In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: track changes_pkt_data property for global functions
When processing calls to certain helpers, verifier invalidates all packet pointers in a current state. For example, consider the following program:
__attribute__((__noinline__)) long skb_pull_data(struct __sk_buff *sk, __u32 len) { return bpf_skb_pull_data(sk, len); }
SEC("tc") int test_invalidate_checks(struct __sk_buff *sk) { int *p = (void *)(long)sk->data; if ((void *)(p + 1) > (void *)(long)sk->data_end) return TCX_DROP; skb_pull_data(sk, 0); *p = 42; return TCX_PASS; }
After a call to bpf_skb_pull_data() the pointer 'p' can't be used safely. See function filter.c:bpf_helper_changes_pkt_data() for a list of such helpers.
At the moment verifier invalidates packet pointers when processing helper function calls, and does not traverse global sub-programs when processing calls to global sub-programs. This means that calls to helpers done from global sub-programs do not invalidate pointers in the caller state. E.g. the program above is unsafe, but is not rejected by verifier.
This commit fixes the omission by computing field bpf_subprog_info->changes_pkt_data for each sub-program before main verification pass. changes_pkt_data should be set if: - subprogram calls helper for which bpf_helper_changes_pkt_data returns true; - subprogram calls a global function, for which bpf_subprog_info->changes_pkt_data should be set.
The verifier.c:check_cfg() pass is modified to compute this information. The commit relies on depth first instruction traversal done by check_cfg() and absence of recursive function calls: - check_cfg() would eventually visit every call to subprogram S in a state when S is fully explored; - when S is fully explored: - every direct helper call within S is explored (and thus changes_pkt_data is set if needed); - every call to subprogram S1 called by S was visited with S1 fully explored (and thus S inherits changes_pkt_data from S1).
The downside of such approach is that dead code elimination is not taken into account: if a helper call inside global function is dead because of current configuration, verifier would conservatively assume that the call occurs for the purpose of the changes_pkt_data computation.
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon_linux_2023 | — | Upgrade bpftool-debuginfoUpgrade kernel6.12-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade kernel-develUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade perf6.12Upgrade kernel-libbpfUpgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade python3-perf6.12Upgrade kernel-libbpf-develUpgrade kernel-libbpf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-libbpf-staticUpgrade kernel6.12Upgrade kernel6.12-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade python3-perf6.12-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade kernel6.12-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel6.12-modules-extraUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-livepatch-6.12.25-32.101Upgrade perf6.12-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-modules-extra-common | Aug 5, 2025 | May 5, 2025 |
| Debian | — | Upgrade linux | May 15, 2025 | May 5, 2025 |
| Huawei Euleros 2_0_sp11 | — | Upgrade python3-perfUpgrade kernel-abi-stablelistsUpgrade kernel-tools-libsUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade bpftool | Oct 14, 2025 | Aug 9, 2025 |
| Huawei Euleros 2_0_sp12 | — | Upgrade python3-perfUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-tools-libsUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-abi-stablelists | Sep 15, 2025 | Aug 9, 2025 |
| Huawei Euleros 2_0_sp13 | — | Upgrade kernelUpgrade python3-perfUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernel-abi-stablelistsUpgrade kernel-tools-libsUpgrade kernel-tools | Aug 13, 2025 | Aug 9, 2025 |
| Redhat_linux | — | No solution exists | Jul 9, 2025 | May 5, 2025 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegra-rtUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1035-nvidia-tegraUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegra-6.8Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegraUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1035-nvidia-tegra-rtUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-tegra-rt-6.8No solution exists | Jun 26, 2025 | May 5, 2025 |
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