bpf: Unify referenced object tracking in verifier

Helpers and kfuncs independently tracked referenced object metadata
using standalone id fields in their respective arg_meta structs.
This led to duplicated logic and inconsistent error handling between the
two paths.

Introduce struct ref_obj_desc to consolidate id and parent_id along with
a count of how many arguments carry a reference. Add update_ref_obj() to
populate it from a bpf_reg_state, replacing open-coded assignments in
check_func_arg(), check_kfunc_args(), and process_iter_arg(). Add
validate_ref_obj() to check for ambiguous ref_obj before using it.

For ref_obj releasing helpers and kfuncs, keep checking it before
calling update_ref_obj() for now. A later patch will make these
functions not depending on ref_obj. For other users of ref_obj, move the
checks to the use locations. For helper, this means moving the checks
inside helper_multiple_ref_obj_use() to use locations.
is_acquire_function() is dropped as ref_obj is never used.

Pass ref_obj_desc into process_dynptr_func()/mark_stack_slots_dynptr()
instead of a bare parent_id to make it less confusing.

Drop the selftest introduced in 7ec899a ("selftests/bpf: Negative
test case for ref_obj_id in args") since the verifier no longer
complains about ambiguous ref_obj if it is not used.

Acked-by: Eduard Zingerman <eddyz87@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Amery Hung <ameryhung@gmail.com>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20260529014936.2811085-8-ameryhung@gmail.com
Signed-off-by: Alexei Starovoitov <ast@kernel.org>

Author: ameryhung

include/linux/bpf_verifier.h

@@ -1424,6 +1424,18 @@ struct bpf_dynptr_desc {
 	u32 parent_id;
 };
 
+/*
+ * The last seen rereferenced object; Updated by update_ref_obj() when a register refers to a
+ * referenced object. Used when the helper or kfunc is releasing a referenced object, casting
+ * a referenced object, returning allocated memory derived from referenced object or creating
+ * a dynptr with a referenced object as parent.
+ */
+struct ref_obj_desc {
+	u32 id;
+	u32 parent_id;
+	u8 cnt;
+};
+
 struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta {
 	/* In parameters */
 	struct btf *btf;
@@ -1432,7 +1444,6 @@ struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta {
 	const struct btf_type *func_proto;
 	const char *func_name;
 	/* Out parameters */
-	u32 id;
 	u8 release_regno;
 	bool r0_rdonly;
 	u32 ret_btf_id;
@@ -1470,6 +1481,7 @@ struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta {
 	} iter;
 	struct bpf_map_desc map;
 	struct bpf_dynptr_desc dynptr;
+	struct ref_obj_desc ref_obj;
 	u64 mem_size;
 };
 

kernel/bpf/verifier.c

@@ -231,17 +231,35 @@ static void bpf_map_key_store(struct bpf_insn_aux_data *aux, u64 state)
 			     (poisoned ? BPF_MAP_KEY_POISON : 0ULL);
 }
 
+static void update_ref_obj(struct ref_obj_desc *ref_obj, struct bpf_reg_state *reg)
+{
+	ref_obj->id = reg->id;
+	ref_obj->parent_id = reg->parent_id;
+	ref_obj->cnt++;
+}
+
+static int validate_ref_obj(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct ref_obj_desc *ref_obj)
+{
+	if (ref_obj->cnt > 1) {
+		verifier_bug(env, "function expects only one referenced object but got %d\n",
+			     ref_obj->cnt);
+		return -EFAULT;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 struct bpf_call_arg_meta {
 	struct bpf_map_desc map;
 	struct bpf_dynptr_desc dynptr;
+	struct ref_obj_desc ref_obj;
 	bool raw_mode;
 	bool pkt_access;
 	u8 release_regno;
 	int regno;
 	int access_size;
 	int mem_size;
 	u64 msize_max_value;
-	u32 id;
 	int func_id;
 	struct btf *btf;
 	u32 btf_id;
@@ -528,20 +546,6 @@ bool bpf_is_may_goto_insn(struct bpf_insn *insn)
 	return insn->code == (BPF_JMP | BPF_JCOND) && insn->src_reg == BPF_MAY_GOTO;
 }
 
