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bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-derefs when showing a void BTF type

PATCH Applied Jiayuan Chen 2 participants 7 messages Sep 1 – Sep 3

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#0 lore raw

v4 cover bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-derefs when showing a void BTF type

This series fixes three NULL-ptr-derefs in BTF handling.

Patch 1 handles the syzbot report. A key-less BTF (btf_key_type_id == 0) used to be rejected for hash maps, until htab and rhtab gained a ->map_check_btf (to register a dtor) that does not look at the key, so a key-less hash map is now accepted. Dumping it through bpffs feeds the key type_id 0 into btf_type_seq_show() and NULL-derefs in btf_type_show(). Reject it again.

Patches 2 and 3 fix two related, pre-existing crashes reachable via bpf_snprintf_btf(), which renders a type_id taken straight from the BPF program against the vmlinux BTF. A "const void" (a modifier resolving to void) NULL-derefs in btf_modifier_show() - void has no ->show op; a BTF_KIND_VAR NULL-derefs in btf_var_show() - the vmlinux base BTF has no resolved_ids. Patch 2 falls back to btf_df_show(), the "<unsupported kind:N>" placeholder already used for FWD/FUNC/FLOAT/DECL_TAG; patch 3 resolves the var's type directly, mirroring the existing guard in btf_modifier_show().

Patches 4 and 5 add selftests. Patch 4 checks a key-less hash and rhash map is rejected at creation. Patch 5 extends the snprintf_btf test to render a "const void" and a BTF_KIND_VAR from the vmlinux BTF and checks they resolve without crashing.

v3 -> v4: Drop the pin-and-read reproducer from the key-less map test, fold the void/VAR test into the existing snprintf_btf test, and simplify patch 2's wording (review comments).

v2 -> v3: Fold in a third fix for the same class of bug, btf_var_show(), reported while reviewing v2. Address review comments (Fixes attribution, verbatim syzbot trace, skip instead of fail).

v1 -> v2: AI reported a pre-exist issue. Let's fold it in this series.

v3: https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/[email protected]/
v2: https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/[email protected]/
v1: https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/[email protected]/

Jiayuan Chen (5):
bpf: Reject key-less BTF for hash maps
bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref when showing a void BTF type
bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref in btf_var_show() selftests/bpf: Add test for key-less BTF hash map selftests/bpf: Add test for showing a void BTF type

 kernel/bpf/btf.c                              | 19 ++++-
 kernel/bpf/hashtab.c                          |  6 ++
 .../bpf/prog_tests/btf_map_keyless.c          | 59 ++++++++++++++
 .../selftests/bpf/prog_tests/snprintf_btf.c   | 79 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../selftests/bpf/progs/snprintf_btf_void.c   | 24 ++++++
 5 files changed, 185 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_map_keyless.c
 create mode 100644 tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/snprintf_btf_void.c
Signature · 1 line
2.43.0
#1 lore raw

PATCH v4 1/5 bpf: Reject key-less BTF for hash maps

map_check_btf() allows a key-less BTF (btf_key_type_id == 0) only for maps that have a ->map_check_btf callback, and leaves the actual decision to that callback. Hash maps used to have no ->map_check_btf, so a key-less BTF was rejected outright.

That changed when htab and rhtab gained a ->map_check_btf to register a dtor - htab in commit 1df97a7453ee ("bpf: Register dtor for freeing special fields") and rhtab in commit 6905f8601298 ("bpf: Allow special fields in resizable hashtab"). Neither looks at the key, so a key-less hash map now passes map_check_btf() and gets created. Reading it back through bpffs feeds the key type_id 0 into btf_type_seq_show(); btf_type_by_id() returns the void type, kind_ops[BTF_KIND_UNKN] is NULL, and btf_type_show() dereferences it:

