Re: [PATCH] tracing: Fix use-after-free in trace_pipe read on sub-buffer order change
From: sashiko-bot@kernel.org
Date: 2026-08-17 14:27:36
Thank you for your contribution! Sashiko AI review found 3 potential issue(s) to consider: Pre-existing issues: - [High] The patch prevents a use-after-free for `trace_pipe` readers but leaves standard `trace` (seq_file) readers and `tracing_splice_read_pipe()` vulnerable to the exact same use-after-free. - [High] Snapshot buffer allocation and freeing call `ring_buffer_subbuf_order_set()` without holding `trace_access_lock`, leaving snapshot readers vulnerable to the exact same Use-After-Free race. - [High] Ring buffer resizing (`buffer_size_kb`) frees active pages without taking `trace_access_lock`, leading to a use-after-free for `seq_file` iterators. --
--- Patch [1]: [PATCH] tracing: Fix use-after-free in trace_pipe read on sub-buffer order change ---commit 36ad4aeed5301b8016b09a675a4d6aac8686489f Author: Deepanshu Kartikey [off-list ref] tracing: Fix use-after-free in trace_pipe read on sub-buffer order change Writing to buffer_subbuf_size_kb calls ring_buffer_subbuf_order_set(), which frees every sub-buffer of the ring buffer, including the reader page, and replaces them with newly allocated ones. This patch adds trace_access_lock protection to prevent a use-after-free when readers hold pointers into those pages. Closes: https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=685955db58555575fdd2
quoted hunk ↗ jump to hunk
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace.c b/kernel/trace/trace.c index 19b0d7a53c589..34328916245df 100644 --- a/kernel/trace/trace.c +++ b/kernel/trace/trace.c
[ ... ]
quoted hunk ↗ jump to hunk
@@ -8216,6 +8216,8 @@ buffer_subbuf_size_write(struct file *filp, const char __user *ubuf, /* Do not allow tracing while changing the order of the ring buffer */ tracing_stop_tr(tr); + trace_access_lock(RING_BUFFER_ALL_CPUS); +
[Severity: High]
This isn't a bug introduced by this patch, but does the same use-after-free
still exist for seq_file readers and tracing_splice_read_pipe()?
While trace_pipe readers are now protected here, s_start() and
tracing_splice_read_pipe() appear to peek the first event before taking
the access lock:
kernel/trace/trace.c:tracing_splice_read_pipe() {
if (!iter->ent && !trace_find_next_entry_inc(iter)) {
ret = -EFAULT;
goto out_err;
}
trace_event_read_lock();
trace_access_lock(iter->cpu_file);
...
}
If a concurrent write to buffer_subbuf_size_kb runs during this unprotected
window, could iter->ent be left pointing to freed memory?
[Severity: High]
This is a pre-existing issue, but do snapshot buffers need similar
protection?
It looks like free_snapshot() and tracing_alloc_snapshot_instance() call
ring_buffer_subbuf_order_set() without holding trace_access_lock:
kernel/trace/trace_snapshot.c:free_snapshot() {
...
ring_buffer_subbuf_order_set(tr->snapshot_buffer.buffer, 0);
ring_buffer_resize(tr->snapshot_buffer.buffer, 1, RING_BUFFER_ALL_CPUS);
...
}
Since the snapshot seq_file reader drops trace_types_lock before iterating,
could a concurrent read of the snapshot file and a write to the snapshot
file trigger the same use-after-free by freeing the pages while readers
are active?
[Severity: High]
This is also a pre-existing issue, but does ring buffer resizing
leave seq_file iterators vulnerable to a similar race?
When writing to buffer_size_kb, __tracing_resize_ring_buffer() is called
without taking trace_access_lock:
kernel/trace/trace.c:__tracing_resize_ring_buffer() {
tracing_stop_tr(tr);
ret = ring_buffer_resize(tr->array_buffer.buffer, size, cpu);
...
}
Since ring_buffer_resize() frees active pages directly, could this cause a
use-after-free if a seq_file reader is concurrently holding an event pointer
that points into one of the freed pages?
old_order = ring_buffer_subbuf_order_get(tr->array_buffer.buffer); if (old_order == order) goto out;
[ ... ] -- Sashiko AI review · https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260817140655.5694-1-kartikey406@gmail.com?part=1