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Yonghong Song 0f6bd5e7a8 bpf: Support stack arguments for bpf functions
Currently BPF functions (subprogs) are limited to 5 register arguments.
With [1], the compiler can emit code that passes additional arguments
via a dedicated stack area through bpf register BPF_REG_PARAMS (r11),
introduced in an earlier patch ([2]).

The compiler uses positive r11 offsets for incoming (callee-side) args
and negative r11 offsets for outgoing (caller-side) args, following the
x86_64/arm64 calling convention direction. There is an 8-byte gap at
offset 0 separating two regions:
  Incoming (callee reads):   r11+8 (arg6), r11+16 (arg7), ...
  Outgoing (caller writes):  r11-8 (arg6), r11-16 (arg7), ...

The following is an example to show how stack arguments are saved
and transferred between caller and callee:

  int foo(int a1, int a2, int a3, int a4, int a5, int a6, int a7) {
    ...
    bar(a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8);
    ...
  }

  Caller (foo)                           Callee (bar)
  ============                           ============
  Incoming (positive offsets):           Incoming (positive offsets):

  r11+8:  [incoming arg 6]               r11+8:  [incoming arg 6] <-+
  r11+16: [incoming arg 7]               r11+16: [incoming arg 7] <-|+
                                         r11+24: [incoming arg 8] <-||+
  Outgoing (negative offsets):                                      |||
  r11-8:  [outgoing arg 6 to bar] -------->-------------------------+||
  r11-16: [outgoing arg 7 to bar] -------->--------------------------+|
  r11-24: [outgoing arg 8 to bar] -------->---------------------------+

If the bpf function has more than one call:

  int foo(int a1, int a2, int a3, int a4, int a5, int a6, int a7) {
    ...
    bar1(a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8);
    ...
    bar2(a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8, a9);
    ...
  }

  Caller (foo)                             Callee (bar2)
  ============                             ==============
  Incoming (positive offsets):             Incoming (positive offsets):

  r11+8:  [incoming arg 6]                 r11+8:  [incoming arg 6] <+
  r11+16: [incoming arg 7]                 r11+16: [incoming arg 7] <|+
                                           r11+24: [incoming arg 8] <||+
  Outgoing for bar2 (negative offsets):    r11+32: [incoming arg 9] <|||+
  r11-8:  [outgoing arg 6] ---->----------->-------------------------+|||
  r11-16: [outgoing arg 7] ---->----------->--------------------------+||
  r11-24: [outgoing arg 8] ---->----------->---------------------------+|
  r11-32: [outgoing arg 9] ---->----------->----------------------------+

The verifier tracks outgoing stack arguments in stack_arg_regs[] and
out_stack_arg_cnt in bpf_func_state, separately from the regular
r10 stack. The callee does not copy incoming args — it reads them
directly from the caller's outgoing slots at positive r11 offsets.
Similar to stacksafe(), introduce stack_arg_safe() to do pruning
check.

Outgoing stack arg slots are invalidated when the callee returns
(e.g. in prepare_func_exit), not at call time. This allows the callee to
read incoming args from the caller's outgoing slots during
verification. The following are a few examples.

Example 1:
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 8) = r6;
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 16) = r7;
  call bar1;                // arg6 = r6, arg7 = r7
  call bar2;                // expected with 2 stack arguments, failed

Example 2:
To fix the Example 1:
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 8) = r6;
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 16) = r7;
  call bar1;                // arg6 = r6, arg7 = r7
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 8) = r8;
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 16) = r9;
  call bar2;                // arg6 = r8, arg7 = r9

Example 3:
The compiler can hoist the shared stack arg stores above the branch:
  *(u64 *)(r11 - 16) = r7;
  if cond goto else;
    *(u64 *)(r11 - 8) = r8;
    call bar1;               // arg6 = r8, arg7 = r7
    goto end;
  else:
    *(u64 *)(r11 - 8) = r9;
    call bar2;               // arg6 = r9, arg7 = r7
  end:

Example 4:
Within a loop:
  loop:
    *(u64 *)(r11 - 8) = r6;  // arg6, before loop
    call bar;                // reuses arg6 each iteration
    if ... goto loop;

A separate max_out_stack_arg_cnt field in bpf_subprog_info tracks
the deepest outgoing slot actually written. This intends to
reject programs that write to slots beyond what any callee expects.
It is necessary for JIT.

Similar to typical compiler generated code, enforce the following
orderings:
  - all stack arg reads must be ahead of any stack arg write
  - all stack arg reads must be before any bpf func, kfunc and helpers
This is needed as JIT may emit 'mov' insns for read/write with
the same register and bpf function, kfunc and helper will invalidate
all arguments immediately after the call.

Callback functions with stack arguments need kernel setup parameter
types (including stack parameters) properly and then callback function
can retrieve such information for verification purpose.

Global subprogs and freplace with >5 args are not yet supported.