RIP: 0010:btf_type_show+0x223/0x2e0 kernel/bpf/btf.c:8232
RSP: 0018:ffffc9000399f868 EFLAGS: 00010206
RAX: dffffc0000000000 RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 0000000000000000
RDX: 0000000000000005 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000028
RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000
R10: ffffc9000399f970 R11: 0000000000000001 R12: ffffffff9b96b140
R13: ffffc9000399f8e0 R14: ffff88803d393c00 R15: 0000000000000003
CS:  0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 0000200000000000 CR3: 000000003d213000 CR4: 0000000000352ef0
DR0: 0000000039ae8f55 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000
DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000ffff0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400
Call Trace:
 <TASK>
 btf_type_seq_show_flags+0xca/0x120 kernel/bpf/btf.c:8250
 htab_map_seq_show_elem+0x12e/0x350 kernel/bpf/hashtab.c:1669
 map_seq_show+0x13d/0x1e0 kernel/bpf/inode.c:293
 traverse.part.0.constprop.0+0x107/0x650 fs/seq_file.c:112
 traverse fs/seq_file.c:99 [inline]
 seq_read_iter+0x93f/0x1270 fs/seq_file.c:196
 seq_read+0x344/0x4d0 fs/seq_file.c:163
 vfs_read+0x1e4/0xb40 fs/read_write.c:572
 ksys_pread64 fs/read_write.c:764 [inline]
 __do_sys_pread64 fs/read_write.c:772 [inline]
 __se_sys_pread64 fs/read_write.c:769 [inline]
 __x64_sys_pread64+0x1eb/0x250 fs/read_write.c:769
 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline]
 do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84
 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

Reject a key-less BTF in htab_map_check_btf() and rhtab_map_check_btf(), restoring the previous behavior.

Fixes 1df97a7453ee ("bpf: Register dtor for freeing special fields")
Fixes 6905f8601298 ("bpf: Allow special fields in resizable hashtab")
Reported-by [email protected]
---
 kernel/bpf/hashtab.c | 6 ++++++
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)
kernel/bpf/hashtab.c +6 -0
index d40cb5dd446c..7f55d6421e72 100644
@@ -530,6 +530,9 @@ static int htab_map_check_btf(struct bpf_map *map, const struct btf *btf,
 {
 	struct bpf_htab *htab = container_of(map, struct bpf_htab, map);
 
+	if (btf_type_is_void(key_type))
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	if (htab_is_prealloc(htab))
 		return 0;
 	/*
@@ -3110,6 +3113,9 @@ static int rhtab_map_check_btf(struct bpf_map *map, const struct btf *btf,
 {
 	struct bpf_rhtab *rhtab = container_of(map, struct bpf_rhtab, map);
 
+	if (btf_type_is_void(key_type))
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	return bpf_ma_set_dtor(map, &rhtab->ma, rhtab_mem_dtor);
 }
 
Signature · 1 line
2.43.0
#2 lore raw

PATCH v4 2/5 bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref when showing a void BTF type

In reply to Jiayuan Chen

btf_modifier_show() resolves the modifier and then calls btf_type_ops(t)->show() unconditionally. For the void type (type_id 0, BTF_KIND_UNKN) kind_ops[] has no entry, so ->show is NULL.

A "const void" (a modifier resolving to void) cannot be a map key or value - map_check_btf() rejects it because void has no size - so the map dump path does not reach it. But bpf_snprintf_btf() takes a type_id straight from the BPF program, and passing such a "const void" from the vmlinux BTF NULL-derefs:

KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000028-0x000000000000002f]
RIP: 0010:btf_modifier_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:2914)
Call Trace:
 <TASK>
 btf_type_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:8251)
 btf_type_snprintf_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:8321)
 bpf_snprintf_btf (kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c:1047)
 bpf_prog_test_run_raw_tp (net/bpf/test_run.c:829)
 __sys_bpf (kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4804)
 do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121)
 </TASK>

Fall back to btf_df_show() when the resolved type has no show op; it emits the "<unsupported kind:N>" placeholder already used for kinds like FWD and FUNC. bpf_snprintf_btf() then returns the length as usual.

Fixes c4d0bfb45068 ("bpf: Add bpf_snprintf_btf helper")

---
re bot+bpf-ci: a "const void" is a modifier with a nonzero type_id, so map_check_btf() rejects it as key or value on the size check. The bare void key (id 0) is a different path, handled by patch 1.
re sashiko-bot: btf_var_show() has the same bug, fixed in patch 3.

