[PATCH bpf-next] libbpf: Fix struct and union zero detection in BTF dumper

From: Luis Vieira

Date: Sun Sep 27 2026 - 23:47:54 EST


btf_dump_type_data_check_zero() uses -ENODATA to indicate that a value
is zero. The array path handles this sentinel correctly, but the struct
and union path compares the return value against positive ENODATA.

As a result, the member loop returns after examining its first member.
A nested struct or union whose first member is zero can therefore be
treated as entirely zero even when a later member is non-zero.

Compare against -ENODATA so zero members are skipped while looking for
a non-zero member. Add a regression test with a nested struct whose
first member is zero and second member is non-zero.

Signed-off-by: Luis Vieira <luisflavieira@xxxxxxxxx>
---
tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c | 2 +-
tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_dump.c | 5 +++++
2 files changed, 6 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
index fa995c02a170..dbf9f17e4b37 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
@@ -2474,7 +2474,7 @@ static int btf_dump_type_data_check_zero(struct btf_dump *d,
bit_sz = btf_member_bitfield_size(t, i);
err = btf_dump_type_data_check_zero(d, mtype, m->type, data + moffset / 8,
moffset % 8, bit_sz);
- if (err != ENODATA)
+ if (err != -ENODATA)
return err;
}
return -ENODATA;
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_dump.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_dump.c
index fe04a955d46c..dd1241fcdb01 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_dump.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_dump.c
@@ -886,6 +886,11 @@ static void test_btf_dump_struct_data(struct btf *btf, struct btf_dump *d,
"(union bpf_iter_link_info){.map = (struct){.map_fd = (__u32)1,},.cgroup = (struct){.order = (enum bpf_cgroup_iter_order)BPF_CGROUP_ITER_SELF_ONLY,.cgroup_fd = (__u32)1,},.task = (struct){.tid = (__u32)1,.pid = (__u32)1,},}",
{ .cgroup = { .order = 1, .cgroup_fd = 1, }});

+ /* nested structs with zero first member and non-zero second member */
+ TEST_BTF_DUMP_DATA(btf, d, "union", str, union bpf_iter_link_info, BTF_F_COMPACT,
+ "(union bpf_iter_link_info){.cgroup = (struct){.cgroup_fd = (__u32)1,},.task = (struct){.pid = (__u32)1,},}",
+ { .cgroup = { .cgroup_fd = 1 }});
+
/* struct skb with nested structs/unions; because type output is so
* complex, we don't do a string comparison, just verify we return
* the type size as the amount of data displayed.

---
base-commit: ea9358e1270ab2c3ba6f36bd9bdda68617665516
change-id: 20260928-libbpf-btf-enodata-fix-ac6381645ab8

Best regards,
--
Luis Vieira <luisflavieira@xxxxxxxxx>