Re: [PATCH tip] x86/microcode/AMD: Read from MSR_AMD64_PATCH_LEVEL to get base_rev if not defined

From: Borislav Petkov
Date: Mon Nov 17 2025 - 16:12:52 EST


On Mon, Nov 17, 2025 at 02:58:30PM -0500, Waiman Long wrote:
> when CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG is on.

Again, CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG is only to be used in a guest. Like the help text
says. For now at least.

I have tried to extend it to debugging on baremetal - see below - but this is
unfinished.

---
Author: Borislav Petkov (AMD) <bp@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon Oct 6 17:50:10 2025 +0200

Host debugging

Signed-off-by: Borislav Petkov (AMD) <bp@xxxxxxxxx>

diff --git a/arch/x86/Kconfig b/arch/x86/Kconfig
index fa3b616af03a..c213e00ea963 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/Kconfig
@@ -1362,10 +1362,12 @@ config MICROCODE_DBG
default n
depends on MICROCODE
help
- Enable code which allows for debugging the microcode loader in
- a guest. Meaning the patch loading is simulated but everything else
+ Enable code which allows to debug the microcode loader. When running
+ in a guest the patch loading is simulated but everything else
related to patch parsing and handling is done as on baremetal with
- the purpose of debugging solely the software side of things.
+ the purpose of debugging solely the software side of things. On
+ baremetal, it simply dumps additional debugging information as it
+ goes.

You almost certainly want to say n here.

diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/amd.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/amd.c
index a584f9cbf9a3..c25db0d40629 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/amd.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/amd.c
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ static u32 get_patch_level(void)
{
u32 rev, dummy __always_unused;

- if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG)) {
+ if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG) && hypervisor_present) {
int cpu = smp_processor_id();

if (!microcode_rev[cpu]) {
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ static bool __apply_microcode_amd(struct microcode_amd *mc, u32 *cur_rev,
invlpg(p_addr_end);
}

- if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG))
+ if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG) && hypervisor_present)
microcode_rev[smp_processor_id()] = mc->hdr.patch_id;

/* verify patch application was successful */
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c
index f75c140906d0..ae0ba9df501b 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ bool force_minrev = IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_LATE_FORCE_MINREV);
u32 base_rev;
u32 microcode_rev[NR_CPUS] = {};

+bool hypervisor_present;
+
/*
* Synchronization.
*
@@ -117,6 +119,13 @@ bool __init microcode_loader_disabled(void)
* Disable when:
*
* 1) The CPU does not support CPUID.
+ */
+ if (!cpuid_feature()) {
+ dis_ucode_ldr = true;
+ return dis_ucode_ldr;
+ }
+
+ /*
*
* 2) Bit 31 in CPUID[1]:ECX is clear
* The bit is reserved for hypervisor use. This is still not
@@ -127,9 +136,9 @@ bool __init microcode_loader_disabled(void)
* 3) Certain AMD patch levels are not allowed to be
* overwritten.
*/
- if (!cpuid_feature() ||
- ((native_cpuid_ecx(1) & BIT(31)) &&
- !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG)) ||
+ hypervisor_present = native_cpuid_ecx(1) & BIT(31);
+
+ if ((hypervisor_present && !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MICROCODE_DBG)) ||
amd_check_current_patch_level())
dis_ucode_ldr = true;

diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/internal.h b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/internal.h
index ae8dbc2b908d..f084aac6c839 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/internal.h
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/internal.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ extern struct early_load_data early_data;
extern struct ucode_cpu_info ucode_cpu_info[];
extern u32 microcode_rev[NR_CPUS];
extern u32 base_rev;
+extern bool hypervisor_present;

struct cpio_data find_microcode_in_initrd(const char *path);


--
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

https://people.kernel.org/tglx/notes-about-netiquette