[PATCH] coccinelle: free: add a checker for `__cleanup(kfree)` usage
From: Ella Ma
Date: Mon Aug 31 2026 - 11:22:19 EST
Using __cleanup(kfree) will pass the stack address of the annotated
local variable to kfree functions. This will lead to invalid
deallocation issues. Inspired by CVE-2026-45959 and similar bugs
recently detected.
Signed-off-by: Ella Ma <alansnape3058@xxxxxxxxx>
---
scripts/coccinelle/free/cleanup-free.cocci | 94 ++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 94 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 scripts/coccinelle/free/cleanup-free.cocci
diff --git a/scripts/coccinelle/free/cleanup-free.cocci b/scripts/coccinelle/free/cleanup-free.cocci
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cdf984ac6b44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/coccinelle/free/cleanup-free.cocci
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only
+///
+/// Find __cleanup(kfree)
+/// Using __cleanup(kfree) will pass the stack address of the annotated
+/// local variable to kfree, causing an invalid free.
+/// I.e., `T v __cleanup(kfree);` --> `kfree(&v);`
+/// Such usage is impossible to be correct.
+///
+// Confidence: High
+// Copyright: (C) 2026 Ella Ma
+// Options: --no-includes --include-headers
+
+
+// Suggesting using __free for the functions with a DEFINE_FREE definition.
+// Update this list when new DEFINE_FREE definitions are added.
+@free@
+attribute name __cleanup;
+symbol kfree, kfree_sensitive, kvfree, kvfree_atomic;
+type T;
+identifier v, n;
+position p;
+@@
+
+(
+ T v __cleanup@p(
+(
+ n
+&
+(
+ kfree \| kfree_sensitive \| kvfree \| kvfree_atomic
+)
+)
+ );
+|
+ T v __cleanup@p(
+(
+ n
+&
+(
+ kfree \| kfree_sensitive \| kvfree \| kvfree_atomic
+)
+)
+ ) = ...;
+)
+
+@script:python depends on free@
+p << free.p;
+n << free.n;
+@@
+
+coccilib.report.print_report(
+ p[0], f"ERROR: found `__cleanup({n})', do you mean `__free({n})'?")
+
+
+// Reporting __cleanup usage for the functions without a DEFINE_FREE definition.
+// The following list only contains frequently used functions. Supplement it if
+// necessary.
+@cleanup@
+attribute name __cleanup;
+symbol kvfree_sensitive, vfree, vfree_atomic;
+type T;
+identifier v, n;
+position p;
+@@
+
+(
+ T v __cleanup@p(
+(
+ n
+&
+(
+ kvfree_sensitive \| vfree \| vfree_atomic
+)
+)
+ );
+|
+ T v __cleanup@p(
+(
+ n
+&
+(
+ kvfree_sensitive \| vfree \| vfree_atomic
+)
+)
+ ) = ...;
+)
+
+@script:python depends on cleanup@
+p << cleanup.p;
+n << cleanup.n;
+@@
+
+coccilib.report.print_report(
+ p[0], f"ERROR: `__cleanup({n})' will free the annotated variable, rather than its pointee")
--
2.34.1