[PATCH 03/39] mm: consistently validate VMA state after mmap[_prepare] hooks

From: Lorenzo Stoakes (ARM)

Date: Tue Sep 08 2026 - 16:08:32 EST


When the f_op->mmap_prepare or deprecated f_op->mmap hooks are invoked, the
driver might have done something crazy that is not permitted by the kernel.

Currently we check for three such cases in __mmap_new_file_vma(), but only
if the legacy f_op->mmap hook is used:

* Did sparc ADI result in invalid flags?

* Did the driver alter vma->vm_start?

* Did the driver make a file-backed mapping on a read-only file writable?

Generalise these checks for both mmap_prepare and mmap and apply to all
invocations of mmap_file(), the f_op->mmap and f_op->mmap_prepare handling
in the core VMA code and the mmap_prepare compatibility layer.

We also WARN_ON_ONCE() on these conditions as they are things that should
simply not occur in the kernel and it's important to call it out when it
does.

We invoke mmap_prepare_validate() after mmap_action_prepare(), as mmap
actions often manipulate state in the descriptor thus providing the final
state the VMA will be derived from.

Also call mmap_validate_vma_flags() in insert_vm_struct() to ensure that
special regions which are inserted (such as a VDSO or VVAR) also satisfy
the sanity checks.

This way every VMA established through an mmap hook, whether via mmap() or
the compatibility layer, or inserted via insert_vm_struct(), has been
validated. brk() VMAs never pass through a driver hook and so need no such
check.

While we're here, also fixup a couple disjoint blocks of #ifdef CONFIG_MMU.

Finally, update the VMA userland tests to reflect the change.

Signed-off-by: Lorenzo Stoakes (ARM) <ljs@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
mm/internal.h | 47 ++++++++++++--------
mm/util.c | 7 +++
mm/vma.c | 98 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
mm/vma.h | 24 ++++++++--
tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h | 10 +++++
5 files changed, 148 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)

diff --git a/mm/internal.h b/mm/internal.h
index da14c56fb24e..abb0fae8c637 100644
--- a/mm/internal.h
+++ b/mm/internal.h
@@ -212,6 +212,24 @@ static inline void *folio_raw_mapping(const struct folio *folio)
return (void *)(mapping & ~FOLIO_MAPPING_FLAGS);
}

+/*
+ * If the VMA has a close hook then close it, and since closing it might leave
+ * it in an inconsistent state which makes the use of any hooks suspect, clear
+ * them down by installing dummy empty hooks.
+ */
+static inline void vma_close(struct vm_area_struct *vma)
+{
+ if (vma->vm_ops && vma->vm_ops->close) {
+ vma->vm_ops->close(vma);
+
+ /*
+ * The mapping is in an inconsistent state, and no further hooks
+ * may be invoked upon it.
+ */
+ vma->vm_ops = &vma_dummy_vm_ops;
+ }
+}
+
/*
* This is a file-backed mapping, and is about to be memory mapped - invoke its
* mmap hook and safely handle error conditions. On error, VMA hooks will be
@@ -224,8 +242,11 @@ static inline void *folio_raw_mapping(const struct folio *folio)
*/
static inline int mmap_file(struct file *file, struct vm_area_struct *vma)
{
- int err = vfs_mmap(file, vma);
+ const unsigned long prev_start = vma->vm_start;
+ const vma_flags_t prev_flags = vma->flags;
+ int err;

+ err = vfs_mmap(file, vma);
/*
* Either we tried to call the file hook for mmap() and an error arose
* or a driver set vma->vm_ops = NULL intending there to be no VMA
@@ -238,26 +259,14 @@ static inline int mmap_file(struct file *file, struct vm_area_struct *vma)
*/
if (unlikely(err || !vma->vm_ops))
vma->vm_ops = &vma_dummy_vm_ops;
+ if (unlikely(err))
+ return err;

- return err;
-}
-
-/*
- * If the VMA has a close hook then close it, and since closing it might leave
- * it in an inconsistent state which makes the use of any hooks suspect, clear
- * them down by installing dummy empty hooks.
- */
-static inline void vma_close(struct vm_area_struct *vma)
-{
- if (vma->vm_ops && vma->vm_ops->close) {
- vma->vm_ops->close(vma);
+ err = mmap_hook_validate(prev_start, &prev_flags, vma);
+ if (unlikely(err))
+ vma_close(vma);

- /*
- * The mapping is in an inconsistent state, and no further hooks
- * may be invoked upon it.
- */
- vma->vm_ops = &vma_dummy_vm_ops;
- }
+ return err;
}

