334 lines
15 KiB
ReStructuredText
334 lines
15 KiB
ReStructuredText
.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
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.. Copyright (C) 2020, Google LLC.
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Kernel Electric-Fence (KFENCE)
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==============================
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Kernel Electric-Fence (KFENCE) is a low-overhead sampling-based memory safety
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error detector. KFENCE detects heap out-of-bounds access, use-after-free, and
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invalid-free errors.
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KFENCE is designed to be enabled in production kernels, and has near zero
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performance overhead. Compared to KASAN, KFENCE trades performance for
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precision. The main motivation behind KFENCE's design, is that with enough
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total uptime KFENCE will detect bugs in code paths not typically exercised by
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non-production test workloads. One way to quickly achieve a large enough total
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uptime is when the tool is deployed across a large fleet of machines.
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Usage
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-----
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To enable KFENCE, configure the kernel with::
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CONFIG_KFENCE=y
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To build a kernel with KFENCE support, but disabled by default (to enable, set
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``kfence.sample_interval`` to non-zero value), configure the kernel with::
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CONFIG_KFENCE=y
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CONFIG_KFENCE_SAMPLE_INTERVAL=0
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KFENCE provides several other configuration options to customize behaviour (see
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the respective help text in ``lib/Kconfig.kfence`` for more info).
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Tuning performance
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The most important parameter is KFENCE's sample interval, which can be set via
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the kernel boot parameter ``kfence.sample_interval`` in milliseconds. The
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sample interval determines the frequency with which heap allocations will be
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guarded by KFENCE. The default is configurable via the Kconfig option
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``CONFIG_KFENCE_SAMPLE_INTERVAL``. Setting ``kfence.sample_interval=0``
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disables KFENCE.
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The sample interval controls a timer that sets up KFENCE allocations. By
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default, to keep the real sample interval predictable, the normal timer also
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causes CPU wake-ups when the system is completely idle. This may be undesirable
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on power-constrained systems. The boot parameter ``kfence.deferrable=1``
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instead switches to a "deferrable" timer which does not force CPU wake-ups on
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idle systems, at the risk of unpredictable sample intervals. The default is
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configurable via the Kconfig option ``CONFIG_KFENCE_DEFERRABLE``.
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.. warning::
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The KUnit test suite is very likely to fail when using a deferrable timer
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since it currently causes very unpredictable sample intervals.
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The KFENCE memory pool is of fixed size, and if the pool is exhausted, no
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further KFENCE allocations occur. With ``CONFIG_KFENCE_NUM_OBJECTS`` (default
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255), the number of available guarded objects can be controlled. Each object
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requires 2 pages, one for the object itself and the other one used as a guard
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page; object pages are interleaved with guard pages, and every object page is
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therefore surrounded by two guard pages.
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The total memory dedicated to the KFENCE memory pool can be computed as::
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( #objects + 1 ) * 2 * PAGE_SIZE
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Using the default config, and assuming a page size of 4 KiB, results in
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dedicating 2 MiB to the KFENCE memory pool.
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Note: On architectures that support huge pages, KFENCE will ensure that the
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pool is using pages of size ``PAGE_SIZE``. This will result in additional page
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tables being allocated.
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Error reports
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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A typical out-of-bounds access looks like this::
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==================================================================
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BUG: KFENCE: out-of-bounds read in test_out_of_bounds_read+0xa6/0x234
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Out-of-bounds read at 0xffff8c3f2e291fff (1B left of kfence-#72):
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test_out_of_bounds_read+0xa6/0x234
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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kfence-#72: 0xffff8c3f2e292000-0xffff8c3f2e29201f, size=32, cache=kmalloc-32
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allocated by task 484 on cpu 0 at 32.919330s:
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test_alloc+0xfe/0x738
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test_out_of_bounds_read+0x9b/0x234
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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CPU: 0 PID: 484 Comm: kunit_try_catch Not tainted 5.13.0-rc3+ #7
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Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.14.0-2 04/01/2014
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==================================================================
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The header of the report provides a short summary of the function involved in
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the access. It is followed by more detailed information about the access and
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its origin. Note that, real kernel addresses are only shown when using the
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kernel command line option ``no_hash_pointers``.