---
 kernel/bpf/btf.c | 9 ++++++++-
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
kernel/bpf/btf.c +8 -1
index 91b8ce77f699..7835fe201384 100644
@@ -2911,7 +2911,14 @@ static void btf_modifier_show(const struct btf *btf,
 	else
 		t = btf_type_skip_modifiers(btf, type_id, NULL);
 
-	btf_type_ops(t)->show(btf, t, type_id, data, bits_offset, show);
+	/*
+	 * A modifier can resolve to void, which has no show op; print a
+	 * placeholder rather than dereferencing NULL.
+	 */
+	if (!btf_type_ops(t))
+		btf_df_show(btf, t, type_id, data, bits_offset, show);
+	else
+		btf_type_ops(t)->show(btf, t, type_id, data, bits_offset, show);
 }
 
 static void btf_var_show(const struct btf *btf, const struct btf_type *t,
Signature · 1 line
2.43.0
#3 lore raw

PATCH v4 3/5 bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref in btf_var_show()

In reply to Jiayuan Chen

btf_var_show() calls btf_type_id_resolve() unconditionally, which dereferences btf->resolved_ids. That is NULL for a base BTF - e.g. the vmlinux BTF that bpf_snprintf_btf() renders against - since base BTF is not resolved during parsing. btf_modifier_show() guards this with 'if (btf->resolved_ids)', but btf_var_show() does not.

A BPF program that passes the type_id of a BTF_KIND_VAR from the vmlinux BTF to bpf_snprintf_btf() thus NULL-derefs:

KASAN: probably user-memory-access in range [0x46638-0x4663f]
RIP: 0010:btf_var_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:2929)
Call Trace:
 <TASK>
 btf_type_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:8259)
 btf_type_snprintf_show (kernel/bpf/btf.c:8329)
 bpf_snprintf_btf (kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c:1047)
 bpf_prog_test_run_raw_tp (net/bpf/test_run.c:829)
 __sys_bpf (kernel/bpf/syscall.c:4804)
 do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84)
 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121)
 </TASK>

Resolve the var's type directly with btf_type_skip_modifiers() when resolved_ids is NULL, mirroring btf_modifier_show().

Fixes c4d0bfb45068 ("bpf: Add bpf_snprintf_btf helper")
---
 kernel/bpf/btf.c | 10 +++++++++-
 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
kernel/bpf/btf.c +9 -1
index 7835fe201384..7c634d639b7f 100644
@@ -2925,7 +2925,15 @@ static void btf_var_show(const struct btf *btf, const struct btf_type *t,
 			 u32 type_id, void *data, u8 bits_offset,
 			 struct btf_show *show)
 {
-	t = btf_type_id_resolve(btf, &type_id);
+	/*
+	 * btf_type_id_resolve() dereferences btf->resolved_ids, which is NULL
+	 * for a base BTF (e.g. the vmlinux BTF that bpf_snprintf_btf() uses).
+	 * Resolve the var's type directly in that case.
+	 */
+	if (btf->resolved_ids)
+		t = btf_type_id_resolve(btf, &type_id);
+	else
+		t = btf_type_skip_modifiers(btf, t->type, &type_id);
 
 	btf_type_ops(t)->show(btf, t, type_id, data, bits_offset, show);
 }
Signature · 1 line
2.43.0
#4 lore raw

PATCH v4 4/5 selftests/bpf: Add test for key-less BTF hash map

In reply to Jiayuan Chen

Create a hash and an rhash map with btf_key_type_id == 0 and expect bpf_map_create() to fail with -EINVAL; a positive control with a real key type confirms the rejection is about the key-less BTF and not some unrelated failure.

Such a map used to be accepted and then NULL-deref in btf_type_show() when dumped through bpffs.

---
re bot+bpf-ci: the positive control is on purpose. Without it, if the map type is missing both creates return -EINVAL and the key-less check would pass for the wrong reason.