/* unmap_vmas is in mm/memory.c */
diff --git a/mm/util.c b/mm/util.c
index bf0513d1d3d0..a3cef493ed70 100644
--- a/mm/util.c
+++ b/mm/util.c
@@ -1224,10 +1224,17 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(compat_set_desc_from_vma);
int __compat_vma_mmap(struct vm_area_desc *desc,
struct vm_area_struct *vma)
{
+ struct vm_area_desc prev_desc;
int err;

+ /* Derive state prior to mmap_prepare hook. */
+ compat_set_desc_from_vma(&prev_desc, desc->file, vma);
/* Perform any preparatory tasks for mmap action. */
err = mmap_action_prepare(desc);
+ if (err)
+ return err;
+ /* Check the caller did nothing crazy. */
+ err = mmap_prepare_validate(&prev_desc, desc);
if (err)
return err;
/* Update the VMA from the descriptor. */
diff --git a/mm/vma.c b/mm/vma.c
index 0db2fc306993..a24f04428580 100644
--- a/mm/vma.c
+++ b/mm/vma.c
@@ -2581,7 +2581,6 @@ static int __mmap_setup(struct mmap_state *map, struct vm_area_desc *desc,
return 0;
}

-
static int __mmap_new_file_vma(struct mmap_state *map,
struct vm_area_struct *vma)
{
@@ -2608,16 +2607,6 @@ static int __mmap_new_file_vma(struct mmap_state *map,
return error;
}

- /* Drivers cannot alter the address of the VMA. */
- WARN_ON_ONCE(map->addr != vma->vm_start);
- /*
- * Drivers should not permit writability when previously it was
- * disallowed.
- */
- VM_WARN_ON_ONCE(!vma_flags_same_pair(&map->vma_flags, &vma->flags) &&
- !vma_flags_test(&map->vma_flags, VMA_MAYWRITE_BIT) &&
- vma_test(vma, VMA_MAYWRITE_BIT));
-
map->file = vma->vm_file;
map->vma_flags = vma->flags;

@@ -2696,11 +2685,6 @@ static int __mmap_new_vma(struct mmap_state *map, struct vm_area_struct **vmap,
vma->flags = map->vma_flags;
}

-#ifdef CONFIG_SPARC64
- /* TODO: Fix SPARC ADI! */
- WARN_ON_ONCE(!arch_validate_flags(map->vm_flags));
-#endif
-
/* Lock the VMA since it is modified after insertion into VMA tree */
vma_start_write(vma);
vma_iter_store_new(vmi, vma);
@@ -2763,6 +2747,76 @@ static void __mmap_complete(struct mmap_state *map, struct vm_area_struct *vma)
vma_set_page_prot(vma);
}

+/* Check to ensure that the VMA flags of a newly mapped VMA are sane. */
+static int mmap_validate_vma_flags(const vma_flags_t *flags)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_SPARC64
+ const vm_flags_t legacy_flags = vma_flags_to_legacy(*flags);
+
+ /* TODO: Fix SPARC ADI! */
+ if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!arch_validate_flags(legacy_flags)))
+ return -EINVAL;
+#endif
+
+ return 0;
+}
+
+/* Check to ensure a driver hasn't done something crazy. */
+static int mmap_validate(unsigned long prev_start,
+ unsigned long curr_start,
+ const vma_flags_t *prev_flags,
+ const vma_flags_t *curr_flags)
+{
+ bool was_maywrite, is_maywrite;
+
+ /* Drivers cannot alter the address of the VMA. */
+ if (WARN_ON_ONCE(prev_start != curr_start))
+ return -EINVAL;
+
+ was_maywrite = vma_flags_test(prev_flags, VMA_MAYWRITE_BIT);
+ is_maywrite = vma_flags_test(curr_flags, VMA_MAYWRITE_BIT);
+
+ /* A driver may not make a previously unwritable mapping writable. */
+ if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!was_maywrite && is_maywrite))
+ return -EINVAL;
+
+ return mmap_validate_vma_flags(curr_flags);
+}
+
+/**
+ * mmap_prepare_validate() - Ensure the driver hasn't violated invariants in its
+ * f_op->mmap_prepare hook.
+ * @prev_desc: The VMA descriptor prior to the mmap_prepare hook being called.
+ * @desc: The VMA descriptor after the mmap_prepare hook has been called.
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, otherwise an error.
+ */
+int mmap_prepare_validate(const struct vm_area_desc *prev_desc,
+ const struct vm_area_desc *desc)
+{
+ return mmap_validate(prev_desc->start, desc->start,
+ &prev_desc->vma_flags, &desc->vma_flags);
+}
+
+/**
+ * mmap_hook_validate() - Ensure the driver hasn't violated invariants in
+ * its f_op->mmap hook.
+ * @prev_start: The start of the mapping prior to the mmap hook.
+ * @prev_flags: The VMA flags set for the VMA prior to the mmap hook.
+ * @vma: The VMA after the hook has been applied.
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, otherwise an error.
+ */
+int mmap_hook_validate(unsigned long prev_start,
+ const vma_flags_t *prev_flags,
+ const struct vm_area_struct *vma)
+{
+ const unsigned long start = vma->vm_start;
+ const vma_flags_t *flags = &vma->flags;
+
+ return mmap_validate(prev_start, start, prev_flags, flags);
+}
+
static int call_action_prepare(struct mmap_state *map,
struct vm_area_desc *desc)
{
@@ -2789,6 +2843,7 @@ static int call_action_prepare(struct mmap_state *map,
static int call_mmap_prepare(struct mmap_state *map,
struct vm_area_desc *desc)
{
+ const struct vm_area_desc prev_desc = *desc;
int err;

