Re: [PATCH v3] kprobe/ftrace: bail out if ftrace was killed

On Wed,  1 May 2024 09:29:56 -0700
Stephen Brennan [off-list ref] wrote:

If an error happens in ftrace, ftrace_kill() will prevent disarming
kprobes. Eventually, the ftrace_ops associated with the kprobes will be
freed, yet the kprobes will still be active, and when triggered, they
will use the freed memory, likely resulting in a page fault and panic.

This behavior can be reproduced quite easily, by creating a kprobe and
then triggering a ftrace_kill(). For simplicity, we can simulate an
ftrace error with a kernel module like [1]:

[1]: https://github.com/brenns10/kernel_stuff/tree/master/ftrace_killer

  sudo perf probe --add commit_creds
  sudo perf trace -e probe:commit_creds
  # In another terminal
  make
  sudo insmod ftrace_killer.ko  # calls ftrace_kill(), simulating bug
  # Back to perf terminal
  # ctrl-c
  sudo perf probe --del commit_creds

After a short period, a page fault and panic would occur as the kprobe
continues to execute and uses the freed ftrace_ops. While ftrace_kill()
is supposed to be used only in extreme circumstances, it is invoked in
FTRACE_WARN_ON() and so there are many places where an unexpected bug
could be triggered, yet the system may continue operating, possibly
without the administrator noticing. If ftrace_kill() does not panic the
system, then we should do everything we can to continue operating,
rather than leave a ticking time bomb.

Signed-off-by: Stephen Brennan <redacted>
---
Changes in v3:
  Don't expose ftrace_is_dead(). Create a "kprobe_ftrace_disabled"
  variable and check it directly in the kprobe handlers.

Reviewed-by: Steven Rostedt (Google) <rostedt@goodmis.org>

Thanks,

-- Steve