, "%s", "12345678");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&t));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&t), 8);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), 7);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&t), "1234567");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), strlen(seq_buf_str(&t)));
+}
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_full_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 4);
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(t, 8);
+ char *buf;
+ size_t len;
+
+ /* Filled exactly, with no room left for a NUL, but not overflowed. */
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'a');
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'b');
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'c');
+ seq_buf_putc(&s, 'd');
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_FALSE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_used(&s), 4);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 3);
+ /* seq_buf_strlen() terminates the buffer by itself. */
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, s.buffer[3], '\0');
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, strnlen(s.buffer, s.size), 3);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "abc");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ /* A printf into a full buffer writes nothing. */
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_printf(&s, "%s", "x"), -1);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 3);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "abc");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+
+ len = seq_buf_get_buf(&t, &buf);
+ KUNIT_ASSERT_EQ(test, len, 8);
+ memset(buf, 'z', len);
+ seq_buf_commit(&t, len);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_FALSE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&t));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), 7);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, t.buffer[7], '\0');
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, strnlen(t.buffer, t.size), 7);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&t), "zzzzzzz");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&t), strlen(seq_buf_str(&t)));
+}
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_puts_overflow_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+
+ /* A puts that does not fit copies as much as fits. */
+ seq_buf_puts(&s, "hello");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_puts(&s, " this does not fit"), -1);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_TRUE(test, seq_buf_has_overflowed(&s));
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 15);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_STREQ(test, seq_buf_str(&s), "hello this does");
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)));
+}
+
+
+static void seq_buf_strlen_embedded_nul_test(struct kunit *test)
+{
+ static const char data[] = "ab\0cd";
+ DECLARE_SEQ_BUF(s, 16);
+
+ /*
+ * seq_buf_strlen() reports where it put the terminator, not where
+ * the first NUL is, so data carrying a NUL of its own makes the two
+ * disagree. That is expected, and is what the documented caveat is
+ * about.
+ */
+ seq_buf_putmem(&s, data, sizeof(data) - 1);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, seq_buf_strlen(&s), 5);
+ KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, strlen(seq_buf_str(&s)), 2);
+}
+
static struct kunit_case seq_buf_test_cases[] = {
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_init_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_declare_test),
@@ -527,6 +636,11 @@ static struct kunit_case seq_buf_test_cases[] = {
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_putmem_partial_overflow_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_putmem_hex_partial_overflow_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_path_overflow_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_printf_overflow_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_full_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_puts_overflow_test),
+ KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_strlen_embedded_nul_test),
KUNIT_CASE(seq_buf_do_printk_test),
{}
};
--
2.34.1