Re: [PATCH v5 1/5] lib: fix _parse_integer_limit() to handle overflow

From: David Laight

Date: Thu Feb 05 2026 - 17:15:51 EST


On Wed, 4 Feb 2026 16:57:13 +0300
Dmitry Antipov <dmantipov@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In '_parse_integer_limit()', adjust native integer arithmetic
> with near-to-overflow branch where 'check_mul_overflow()' and
> 'check_add_overflow()' are used to check whether an intermediate
> result goes out of range, and denote such a case with ULLONG_MAX,
> thus making the function more similar to standard C library's
> 'strtoull()'. Adjust comment to kernel-doc style as well.
>
> Reviewed-by: Andy Shevchenko <andriy.shevchenko@xxxxxxxxx>
> Signed-off-by: Dmitry Antipov <dmantipov@xxxxxxxxx>
> ---
> v5: minor brace style adjustment
> v4: restore plain integer arithmetic and use check_xxx_overflow()
> on near-to-overflow branch only
> v3: adjust commit message and comments as suggested by Andy
> v2: initial version to join the series
> ---
> lib/kstrtox.c | 39 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
> 1 file changed, 26 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/lib/kstrtox.c b/lib/kstrtox.c
> index bdde40cd69d7..8691f85cf2ce 100644
> --- a/lib/kstrtox.c
> +++ b/lib/kstrtox.c
> @@ -39,20 +39,26 @@ const char *_parse_integer_fixup_radix(const char *s, unsigned int *base)
> return s;
> }
>
> -/*
> - * Convert non-negative integer string representation in explicitly given radix
> - * to an integer. A maximum of max_chars characters will be converted.
> +/**
> + * _parse_integer_limit - Convert integer string representation to an integer
> + * @s: Integer string representation
> + * @base: Radix
> + * @p: Where to store result
> + * @max_chars: Maximum amount of characters to convert
> + *
> + * Convert non-negative integer string representation in explicitly given
> + * radix to an integer. If overflow occurs, value at @p is set to ULLONG_MAX.
> *
> - * Return number of characters consumed maybe or-ed with overflow bit.
> - * If overflow occurs, result integer (incorrect) is still returned.
> + * This function is the workhorse of other string conversion functions and it
> + * is discouraged to use it explicitly. Consider kstrto*() family instead.
> *
> - * Don't you dare use this function.
> + * Return: Number of characters consumed, maybe ORed with overflow bit
> */
> noinline
> unsigned int _parse_integer_limit(const char *s, unsigned int base, unsigned long long *p,
> size_t max_chars)
> {
> - unsigned long long res;
> + unsigned long long tmp, res;
> unsigned int rv;
>
> res = 0;
> @@ -72,14 +78,21 @@ unsigned int _parse_integer_limit(const char *s, unsigned int base, unsigned lon
> if (val >= base)
> break;
> /*
> - * Check for overflow only if we are within range of
> - * it in the max base we support (16)
> + * Accumulate result if no overflow detected.
> + * Otherwise just consume valid characters.
> */
> - if (unlikely(res & (~0ull << 60))) {
> - if (res > div_u64(ULLONG_MAX - val, base))
> - rv |= KSTRTOX_OVERFLOW;
> + if (likely(res != ULLONG_MAX)) {
> + if (unlikely(res & (~0ull << 60))) {

Aren't those two checks in the wrong order?
The likely/unlikely really don't make that much difference
you want the main test first.

In any case what is the first check for?
I think it just stops 0xffffffffffffffff0 being treated as an error.
If you are trying to skip the rest of the digits after an overflow
you need to check 'rv'.

Although I wonder whether strtoul() (etc) should stop 'eating' input
when the value would overflow and return a pointer to the digit that
caused the error.
Code looking at the terminating character wont be expecting a digit
and will treat it as a syntax error - which is what you are trying to do.

That is a much easier API to use, and a 'drop-in' for existing code.

David

> + /* We're close to possible overflow. */
> + if (check_mul_overflow(res, base, &tmp) ||
> + check_add_overflow(tmp, val, &res)) {
> + res = ULLONG_MAX;
> + rv |= KSTRTOX_OVERFLOW;
> + }
> + } else {
> + res = res * base + val;
> + }
> }
> - res = res * base + val;
> rv++;
> s++;
> }