  [1] https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/pull/189060
  [2] https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/20260423033506.2542005-1-yonghong.song@linux.dev/

Signed-off-by: Yonghong Song <yonghong.song@linux.dev>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20260513045015.2385013-1-yonghong.song@linux.dev
Signed-off-by: Alexei Starovoitov <ast@kernel.org>
2026-05-13 09:27:30 -07:00
arch Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/bpf/bpf 7.1-rc3 2026-05-10 13:24:49 -07:00
block block: only read from sqe on initial invocation of blkdev_uring_cmd() 2026-05-05 01:37:12 -06:00
certs Clang build fixes for 7.1 2026-04-24 09:29:51 -07:00
crypto This push contains the following changes: 2026-05-02 12:31:43 -07:00
Documentation Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/bpf/bpf 7.1-rc3 2026-05-10 13:24:49 -07:00
drivers Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/bpf/bpf 7.1-rc3 2026-05-10 13:24:49 -07:00
fs Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/bpf/bpf 7.1-rc3 2026-05-10 13:24:49 -07:00
include bpf: Support stack arguments for bpf functions 2026-05-13 09:27:30 -07:00
init memblock: updates for 7.0-rc1 2026-04-18 11:29:14 -07:00
io_uring io_uring-7.1-20260508 2026-05-08 13:12:48 -07:00
ipc Convert 'alloc_obj' family to use the new default GFP_KERNEL argument 2026-02-21 17:09:51 -08:00
kernel bpf: Support stack arguments for bpf functions 2026-05-13 09:27:30 -07:00
lib Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/bpf/bpf 7.1-rc3 2026-05-10 13:24:49 -07:00
LICENSES LICENSES: Add modern form of the LGPL-2.1 tags to the usage guide section 2025-10-22 07:58:19 +02:00
mm slab fixes for 7.1-rc1 2026-05-03 08:19:57 -07:00
net Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/bpf/bpf 7.1-rc3 2026-05-10 13:24:49 -07:00
rust Rust fixes for v7.1 2026-05-09 11:24:02 -07:00
samples soc: drivers for 7.1 2026-04-16 20:34:34 -07:00
scripts First round of Kbuild fixes for 7.1 2026-04-25 17:04:15 -07:00
security selinux: shrink critical section in sel_write_load() 2026-05-05 16:02:28 -04:00
sound ASoC: Fixes for v7.1 2026-05-06 16:10:00 +02:00
tools selftests/bpf: Add tests to verify map create failure log 2026-05-12 12:44:47 -07:00
usr kbuild: uapi: also test UAPI headers against C++ compilers 2026-03-25 13:24:42 +01:00
virt Arm: 2026-04-17 07:18:03 -07:00
.clang-format Devicetree updates for v7.0: 2026-02-11 18:27:08 -08:00
.clippy.toml rust: bump Clippy's MSRV and clean incompatible_msrv allows 2026-04-07 09:51:39 +02:00
.cocciconfig
.editorconfig editorconfig: add rst extension 2026-01-26 19:07:09 -08:00
.get_maintainer.ignore .get_maintainer.ignore: add Askar 2026-04-15 02:15:02 -07:00
.gitattributes .gitattributes: set diff driver for Rust source code files 2023-05-31 17:48:25 +02:00
.gitignore kbuild: rust: provide an option to inline C helpers into Rust 2026-03-30 02:03:52 +02:00
.mailmap MAINTAINERS: Update mail for Peter Rosin 2026-05-04 21:02:58 +02:00
.pylintrc docs: Move the python libraries to tools/lib/python 2025-11-18 09:22:40 -07:00
.rustfmt.toml rust: add .rustfmt.toml 2022-09-28 09:02:20 +02:00
COPYING
CREDITS Delete some obsolete networking code 2026-04-24 09:41:58 -07:00
Kbuild checksyscalls: move instance functionality into generic code 2026-04-05 09:21:32 +02:00
Kconfig io_uring: Rename KConfig to Kconfig 2025-02-19 14:53:27 -07:00
MAINTAINERS Fixes for clk drivers: 2026-05-10 08:10:47 -07:00
Makefile Rust fixes for v7.1 2026-05-09 11:24:02 -07:00
README docs: add AI Coding Assistants documentation 2026-01-06 14:55:06 -07:00

Linux kernel
============

The Linux kernel is the core of any Linux operating system. It manages hardware,
system resources, and provides the fundamental services for all other software.

