Re: [PATCH v2 1/1] livepatch: add (un)patch callbacks

From: Josh Poimboeuf
Date: Fri Aug 11 2017 - 16:44:31 EST


On Tue, Aug 08, 2017 at 03:36:07PM -0400, Joe Lawrence wrote:
> +++ b/Documentation/livepatch/callbacks.txt
> @@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
> +(Un)patching Callbacks
> +======================
> +
> +Livepatch (un)patch-callbacks provide a mechanism for livepatch modules
> +to execute callback functions when a kernel object is (un)patched.

I think it would be helpful to put a little blurb here about why
callbacks are needed and when they might be used. Maybe steal some of
the description from the first two bullet points here:

https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20170720041723.35r6qk2fia7xix3t@treble

Also, I tested stop_machine() in the callbacks and it seemed to work
fine. It might be worth mentioning in the docs that it's an option.

> +
> +These callbacks differ from existing kernel facilities:
> +
> + - Module init/exit code doesn't run when disabling and re-enabling a
> + patch.
> +
> + - A module notifier can't stop the to-be-patched module from loading.
> +
> +Callbacks are part of the klp_object structure and their implementation
> +is specific to the given object. Other livepatch objects may or may not
> +be patched, irrespective of the target klp_object's current state.
> +
> +Callbacks can be registered for the following livepatch actions:
> +
> + * Pre-patch - before klp_object is patched
> +
> + * Post-patch - after klp_object has been patched and is active
> + across all tasks
> +
> + * Pre-unpatch - before klp_object is unpatched, patched code is active
> +
> + * Post-unpatch - after klp_object has been patched, all code has been
> + restored and no tasks are running patched code
> +
> +Callbacks are only executed if its host klp_object is loaded. For

"Callbacks are" -> "A callback is" ?

> +static inline int klp_pre_patch_callback(struct klp_object *obj)
> +{
> + if (!obj->patched && obj->callbacks.pre_patch)
> + return (*obj->callbacks.pre_patch)(obj);
> + return 0;
> +}
> +static inline void klp_post_patch_callback(struct klp_object *obj)
> +{
> + if (obj->patched && obj->callbacks.post_patch)
> + (*obj->callbacks.post_patch)(obj);
> +}
> +static inline void klp_pre_unpatch_callback(struct klp_object *obj)
> +{
> + if (obj->patched && obj->callbacks.pre_unpatch)
> + (*obj->callbacks.pre_unpatch)(obj);
> +}
> +static inline void klp_post_unpatch_callback(struct klp_object *obj)
> +{
> + if (!obj->patched && obj->callbacks.post_unpatch)
> + (*obj->callbacks.post_unpatch)(obj);
> +}
> +

Do these need the obj->patched checks? As far as I can tell they seem
to be called in the right places and the checks are superfluous.

> --- a/kernel/livepatch/transition.c
> +++ b/kernel/livepatch/transition.c
> @@ -109,9 +109,6 @@ static void klp_complete_transition(void)
> }
> }
>
> - if (klp_target_state == KLP_UNPATCHED && !immediate_func)
> - module_put(klp_transition_patch->mod);
> -
> /* Prevent klp_ftrace_handler() from seeing KLP_UNDEFINED state */
> if (klp_target_state == KLP_PATCHED)
> klp_synchronize_transition();
> @@ -130,6 +127,22 @@ static void klp_complete_transition(void)
> }
>
> done:
> + klp_for_each_object(klp_transition_patch, obj) {
> + if (klp_target_state == KLP_PATCHED)
> + klp_post_patch_callback(obj);
> + else if (klp_target_state == KLP_PATCHED)

s/KLP_PATCHED/KLP_UNPATCHED

> + klp_post_unpatch_callback(obj);
> + }
> +
> + /*
> + * See complementary comment in __klp_enable_patch() for why we
> + * keep the module reference for immediate patches.
> + */
> + if (!klp_transition_patch->immediate) {
> + if (klp_target_state == KLP_UNPATCHED && !immediate_func)
> + module_put(klp_transition_patch->mod);
> + }
> +

Maybe combine these into a single 'if' for clarity:

if (klp_target_state == KLP_UNPATCHED && !immediate_func &&
!klp_transition_patch->immediate)
module_put(klp_transition_patch->mod);

> + * NOTE: 'pre_patch_ret' is a module parameter that sets the pre-patch
> + * callback return status. Try setting up a non-zero status
> + * such as -19 (-ENODEV):
> + *
> + * # Load demo livepatch, vmlinux is patched
> + * insmod samples/livepatch/livepatch-callbacks-demo.ko
> + *
> + * # Setup next pre-patch callback to return -ENODEV
> + * echo -19 > /sys/module/livepatch_callbacks_demo/parameters/pre_patch_ret

Git complained about trailing whitespace here ^

> + *
> + * # Module loader refuses to load the target module
> + * insmod samples/livepatch/livepatch-callbacks-mod.ko

and here ^

> +/* Executed on object unpatching (ie, patch disablement) */
> +static void post_patch_callback(struct klp_object *obj)

s/unpatching/patching/

--
Josh