---
 .../bpf/prog_tests/btf_map_keyless.c          | 59 +++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 59 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_map_keyless.c
tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/btf_map_keyless.c new file +59 -0
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3248bccc3557
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+#include <test_progs.h>
+#include <bpf/btf.h>
+
+/*
+ * A hash map with a key-less BTF (btf_key_type_id == 0) used to be accepted
+ * and then NULL-deref in btf_type_show() when dumped through bpffs. A fixed
+ * kernel rejects it at creation; verify that rejection, with a keyed positive
+ * control so the -EINVAL is about the missing key type and not some unrelated
+ * failure.
+ */
+static void check_keyless(int map_type, __u32 map_flags, int btf_fd, int val_id)
+{
+	LIBBPF_OPTS(bpf_map_create_opts, opts);
+	int map_fd;
+
+	opts.map_flags = map_flags;
+	opts.btf_fd = btf_fd;
+	opts.btf_value_type_id = val_id;
+
+	/* Positive control: the same map with a real key type is accepted. */
+	opts.btf_key_type_id = val_id;
+	map_fd = bpf_map_create(map_type, "keyed_map", 4, 4, 8, &opts);
+	if (!ASSERT_GE(map_fd, 0, "keyed create is accepted"))
+		return;
+	close(map_fd);
+
+	/* A key-less BTF must be rejected. */
+	opts.btf_key_type_id = 0;
+	map_fd = bpf_map_create(map_type, "keyless_map", 4, 4, 8, &opts);
+	ASSERT_EQ(map_fd, -EINVAL, "key-less create is rejected");
+	if (map_fd >= 0)
+		close(map_fd);
+}
+
+void test_btf_map_keyless(void)
+{
+	int btf_fd, val_id;
+	struct btf *btf;
+
+	btf = btf__new_empty();
+	if (!ASSERT_OK_PTR(btf, "btf__new_empty"))
+		return;
+
+	val_id = btf__add_int(btf, "int", 4, BTF_INT_SIGNED);
+	if (!ASSERT_GT(val_id, 0, "btf__add_int"))
+		goto out;
+
+	if (!ASSERT_OK(btf__load_into_kernel(btf), "btf__load_into_kernel"))
+		goto out;
+	btf_fd = btf__fd(btf);
+
+	if (test__start_subtest("hash"))
+		check_keyless(BPF_MAP_TYPE_HASH, 0, btf_fd, val_id);
+	if (test__start_subtest("rhash"))
+		check_keyless(BPF_MAP_TYPE_RHASH, BPF_F_NO_PREALLOC, btf_fd, val_id);
+out:
+	btf__free(btf);
+}
Signature · 1 line
2.43.0
#5 lore raw

PATCH v4 5/5 selftests/bpf: Add test for showing a void BTF type

In reply to Jiayuan Chen

Extend the snprintf_btf test with type_ids from the vmlinux BTF that used to NULL-deref in the BTF show path: a "const void", checked to render the "<unsupported kind:0>" placeholder, and a BTF_KIND_VAR, checked to resolve and render without error.

The program renders from its own buffer and the test picks a VAR whose resolved type fits it, so the render stays in bounds.

---
 .../selftests/bpf/prog_tests/snprintf_btf.c   | 79 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../selftests/bpf/progs/snprintf_btf_void.c   | 24 ++++++
 2 files changed, 103 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/snprintf_btf_void.c
tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/snprintf_btf.c +79 -0
index dd41b826be30..edce9c1b54fb 100644
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <test_progs.h>
 #include <linux/btf.h>
+#include <bpf/btf.h>
 #include "netif_receive_skb.skel.h"
+#include "snprintf_btf_void.skel.h"
 