/* Invoke the hook. */
@@ -2800,10 +2855,16 @@ static int call_mmap_prepare(struct mmap_state *map,
if (!desc->vm_ops)
return -EINVAL;

+ /* Perform any preparatory tasks for mmap action. */
err = call_action_prepare(map, desc);
if (err)
return err;

+ /* Check the caller did nothing crazy. */
+ err = mmap_prepare_validate(&prev_desc, desc);
+ if (err)
+ return err;
+
/* Update fields permitted to be changed. */
map->pgoff = desc->pgoff;
if (desc->vm_file != map->file) {
@@ -3432,10 +3493,15 @@ int __vm_munmap(unsigned long start, size_t len, bool unlock)
int insert_vm_struct(struct mm_struct *mm, struct vm_area_struct *vma)
{
unsigned long charged = vma_pages(vma);
+ int err;

if (find_vma_intersection(mm, vma->vm_start, vma->vm_end))
return -ENOMEM;

+ err = mmap_validate_vma_flags(&vma->flags);
+ if (err)
+ return err;
+
if (vma_test(vma, VMA_ACCOUNT_BIT) &&
security_vm_enough_memory_mm(mm, charged))
return -ENOMEM;
diff --git a/mm/vma.h b/mm/vma.h
index e97bd2dfa786..af14ed7265ce 100644
--- a/mm/vma.h
+++ b/mm/vma.h
@@ -780,14 +780,19 @@ struct vm_area_struct *vm_area_alloc(struct mm_struct *mm);
struct vm_area_struct *vm_area_dup(struct vm_area_struct *orig);
void vm_area_free(struct vm_area_struct *vma);

-/* vma_exec.c */
#ifdef CONFIG_MMU
+int mmap_prepare_validate(const struct vm_area_desc *prev_desc,
+ const struct vm_area_desc *desc);
+
+int mmap_hook_validate(unsigned long prev_start,
+ const vma_flags_t *prev_flags,
+ const struct vm_area_struct *vma);
+
+/* vma_exec.c */
int create_init_stack_vma(struct mm_struct *mm, struct vm_area_struct **vmap,
unsigned long *top_mem_p);
int relocate_vma_down(struct vm_area_struct *vma, unsigned long shift);
-#endif

-#ifdef CONFIG_MMU
/*
* Denies creating a writable executable mapping or gaining executable permissions.
*
@@ -836,6 +841,19 @@ static inline bool map_deny_write_exec(const vma_flags_t *old,

return false;
}
+#else
+static inline int mmap_prepare_validate(const struct vm_area_desc *prev_desc,
+ const struct vm_area_desc *desc)
+{
+ return 0;
+}
+
+static inline int mmap_hook_validate(unsigned long prev_start,
+ const vma_flags_t *prev_flags,
+ const struct vm_area_struct *vma)
+{
+ return 0;
+}
#endif

struct vm_area_struct *__install_special_mapping(struct mm_struct *mm,
diff --git a/tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h b/tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h
index 2fd422789717..2986ae6ca1e5 100644
--- a/tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h
+++ b/tools/testing/vma/include/dup.h
@@ -1359,13 +1359,23 @@ static inline int vfs_mmap_prepare(struct file *file, struct vm_area_desc *desc)
return file->f_op->mmap_prepare(desc);
}

+int mmap_prepare_validate(const struct vm_area_desc *prev_desc,
+ const struct vm_area_desc *desc);
+
static inline int __compat_vma_mmap(struct vm_area_desc *desc,
struct vm_area_struct *vma)
{
+ struct vm_area_desc prev_desc;
int err;

+ /* Derive state prior to mmap_prepare hook. */
+ compat_set_desc_from_vma(&prev_desc, desc->file, vma);
/* Perform any preparatory tasks for mmap action. */
err = mmap_action_prepare(desc);
+ if (err)
+ return err;
+ /* Check the caller did nothing crazy. */
+ err = mmap_prepare_validate(&prev_desc, desc);
if (err)
return err;
/* Update the VMA from the descriptor. */

--
2.55.0