linux.git/kernel/trace/trace_probe.h, branch v7.2-rc1

tracing/eprobes: Allow use of BTF names to dereference pointers

2026-06-02T14:36:22+00:00

Add syntax to the parsing of eprobes to be able to typecast a trace event
field that is a pointer to a structure.

Currently, a dereference must be a number, where the user has to figure
out manually the offset of a member of a structure that they want to
dereference.

But for event probes that records a field that happens to be a pointer to
a structure, it cannot dereference these values with BTF naming, but
must use numerical offsets.

For example, to find out what device a sk_buff is pointing to in the
net_dev_xmit trace event, one must first use gdb to find the offsets of the
members of the structures:

 (gdb) p &((struct sk_buff *)0)->dev
 $1 = (struct net_device **) 0x10
 (gdb) p &((struct net_device *)0)->name
 $2 = (char (*)[16]) 0x118

And then use the raw numbers to dereference:

  # echo 'e:xmit net.net_dev_xmit +0x118(+0x10($skbaddr)):string' >> dynamic_events

If BTF is in the kernel, then instead, the skbaddr can be typecast to
sk_buff and use the normal dereference logic.

  # echo 'e:xmit net.net_dev_xmit (sk_buff)skbaddr->dev->name:string' >> dynamic_events
  # echo 1 > events/eprobes/xmit/enable
  # cat trace
[..]
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.249343: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.250061: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.250142: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.263553: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.283820: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.302716: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.322905: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.342828: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.362268: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.382335: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.400856: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"
    sshd-session-1022    [000] b..2.   860.419893: xmit: (net.net_dev_xmit) arg1="enp7s0"

The syntax is simply: (STRUCT)(FIELD)->MEMBER[->MEMBER..]

Also add comments around the #else and #endif of #ifdef CONFIG_PROBE_EVENTS_BTF_ARGS
to know what they are for.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260601130746.2139d926@gandalf.local.home/

Signed-off-by: Steven Rostedt (Google) 
Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google)

tracing: Use flexible array for entry fetch code

2026-06-01T14:35:21+00:00

Store probe entry fetch instructions in the probe_entry_arg
allocation instead of allocating a separate instruction array.

This keeps the entry fetch code tied to the entry argument lifetime while
leaving regular probe_arg instruction arrays separately allocated and
freed.

Assisted-by: Codex:GPT-5.5
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260520215817.16560-1-rosenp@gmail.com/

Signed-off-by: Rosen Penev 
Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google)

tracing/probes: Limit size of event probe to 3K

2026-04-29T20:07:38+00:00

There currently isn't a max limit an event probe can be. One could make an
event greater than PAGE_SIZE, which makes the event useless because if
it's bigger than the max event that can be recorded into the ring buffer,
then it will never be recorded.

A event probe should never need to be greater than 3K, so make that the
max size. As long as the max is less than the max that can be recorded
onto the ring buffer, it should be fine.

Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
Cc: Mathieu Desnoyers 
Acked-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google) 
Fixes: 93ccae7a22274 ("tracing/kprobes: Support basic types on dynamic events")
Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20260428122302.706610ba@gandalf.local.home
Signed-off-by: Steven Rostedt

tracing: probes: Use __free() for trace_probe_log

2025-10-31T16:10:28+00:00

Use __free() for trace_probe_log_clear() to cleanup error log interface.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/175509538609.193596.16646724647358218778.stgit@devnote2/

Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google)

tracing: Fix race condition in kprobe initialization causing NULL pointer dereference

2025-10-01T23:05:01+00:00

There is a critical race condition in kprobe initialization that can lead to
NULL pointer dereference and kernel crash.

[1135630.084782] Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address 0000710a04630000
...
[1135630.260314] pstate: 404003c9 (nZcv DAIF +PAN -UAO)
[1135630.269239] pc : kprobe_perf_func+0x30/0x260
[1135630.277643] lr : kprobe_dispatcher+0x44/0x60
[1135630.286041] sp : ffffaeff4977fa40
[1135630.293441] x29: ffffaeff4977fa40 x28: ffffaf015340e400
[1135630.302837] x27: 0000000000000000 x26: 0000000000000000
[1135630.312257] x25: ffffaf029ed108a8 x24: ffffaf015340e528
[1135630.321705] x23: ffffaeff4977fc50 x22: ffffaeff4977fc50
[1135630.331154] x21: 0000000000000000 x20: ffffaeff4977fc50
[1135630.340586] x19: ffffaf015340e400 x18: 0000000000000000
[1135630.349985] x17: 0000000000000000 x16: 0000000000000000
[1135630.359285] x15: 0000000000000000 x14: 0000000000000000
[1135630.368445] x13: 0000000000000000 x12: 0000000000000000
[1135630.377473] x11: 0000000000000000 x10: 0000000000000000
[1135630.386411] x9 : 0000000000000000 x8 : 0000000000000000
[1135630.395252] x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 0000000000000000
[1135630.403963] x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : 0000000000000000
[1135630.412545] x3 : 0000710a04630000 x2 : 0000000000000006
[1135630.421021] x1 : ffffaeff4977fc50 x0 : 0000710a04630000
[1135630.429410] Call trace:
[1135630.434828]  kprobe_perf_func+0x30/0x260
[1135630.441661]  kprobe_dispatcher+0x44/0x60
[1135630.448396]  aggr_pre_handler+0x70/0xc8
[1135630.454959]  kprobe_breakpoint_handler+0x140/0x1e0
[1135630.462435]  brk_handler+0xbc/0xd8
[1135630.468437]  do_debug_exception+0x84/0x138
[1135630.475074]  el1_dbg+0x18/0x8c
[1135630.480582]  security_file_permission+0x0/0xd0
[1135630.487426]  vfs_write+0x70/0x1c0
[1135630.493059]  ksys_write+0x5c/0xc8
[1135630.498638]  __arm64_sys_write+0x24/0x30
[1135630.504821]  el0_svc_common+0x78/0x130
[1135630.510838]  el0_svc_handler+0x38/0x78
[1135630.516834]  el0_svc+0x8/0x1b0