-static bool helper_multiple_ref_obj_use(enum bpf_func_id func_id,
-					const struct bpf_map *map)
-{
-	int ref_obj_uses = 0;
-
-	if (is_ptr_cast_function(func_id))
-		ref_obj_uses++;
-	if (is_acquire_function(func_id, map))
-		ref_obj_uses++;
-
-	return ref_obj_uses > 1;
-}
-
-
 static bool is_spi_bounds_valid(struct bpf_func_state *state, int spi, int nr_slots)
 {
        int allocated_slots = state->allocated_stack / BPF_REG_SIZE;
@@ -670,11 +674,11 @@ static int destroy_if_dynptr_stack_slot(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
 				        struct bpf_func_state *state, int spi);
 
 static int mark_stack_slots_dynptr(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *reg,
-				   enum bpf_arg_type arg_type, int insn_idx, int parent_id,
-				   struct bpf_dynptr_desc *dynptr)
+				   enum bpf_arg_type arg_type, int insn_idx,
+				   struct ref_obj_desc *ref_obj, struct bpf_dynptr_desc *dynptr)
 {
 	struct bpf_func_state *state = bpf_func(env, reg);
-	int spi, i, err;
+	int spi, i, err, parent_id = 0;
 	enum bpf_dynptr_type type;
 
 	spi = dynptr_get_spi(env, reg);
@@ -707,6 +711,13 @@ static int mark_stack_slots_dynptr(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (dynptr->type == BPF_DYNPTR_TYPE_INVALID) { /* dynptr constructors */
+		err = validate_ref_obj(env, ref_obj);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+
+		/* Track parent's id if the parent is a referenced object */
+		parent_id = ref_obj->id;
+
 		if (dynptr_type_referenced(type)) {
 			int id;
 
@@ -7188,7 +7199,7 @@ static int process_kptr_func(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno,
  */
 static int process_dynptr_func(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *reg,
 			       argno_t argno, int insn_idx, enum bpf_arg_type arg_type,
-			       int parent_id, struct bpf_dynptr_desc *dynptr)
+			       struct ref_obj_desc *ref_obj, struct bpf_dynptr_desc *dynptr)
 {
 	int spi, err = 0;
 
@@ -7229,7 +7240,7 @@ static int process_dynptr_func(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_stat
 				return err;
 		}
 
-		err = mark_stack_slots_dynptr(env, reg, arg_type, insn_idx, parent_id, dynptr);
+		err = mark_stack_slots_dynptr(env, reg, arg_type, insn_idx, ref_obj, dynptr);
 	} else /* OBJ_RELEASE and None case from above */ {
 		/* For the reg->type == PTR_TO_STACK case, bpf_dynptr is never const */
 		if (reg->type == CONST_PTR_TO_DYNPTR && (arg_type & OBJ_RELEASE)) {
@@ -7277,13 +7288,6 @@ static int process_dynptr_func(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_stat
 	return err;
 }
 
-static u32 iter_ref_id(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *reg, int spi)
-{
-	struct bpf_func_state *state = bpf_func(env, reg);
-
-	return state->stack[spi].spilled_ptr.id;
-}
-
 static bool is_iter_kfunc(struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta *meta)
 {
 	return meta->kfunc_flags & (KF_ITER_NEW | KF_ITER_NEXT | KF_ITER_DESTROY);
@@ -7316,6 +7320,7 @@ static bool is_kfunc_arg_iter(struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta *meta, int arg_idx,
 static int process_iter_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *reg, argno_t argno, int insn_idx,
 			    struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta *meta)
 {
+	struct bpf_func_state *state = bpf_func(env, reg);
 	const struct btf_type *t;
 	u32 arg_idx = arg_idx_from_argno(argno);
 	int spi, err, i, nr_slots, btf_id;
@@ -7387,7 +7392,7 @@ static int process_iter_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_reg_state *
 		/* remember meta->iter info for process_iter_next_call() */
 		meta->iter.spi = spi;
 		meta->iter.frameno = reg->frameno;
-		meta->id = iter_ref_id(env, reg, spi);
+		update_ref_obj(&meta->ref_obj, &state->stack[spi].spilled_ptr);
 
 		if (is_iter_destroy_kfunc(meta)) {
 			err = unmark_stack_slots_iter(env, reg, nr_slots);
@@ -8166,6 +8171,7 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
 	u32 regno = BPF_REG_1 + arg;
 	struct bpf_reg_state *reg = reg_state(env, regno);
 	enum bpf_arg_type arg_type = fn->arg_type[arg];
+	argno_t argno = argno_from_arg(arg + 1);
 	enum bpf_reg_type type = reg->type;
 	u32 *arg_btf_id = NULL;
 	u32 key_size;
@@ -8232,15 +8238,8 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
 		meta->release_regno = regno;
 	}
 
