[PATCH v2 1/2] tracing: Add task_prctl_unknown tracepoint

From: Marco Elver
Date: Thu Nov 07 2024 - 07:27:01 EST


prctl() is a complex syscall which multiplexes its functionality based
on a large set of PR_* options. Currently we count 64 such options. The
return value of unknown options is -EINVAL, and doesn't distinguish from
known options that were passed invalid args that also return -EINVAL.

To understand if programs are attempting to use prctl() options not yet
available on the running kernel, provide the task_prctl_unknown
tracepoint.

Note, this tracepoint is in an unlikely cold path, and would therefore
be suitable for continuous monitoring (e.g. via perf_event_open).

While the above is likely the simplest usecase, additionally this
tracepoint can help unlock some testing scenarios (where probing
sys_enter or sys_exit causes undesirable performance overheads):

a. unprivileged triggering of a test module: test modules may register a
probe to be called back on task_prctl_unknown, and pick a very large
unknown prctl() option upon which they perform a test function for an
unprivileged user;

b. unprivileged triggering of an eBPF program function: similar
as idea (a).

Example trace_pipe output:

test-484 [000] ..... 631.748104: task_prctl_unknown: comm=test option=1234 arg2=101 arg3=102 arg4=103 arg5=104

Signed-off-by: Marco Elver <elver@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
v2:
* Remove "pid" in trace output (suggested by Steven).
---
include/trace/events/task.h | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
kernel/sys.c | 3 +++
2 files changed, 44 insertions(+)

diff --git a/include/trace/events/task.h b/include/trace/events/task.h
index 47b527464d1a..9202cb2524c4 100644
--- a/include/trace/events/task.h
+++ b/include/trace/events/task.h
@@ -56,6 +56,47 @@ TRACE_EVENT(task_rename,
__entry->newcomm, __entry->oom_score_adj)
);

+/**
+ * task_prctl_unknown - called on unknown prctl() option
+ * @task: pointer to the current task
+ * @option: option passed
+ * @arg2: arg2 passed
+ * @arg3: arg3 passed
+ * @arg4: arg4 passed
+ * @arg5: arg5 passed
+ *
+ * Called on an unknown prctl() option.
+ */
+TRACE_EVENT(task_prctl_unknown,
+
+ TP_PROTO(struct task_struct *task, int option, unsigned long arg2, unsigned long arg3,
+ unsigned long arg4, unsigned long arg5),
+
+ TP_ARGS(task, option, arg2, arg3, arg4, arg5),
+
+ TP_STRUCT__entry(
+ __string( comm, task->comm )
+ __field( int, option)
+ __field( unsigned long, arg2)
+ __field( unsigned long, arg3)
+ __field( unsigned long, arg4)
+ __field( unsigned long, arg5)
+ ),
+
+ TP_fast_assign(
+ __assign_str(comm);
+ __entry->option = option;
+ __entry->arg2 = arg2;
+ __entry->arg3 = arg3;
+ __entry->arg4 = arg4;
+ __entry->arg5 = arg5;
+ ),
+
+ TP_printk("comm=%s option=%d arg2=%ld arg3=%ld arg4=%ld arg5=%ld",
+ __get_str(comm), __entry->option,
+ __entry->arg2, __entry->arg3, __entry->arg4, __entry->arg5)
+);
+
#endif

/* This part must be outside protection */
diff --git a/kernel/sys.c b/kernel/sys.c
index 4da31f28fda8..dd0a71b68558 100644
--- a/kernel/sys.c
+++ b/kernel/sys.c
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@
#include <asm/io.h>
#include <asm/unistd.h>

+#include <trace/events/task.h>
+
#include "uid16.h"

#ifndef SET_UNALIGN_CTL
@@ -2785,6 +2787,7 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE5(prctl, int, option, unsigned long, arg2, unsigned long, arg3,
error = RISCV_SET_ICACHE_FLUSH_CTX(arg2, arg3);
break;
default:
+ trace_task_prctl_unknown(me, option, arg2, arg3, arg4, arg5);
error = -EINVAL;
break;
}
--
2.47.0.199.ga7371fff76-goog