[PATCH v5 05/12] KVM: x86: WARN if fixed-1 DR6 bits aren't already set when delivering payload

From: Sean Christopherson

Date: Tue Sep 29 2026 - 21:15:49 EST


WARN if the fixed-1 bits in DR6 aren't already set when delivering a #DB
payload, as (stating the obvious) KVM should never clear fixed-1 bits.

Opportunistically switch to kvm_get_dr6_fixed_1() instead using the more
conservative DR6_FIXED_1, to ensure that bits that are fixed-1 from the
guest's perspective are indeed '1'. In practice, this aspect should be a
glorified nop specifically because fixed-1 bits should already be set.

Signed-off-by: Sean Christopherson <seanjc@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
arch/x86/kvm/x86.c | 10 +++++++---
1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/arch/x86/kvm/x86.c b/arch/x86/kvm/x86.c
index 99518e3265b4..5b3918a4ed52 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kvm/x86.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kvm/x86.c
@@ -399,7 +399,9 @@ void kvm_deliver_exception_payload(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu,
return;

switch (ex->vector) {
- case DB_VECTOR:
+ case DB_VECTOR: {
+ unsigned long dr6_fixed_1 = kvm_get_dr6_fixed_1(vcpu);
+
/*
* DR6 is a mess. Reserved/unused bits are fixed-to-1, and so
* to maintain backwards compatibility with existing software,
@@ -426,7 +428,7 @@ void kvm_deliver_exception_payload(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu,
* 2. Clear active-low bits that are present in the payload.
* 3. Set active-high bits that are present in the payload.
* 4. Clear fixed-0 bits.
- * 5. Set fixed-1 bits.
+ * 5. Sanity check (and set, if necessary) fixed-1 bits.
*/
vcpu->arch.dr6 &= ~DR_TRAP_BITS;
vcpu->arch.dr6 |= DR6_RTM;
@@ -440,8 +442,10 @@ void kvm_deliver_exception_payload(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu,
* breakpoint), it is reserved and must be zero in DR6.
*/
vcpu->arch.dr6 &= ~BIT(12);
- vcpu->arch.dr6 |= DR6_FIXED_1;
+ if (WARN_ON_ONCE((vcpu->arch.dr6 & dr6_fixed_1) != dr6_fixed_1))
+ vcpu->arch.dr6 |= dr6_fixed_1;
break;
+ }
case PF_VECTOR:
vcpu->arch.cr2 = ex->payload;
break;
--
2.56.0.rc1.315.gc6ed9934b7-goog