Quick Start
-----------

* Report a bug: See Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst
* Get the latest kernel: https://kernel.org
* Build the kernel: See Documentation/admin-guide/quickly-build-trimmed-linux.rst
* Join the community: https://lore.kernel.org/

Essential Documentation
-----------------------

All users should be familiar with:

* Building requirements: Documentation/process/changes.rst
* Code of Conduct: Documentation/process/code-of-conduct.rst
* License: See COPYING

Documentation can be built with make htmldocs or viewed online at:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/


Who Are You?
============

Find your role below:

* New Kernel Developer - Getting started with kernel development
* Academic Researcher - Studying kernel internals and architecture
* Security Expert - Hardening and vulnerability analysis
* Backport/Maintenance Engineer - Maintaining stable kernels
* System Administrator - Configuring and troubleshooting
* Maintainer - Leading subsystems and reviewing patches
* Hardware Vendor - Writing drivers for new hardware
* Distribution Maintainer - Packaging kernels for distros
* AI Coding Assistant - LLMs and AI-powered development tools


For Specific Users
==================

New Kernel Developer
--------------------

Welcome! Start your kernel development journey here:

* Getting Started: Documentation/process/development-process.rst
* Your First Patch: Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
* Coding Style: Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
* Build System: Documentation/kbuild/index.rst
* Development Tools: Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst
* Kernel Hacking Guide: Documentation/kernel-hacking/hacking.rst
* Core APIs: Documentation/core-api/index.rst

Academic Researcher
-------------------

Explore the kernel's architecture and internals:

* Researcher Guidelines: Documentation/process/researcher-guidelines.rst
* Memory Management: Documentation/mm/index.rst
* Scheduler: Documentation/scheduler/index.rst
* Networking Stack: Documentation/networking/index.rst
* Filesystems: Documentation/filesystems/index.rst
* RCU (Read-Copy Update): Documentation/RCU/index.rst
* Locking Primitives: Documentation/locking/index.rst
* Power Management: Documentation/power/index.rst

Security Expert
---------------

Security documentation and hardening guides:

* Security Documentation: Documentation/security/index.rst
* LSM Development: Documentation/security/lsm-development.rst
* Self Protection: Documentation/security/self-protection.rst
* Reporting Vulnerabilities: Documentation/process/security-bugs.rst
* CVE Procedures: Documentation/process/cve.rst
* Embargoed Hardware Issues: Documentation/process/embargoed-hardware-issues.rst
* Security Features: Documentation/userspace-api/seccomp_filter.rst

Backport/Maintenance Engineer
-----------------------------

Maintain and stabilize kernel versions:

* Stable Kernel Rules: Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst
* Backporting Guide: Documentation/process/backporting.rst
* Applying Patches: Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst
* Subsystem Profile: Documentation/maintainer/maintainer-entry-profile.rst
* Git for Maintainers: Documentation/maintainer/configure-git.rst

System Administrator
--------------------

Configure, tune, and troubleshoot Linux systems:

* Admin Guide: Documentation/admin-guide/index.rst
* Kernel Parameters: Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst
* Sysctl Tuning: Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/index.rst
* Tracing/Debugging: Documentation/trace/index.rst
* Performance Security: Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst
* Hardware Monitoring: Documentation/hwmon/index.rst

Maintainer
----------

Lead kernel subsystems and manage contributions:

* Maintainer Handbook: Documentation/maintainer/index.rst
* Pull Requests: Documentation/maintainer/pull-requests.rst
* Managing Patches: Documentation/maintainer/modifying-patches.rst
* Rebasing and Merging: Documentation/maintainer/rebasing-and-merging.rst
* Development Process: Documentation/process/maintainer-handbooks.rst
* Maintainer Entry Profile: Documentation/maintainer/maintainer-entry-profile.rst
* Git Configuration: Documentation/maintainer/configure-git.rst

Hardware Vendor
---------------

Write drivers and support new hardware:

* Driver API Guide: Documentation/driver-api/index.rst
* Driver Model: Documentation/driver-api/driver-model/driver.rst
* Device Drivers: Documentation/driver-api/infrastructure.rst
* Bus Types: Documentation/driver-api/driver-model/bus.rst
* Device Tree Bindings: Documentation/devicetree/bindings/
* Power Management: Documentation/driver-api/pm/index.rst
* DMA API: Documentation/core-api/dma-api.rst

Distribution Maintainer
-----------------------

Package and distribute the kernel:

* Stable Kernel Rules: Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst
* ABI Documentation: Documentation/ABI/README
* Kernel Configuration: Documentation/kbuild/kconfig.rst
* Module Signing: Documentation/admin-guide/module-signing.rst
* Kernel Parameters: Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst
* Tainted Kernels: Documentation/admin-guide/tainted-kernels.rst

AI Coding Assistant
-------------------

CRITICAL: If you are an LLM or AI-powered coding assistant, you MUST read and
follow the AI coding assistants documentation before contributing to the Linux
kernel:

* Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst

This documentation contains essential requirements about licensing, attribution,
and the Developer Certificate of Origin that all AI tools must comply with.


Communication and Support
=========================

* Mailing Lists: https://lore.kernel.org/
* IRC: #kernelnewbies on irc.oftc.net
* Bugzilla: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/
* MAINTAINERS file: Lists subsystem maintainers and mailing lists
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