 /* Demonstrate that bpf_snprintf_btf succeeds and that various data types
  * are formatted correctly.
@@ -58,3 +60,80 @@ void serial_test_snprintf_btf(void)
 cleanup:
 	netif_receive_skb__destroy(skel);
 }
+
+/*
+ * bpf_snprintf_btf() renders a type_id taken straight from the vmlinux BTF.
+ * Two such type_ids used to NULL-deref in the BTF show path:
+ *   - a "const void" (a modifier resolving to void) in btf_modifier_show()
+ *   - a BTF_KIND_VAR in btf_var_show() (base BTF has no resolved_ids)
+ * A fixed kernel renders both without crashing.
+ */
+static long run(struct snprintf_btf_void *skel, __u32 type_id)
+{
+	LIBBPF_OPTS(bpf_test_run_opts, topts);
+	char ctx[8] = {};
+
+	skel->bss->type_id = type_id;
+	topts.ctx_in = ctx;
+	topts.ctx_size_in = sizeof(ctx);
+	if (!ASSERT_OK(bpf_prog_test_run_opts(bpf_program__fd(skel->progs.dump_type),
+					      &topts), "test_run"))
+		return -1;
+	return skel->bss->ret;
+}
+
+void test_snprintf_btf_void(void)
+{
+	const struct btf_type *t;
+	struct snprintf_btf_void *skel;
+	int i, n, cv = 0, var = 0;
+	struct btf *btf;
+
+	btf = btf__parse("/sys/kernel/btf/vmlinux", NULL);
+	if (!btf) {
+		test__skip();
+		return;
+	}
+
+	skel = snprintf_btf_void__open_and_load();
+	if (!ASSERT_OK_PTR(skel, "skel_open_and_load"))
+		goto out_btf;
+
+	n = btf__type_cnt(btf);
+	for (i = 1; i < n && !(cv && var); i++) {
+		t = btf__type_by_id(btf, i);
+		if (!cv && btf_kind(t) == BTF_KIND_CONST && t->type == 0)
+			cv = i;
+		/* Pick a VAR small enough to render from the program's buffer. */
+		if (!var && btf_kind(t) == BTF_KIND_VAR) {
+			long sz = btf__resolve_size(btf, t->type);
+
+			if (sz > 0 && sz <= (long)sizeof(skel->bss->obj))
+				var = i;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* "const void" renders the "<unsupported kind:0>" placeholder. */
+	if (test__start_subtest("const_void")) {
+		if (cv) {
+			ASSERT_EQ(run(skel, cv),
+				  sizeof("<unsupported kind:0>") - 1, "ret");
+			ASSERT_STREQ(skel->bss->out, "<unsupported kind:0>",
+				     "placeholder");
+		} else {
+			test__skip();
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* A BTF_KIND_VAR must resolve and render without error. */
+	if (test__start_subtest("var")) {
+		if (var)
+			ASSERT_GT(run(skel, var), 0, "ret");
+		else
+			test__skip();
+	}
+
+	snprintf_btf_void__destroy(skel);
+out_btf:
+	btf__free(btf);
+}
tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/snprintf_btf_void.c new file +24 -0
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..44af80fbbb80
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+#include "btf_ptr.h"
+#include <bpf/bpf_helpers.h>
+
+__u32 type_id;
+/* A buffer we own to render the selected type from, kept in bounds. */
+char obj[256];
+char out[64];
+long ret;
+
+SEC("raw_tp/sys_enter")
+int dump_type(void *ctx)
+{
+	struct btf_ptr ptr = {
+		.ptr = obj,
+		.type_id = type_id,
+		.flags = 0,
+	};
+
+	ret = bpf_snprintf_btf(out, sizeof(out), &ptr, sizeof(ptr), 0);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
Signature · 1 line
2.43.0
#6 lore raw
In reply to Jiayuan Chen
This series was applied to bpf/bpf.git (master) by Alexei Starovoitov <[email protected]>:

Hello:

This series was applied to bpf/bpf.git (master)
by Alexei Starovoitov <[email protected]>:

Quoted 9 lines · On Tue, 1 Sep 2026 18:47:34 +0800 you wrote:

This series fixes three NULL-ptr-derefs in BTF handling.

Patch 1 handles the syzbot report. A key-less BTF (btf_key_type_id == 0) used to be rejected for hash maps, until htab and rhtab gained a ->map_check_btf (to register a dtor) that does not look at the key, so a key-less hash map is now accepted. Dumping it through bpffs feeds the key type_id 0 into btf_type_seq_show() and NULL-derefs in btf_type_show(). Reject it again.

[...]

Here is the summary with links:
- [bpf,v4,1/5] bpf: Reject key-less BTF for hash maps

    https://git.kernel.org/bpf/bpf/c/0895a0c07347
  - [bpf,v4,2/5] bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref when showing a void BTF type
    https://git.kernel.org/bpf/bpf/c/4ea508b9ebd7
  - [bpf,v4,3/5] bpf: Fix NULL-ptr-deref in btf_var_show()
    https://git.kernel.org/bpf/bpf/c/5403a383f52f
  - [bpf,v4,4/5] selftests/bpf: Add test for key-less BTF hash map
    https://git.kernel.org/bpf/bpf/c/6265b44f2c3b
  - [bpf,v4,5/5] selftests/bpf: Add test for showing a void BTF type
    https://git.kernel.org/bpf/bpf/c/1ae6aa61958a

You are awesome, thank you!

Signature · 2 lines
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