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Use-after-free accesses are reported as::
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==================================================================
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BUG: KFENCE: use-after-free read in test_use_after_free_read+0xb3/0x143
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Use-after-free read at 0xffff8c3f2e2a0000 (in kfence-#79):
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test_use_after_free_read+0xb3/0x143
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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kfence-#79: 0xffff8c3f2e2a0000-0xffff8c3f2e2a001f, size=32, cache=kmalloc-32
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allocated by task 488 on cpu 2 at 33.871326s:
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test_alloc+0xfe/0x738
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test_use_after_free_read+0x76/0x143
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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freed by task 488 on cpu 2 at 33.871358s:
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test_use_after_free_read+0xa8/0x143
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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CPU: 2 PID: 488 Comm: kunit_try_catch Tainted: G B 5.13.0-rc3+ #7
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Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.14.0-2 04/01/2014
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==================================================================
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KFENCE also reports on invalid frees, such as double-frees::
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==================================================================
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BUG: KFENCE: invalid free in test_double_free+0xdc/0x171
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Invalid free of 0xffff8c3f2e2a4000 (in kfence-#81):
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test_double_free+0xdc/0x171
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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kfence-#81: 0xffff8c3f2e2a4000-0xffff8c3f2e2a401f, size=32, cache=kmalloc-32
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allocated by task 490 on cpu 1 at 34.175321s:
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test_alloc+0xfe/0x738
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test_double_free+0x76/0x171
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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freed by task 490 on cpu 1 at 34.175348s:
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test_double_free+0xa8/0x171
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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CPU: 1 PID: 490 Comm: kunit_try_catch Tainted: G B 5.13.0-rc3+ #7
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Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.14.0-2 04/01/2014
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==================================================================
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KFENCE also uses pattern-based redzones on the other side of an object's guard
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page, to detect out-of-bounds writes on the unprotected side of the object.
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These are reported on frees::
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==================================================================
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BUG: KFENCE: memory corruption in test_kmalloc_aligned_oob_write+0xef/0x184
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Corrupted memory at 0xffff8c3f2e33aff9 [ 0xac . . . . . . ] (in kfence-#156):
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test_kmalloc_aligned_oob_write+0xef/0x184
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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kfence-#156: 0xffff8c3f2e33afb0-0xffff8c3f2e33aff8, size=73, cache=kmalloc-96
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allocated by task 502 on cpu 7 at 42.159302s:
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test_alloc+0xfe/0x738
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test_kmalloc_aligned_oob_write+0x57/0x184
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kunit_try_run_case+0x61/0xa0
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x176/0x1b0
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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CPU: 7 PID: 502 Comm: kunit_try_catch Tainted: G B 5.13.0-rc3+ #7
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Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.14.0-2 04/01/2014
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==================================================================
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For such errors, the address where the corruption occurred as well as the
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invalidly written bytes (offset from the address) are shown; in this
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representation, '.' denote untouched bytes. In the example above ``0xac`` is
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the value written to the invalid address at offset 0, and the remaining '.'
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denote that no following bytes have been touched. Note that, real values are
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only shown if the kernel was booted with ``no_hash_pointers``; to avoid
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information disclosure otherwise, '!' is used instead to denote invalidly
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written bytes.
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And finally, KFENCE may also report on invalid accesses to any protected page
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where it was not possible to determine an associated object, e.g. if adjacent
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object pages had not yet been allocated::
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==================================================================
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BUG: KFENCE: invalid read in test_invalid_access+0x26/0xe0
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Invalid read at 0xffffffffb670b00a:
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test_invalid_access+0x26/0xe0
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kunit_try_run_case+0x51/0x85
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kunit_generic_run_threadfn_adapter+0x16/0x30
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kthread+0x137/0x160
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ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
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CPU: 4 PID: 124 Comm: kunit_try_catch Tainted: G W 5.8.0-rc6+ #7
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Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.13.0-1 04/01/2014
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==================================================================
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DebugFS interface
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Some debugging information is exposed via debugfs:
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* The file ``/sys/kernel/debug/kfence/stats`` provides runtime statistics.
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* The file ``/sys/kernel/debug/kfence/objects`` provides a list of objects
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allocated via KFENCE, including those already freed but protected.
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Implementation Details
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----------------------
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Guarded allocations are set up based on the sample interval. After expiration
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of the sample interval, the next allocation through the main allocator (SLAB or
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SLUB) returns a guarded allocation from the KFENCE object pool (allocation
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sizes up to PAGE_SIZE are supported). At this point, the timer is reset, and
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the next allocation is set up after the expiration of the interval.