-	if (reg_is_referenced(env, reg) && base_type(arg_type) != ARG_KPTR_XCHG_DEST) {
-		if (meta->id) {
-			verbose(env, "more than one arg with referenced id R%d %u %u",
-				regno, reg->id,
-				meta->id);
-			return -EACCES;
-		}
-		meta->id = reg->id;
-	}
+	if (reg_is_referenced(env, reg))
+		update_ref_obj(&meta->ref_obj, reg);
 
 	switch (base_type(arg_type)) {
 	case ARG_CONST_MAP_PTR:
@@ -8379,7 +8378,7 @@ static int check_func_arg(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 arg,
 					 true, meta);
 		break;
 	case ARG_PTR_TO_DYNPTR:
-		err = process_dynptr_func(env, reg, argno_from_reg(regno), insn_idx, arg_type, 0,
+		err = process_dynptr_func(env, reg, argno_from_reg(regno), insn_idx, arg_type, &meta->ref_obj,
 					  &meta->dynptr);
 		if (err)
 			return err;
@@ -9042,6 +9041,7 @@ static int btf_check_func_arg_match(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int subprog,
 	struct bpf_subprog_info *sub = subprog_info(env, subprog);
 	struct bpf_func_state *caller = cur_func(env);
 	struct bpf_verifier_log *log = &env->log;
+	struct ref_obj_desc ref_obj = {};
 	u32 i;
 	int ret, err;
 
@@ -9119,7 +9119,7 @@ static int btf_check_func_arg_match(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int subprog,
 			if (ret)
 				return ret;
 
-			ret = process_dynptr_func(env, reg, argno, -1, arg->arg_type, 0, NULL);
+			ret = process_dynptr_func(env, reg, argno, -1, arg->arg_type, &ref_obj, NULL);
 			if (ret)
 				return ret;
 		} else if (base_type(arg->arg_type) == ARG_PTR_TO_BTF_ID) {
@@ -10125,8 +10125,8 @@ static int check_helper_call(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_insn *insn
 		err = -EINVAL;
 		if (arg_type_is_dynptr(fn->arg_type[meta.release_regno - BPF_REG_1])) {
 			err = unmark_stack_slots_dynptr(env, &regs[meta.release_regno]);
-		} else if (func_id == BPF_FUNC_kptr_xchg && meta.id) {
-			u32 id = meta.id;
+		} else if (func_id == BPF_FUNC_kptr_xchg && meta.ref_obj.id) {
+			u32 id = meta.ref_obj.id;
 			bool in_rcu = in_rcu_cs(env);
 			struct bpf_func_state *state;
 			struct bpf_reg_state *reg;
@@ -10145,10 +10145,10 @@ static int check_helper_call(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_insn *insn
 					}
 				}));
 			}
-		} else if (meta.id) {
-			err = release_reference(env, meta.id);
+		} else if (meta.ref_obj.id) {
+			err = release_reference(env, meta.ref_obj.id);
 		} else if (bpf_register_is_null(&regs[meta.release_regno])) {
-			/* meta.id can only be 0 if register that is meant to be
+			/* meta.ref_obj.id can only be 0 if register that is meant to be
 			 * released is NULL, which must be > R0.
 			 */
 			err = 0;
@@ -10413,17 +10413,15 @@ static int check_helper_call(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_insn *insn
 	if (type_may_be_null(regs[BPF_REG_0].type))
 		regs[BPF_REG_0].id = ++env->id_gen;
 
-	if (helper_multiple_ref_obj_use(func_id, meta.map.ptr)) {
-		verifier_bug(env, "func %s#%d sets ref_obj_id more than once",
-			     func_id_name(func_id), func_id);
-		return -EFAULT;
-	}
-
 	if (is_ptr_cast_function(func_id) &&
-	    find_reference_state(env->cur_state, meta.id)) {
+	    find_reference_state(env->cur_state, meta.ref_obj.id)) {
 		struct bpf_verifier_state *branch;
 		struct bpf_reg_state *r0;
 
+		err = validate_ref_obj(env, &meta.ref_obj);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+
 		/*
 		 * In order for a release of any of the original or cast pointers
 		 * to invalidate all other pointers, reuse the same reference id for
@@ -10441,7 +10439,7 @@ static int check_helper_call(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_insn *insn
 		r0->type = SCALAR_VALUE;
 
 		regs[BPF_REG_0].type &= ~PTR_MAYBE_NULL;
-		regs[BPF_REG_0].id = meta.id;
+		regs[BPF_REG_0].id = meta.ref_obj.id;
 	} else if (is_acquire_function(func_id, meta.map.ptr)) {
 		int id = acquire_reference(env, insn_idx, 0);
 
@@ -11915,13 +11913,13 @@ static int check_kfunc_args(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_kfunc_call_
 		}
 
 		if (reg_is_referenced(env, reg)) {
-			if (is_kfunc_release(meta) && meta->id) {
-				verifier_bug(env, "more than one arg with referenced id %s %u %u",
-					     reg_arg_name(env, argno), reg->id,
-					     meta->id);
+			if (is_kfunc_release(meta) && meta->ref_obj.cnt) {
+				verbose(env, "more than one arg with referenced id %s %u %u",
+					reg_arg_name(env, argno), reg->id,
+					meta->ref_obj.id);
 				return -EFAULT;
 			}
-			meta->id = reg->id;
+			update_ref_obj(&meta->ref_obj, reg);
 			if (is_kfunc_release(meta)) {
 				if (regno < 0) {
 					verbose(env, "%s release arg cannot be a stack argument\n",
@@ -12104,7 +12102,7 @@ static int check_kfunc_args(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_kfunc_call_
 			}
 
 			ret = process_dynptr_func(env, reg, argno, insn_idx, dynptr_arg_type,
-						  meta->id, &meta->dynptr);
+						  &meta->ref_obj, &meta->dynptr);
 			if (ret < 0)
 				return ret;
 			break;
@@ -13048,8 +13046,12 @@ static int check_kfunc_call(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_insn *insn,
 				regs[BPF_REG_0].type |= MEM_RDONLY;
 
 			/* Ensures we don't access the memory after a release_reference() */
-			if (meta.id)
-				regs[BPF_REG_0].parent_id = meta.id;
+			if (meta.ref_obj.id) {
+				err = validate_ref_obj(env, &meta.ref_obj);
+				if (err)
+					return err;
+				regs[BPF_REG_0].parent_id = meta.ref_obj.id;
+			}
 
 			if (is_kfunc_rcu_protected(&meta))
 				regs[BPF_REG_0].type |= MEM_RCU;

tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/test_ringbuf_map_key.c

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ SEC("fentry/" SYS_PREFIX "sys_getpgid")
 int test_ringbuf_mem_map_key(void *ctx)
 {
 	int cur_pid = bpf_get_current_pid_tgid() >> 32;
-	struct sample *sample, sample_copy;
+	struct sample *sample;
 	int *lookup_val;
 
 	if (cur_pid != pid)
@@ -55,16 +55,11 @@ int test_ringbuf_mem_map_key(void *ctx)
 	lookup_val = (int *)bpf_map_lookup_elem(&hash_map, sample);
 	__sink(lookup_val);
 
-	/* workaround - memcpy is necessary so that verifier doesn't
-	 * complain with:
-	 *   verifier internal error: more than one arg with ref_obj_id R3
-	 * when trying to do bpf_map_update_elem(&hash_map, sample, &sample->seq, BPF_ANY);
-	 *
+	/*
 	 * Since bpf_map_lookup_elem above uses 'sample' as key, test using
 	 * sample field as value below
 	 */
-	__builtin_memcpy(&sample_copy, sample, sizeof(struct sample));
-	bpf_map_update_elem(&hash_map, &sample_copy, &sample->seq, BPF_ANY);
+	bpf_map_update_elem(&hash_map, sample, &sample->seq, BPF_ANY);
 
 	bpf_ringbuf_submit(sample, 0);
 	return 0;

tools/testing/selftests/bpf/verifier/calls.c

@@ -2410,27 +2410,3 @@
 	.errstr_unpriv = "",
 	.prog_type = BPF_PROG_TYPE_CGROUP_SKB,
 },
-{
-	"calls: several args with ref_obj_id",
-	.insns = {
-	/* Reserve at least sizeof(struct iphdr) bytes in the ring buffer.
-	 * With a smaller size, the verifier would reject the call to
-	 * bpf_tcp_raw_gen_syncookie_ipv4 before we can reach the
-	 * ref_obj_id error.
-	 */
-	BPF_MOV64_IMM(BPF_REG_2, 20),
-	BPF_MOV64_IMM(BPF_REG_3, 0),
-	BPF_LD_MAP_FD(BPF_REG_1, 0),
-	BPF_RAW_INSN(BPF_JMP | BPF_CALL, 0, 0, 0, BPF_FUNC_ringbuf_reserve),
-	/* if r0 == 0 goto <exit> */
-	BPF_JMP_IMM(BPF_JEQ, BPF_REG_0, 0, 3),
-	BPF_MOV64_REG(BPF_REG_1, BPF_REG_0),
-	BPF_MOV64_REG(BPF_REG_2, BPF_REG_0),
-	BPF_RAW_INSN(BPF_JMP | BPF_CALL, 0, 0, 0, BPF_FUNC_tcp_raw_gen_syncookie_ipv4),
-	BPF_EXIT_INSN(),
-	},
-	.fixup_map_ringbuf = { 2 },
-	.result = REJECT,
-	.errstr = "more than one arg with ref_obj_id",
-	.prog_type = BPF_PROG_TYPE_SCHED_CLS,
-},