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When using ``CONFIG_KFENCE_STATIC_KEYS=y``, KFENCE allocations are "gated"
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through the main allocator's fast-path by relying on static branches via the
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static keys infrastructure. The static branch is toggled to redirect the
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allocation to KFENCE. Depending on sample interval, target workloads, and
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system architecture, this may perform better than the simple dynamic branch.
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Careful benchmarking is recommended.
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KFENCE objects each reside on a dedicated page, at either the left or right
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page boundaries selected at random. The pages to the left and right of the
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object page are "guard pages", whose attributes are changed to a protected
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state, and cause page faults on any attempted access. Such page faults are then
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intercepted by KFENCE, which handles the fault gracefully by reporting an
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out-of-bounds access, and marking the page as accessible so that the faulting
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code can (wrongly) continue executing (set ``panic_on_warn`` to panic instead).
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To detect out-of-bounds writes to memory within the object's page itself,
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KFENCE also uses pattern-based redzones. For each object page, a redzone is set
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up for all non-object memory. For typical alignments, the redzone is only
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required on the unguarded side of an object. Because KFENCE must honor the
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cache's requested alignment, special alignments may result in unprotected gaps
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on either side of an object, all of which are redzoned.
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The following figure illustrates the page layout::
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---+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+---
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| xxxxxxxxx | O : | xxxxxxxxx | : O | xxxxxxxxx |
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| xxxxxxxxx | B : | xxxxxxxxx | : B | xxxxxxxxx |
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| x GUARD x | J : RED- | x GUARD x | RED- : J | x GUARD x |
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| xxxxxxxxx | E : ZONE | xxxxxxxxx | ZONE : E | xxxxxxxxx |
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| xxxxxxxxx | C : | xxxxxxxxx | : C | xxxxxxxxx |
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| xxxxxxxxx | T : | xxxxxxxxx | : T | xxxxxxxxx |
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---+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+---
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Upon deallocation of a KFENCE object, the object's page is again protected and
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the object is marked as freed. Any further access to the object causes a fault
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and KFENCE reports a use-after-free access. Freed objects are inserted at the
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tail of KFENCE's freelist, so that the least recently freed objects are reused
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first, and the chances of detecting use-after-frees of recently freed objects
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is increased.
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If pool utilization reaches 75% (default) or above, to reduce the risk of the
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pool eventually being fully occupied by allocated objects yet ensure diverse
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coverage of allocations, KFENCE limits currently covered allocations of the
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same source from further filling up the pool. The "source" of an allocation is
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based on its partial allocation stack trace. A side-effect is that this also
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limits frequent long-lived allocations (e.g. pagecache) of the same source
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filling up the pool permanently, which is the most common risk for the pool
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becoming full and the sampled allocation rate dropping to zero. The threshold
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at which to start limiting currently covered allocations can be configured via
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the boot parameter ``kfence.skip_covered_thresh`` (pool usage%).
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Interface
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---------
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The following describes the functions which are used by allocators as well as
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page handling code to set up and deal with KFENCE allocations.
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.. kernel-doc:: include/linux/kfence.h
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:functions: is_kfence_address
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kfence_shutdown_cache
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kfence_alloc kfence_free __kfence_free
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kfence_ksize kfence_object_start
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kfence_handle_page_fault
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Related Tools
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-------------
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In userspace, a similar approach is taken by `GWP-ASan
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<http://llvm.org/docs/GwpAsan.html>`_. GWP-ASan also relies on guard pages and
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a sampling strategy to detect memory unsafety bugs at scale. KFENCE's design is
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directly influenced by GWP-ASan, and can be seen as its kernel sibling. Another
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similar but non-sampling approach, that also inspired the name "KFENCE", can be
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found in the userspace `Electric Fence Malloc Debugger
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<https://linux.die.net/man/3/efence>`_.
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In the kernel, several tools exist to debug memory access errors, and in
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particular KASAN can detect all bug classes that KFENCE can detect. While KASAN
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is more precise, relying on compiler instrumentation, this comes at a
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performance cost.
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It is worth highlighting that KASAN and KFENCE are complementary, with
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different target environments. For instance, KASAN is the better debugging-aid,
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where test cases or reproducers exists: due to the lower chance to detect the
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error, it would require more effort using KFENCE to debug. Deployments at scale
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that cannot afford to enable KASAN, however, would benefit from using KFENCE to
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discover bugs due to code paths not exercised by test cases or fuzzers.
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