kernel/trace/trace_kprobe.c: 1308
0xffff3df8995039ec :     ldr     x21, [x24,#120]
include/linux/compiler.h: 294
0xffff3df8995039f0 :     ldr     x1, [x21,x0]

kernel/trace/trace_kprobe.c
1308: head = this_cpu_ptr(call->perf_events);
1309: if (hlist_empty(head))
1310: 	return 0;

crash> struct trace_event_call -o
struct trace_event_call {
  ...
  [120] struct hlist_head *perf_events;  //(call->perf_event)
  ...
}

crash> struct trace_event_call ffffaf015340e528
struct trace_event_call {
  ...
  perf_events = 0xffff0ad5fa89f088, //this value is correct, but x21 = 0
  ...
}

Race Condition Analysis:

The race occurs between kprobe activation and perf_events initialization:

  CPU0                                    CPU1
  ====                                    ====
  perf_kprobe_init
    perf_trace_event_init
      tp_event->perf_events = list;(1)
      tp_event->class->reg (2)← KPROBE ACTIVE
                                          Debug exception triggers
                                          ...
                                          kprobe_dispatcher
                                            kprobe_perf_func (tk->tp.flags & TP_FLAG_PROFILE)
                                              head = this_cpu_ptr(call->perf_events)(3)
                                              (perf_events is still NULL)

Problem:
1. CPU0 executes (1) assigning tp_event->perf_events = list
2. CPU0 executes (2) enabling kprobe functionality via class->reg()
3. CPU1 triggers and reaches kprobe_dispatcher
4. CPU1 checks TP_FLAG_PROFILE - condition passes (step 2 completed)
5. CPU1 calls kprobe_perf_func() and crashes at (3) because
   call->perf_events is still NULL

CPU1 sees that kprobe functionality is enabled but does not see that
perf_events has been assigned.

Add pairing read and write memory barriers to guarantee that if CPU1
sees that kprobe functionality is enabled, it must also see that
perf_events has been assigned.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20251001022025.44626-1-chenyuan_fl@163.com/

Fixes: 50d780560785 ("tracing/kprobes: Add probe handler dispatcher to support perf and ftrace concurrent use")
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
Signed-off-by: Yuan Chen 
Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google)

tracing: probe: Allocate traceprobe_parse_context from heap

2025-07-23T15:21:30+00:00

Instead of allocating traceprobe_parse_context on stack, allocate it
dynamically from heap (slab).

This change is likely intended to prevent potential stack overflow
issues, which can be a concern in the kernel environment where stack
space is limited.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/175323425650.57270.280750740753792504.stgit@devnote2/

Reported-by: kernel test robot 
Closes: https://lore.kernel.org/oe-kbuild-all/202506240416.nZIhDXoO-lkp@intel.com/
Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google) 
Reviewed-by: Steven Rostedt (Google)

tracing: probes: Sort #include alphabetically

2025-07-23T15:21:22+00:00

Sort the #include directives in trace_probe* files alphabetically for
easier maintenance and avoid double includes.
This also groups headers as linux-generic, asm-generic, and local
headers.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/175323424678.57270.11975372127870059007.stgit@devnote2/

Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google)

tracing: probe-events: Log error for exceeding the number of arguments

2025-03-27T12:19:54+00:00

Add error message when the number of arguments exceeds the limitation.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/174055075075.4079315.10916648136898316476.stgit@mhiramat.tok.corp.google.com/

Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google) 
Reviewed-by: Steven Rostedt (Google)

tracing: probe-events: Remove unused MAX_ARG_BUF_LEN macro

2025-03-03T02:17:54+00:00

Commit 18b1e870a496 ("tracing/probes: Add $arg* meta argument for all
function args") introduced MAX_ARG_BUF_LEN but it is not used.
Remove it.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/174055075876.4079315.8805416872155957588.stgit@mhiramat.tok.corp.google.com/

Fixes: 18b1e870a496 ("tracing/probes: Add $arg* meta argument for all function args")
Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google) 
Reviewed-by: Steven Rostedt (Google)

tracing: fprobe-events: Log error for exceeding the number of entry args

2025-02-27T00:11:51+00:00

Add error message when the number of entry argument exceeds the
maximum size of entry data.
This is currently checked when registering fprobe, but in this case
no error message is shown in the error_log file.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/all/174055074269.4079315.17809232650360988538.stgit@mhiramat.tok.corp.google.com/

Fixes: 25f00e40ce79 ("tracing/probes: Support $argN in return probe (kprobe and fprobe)")
Signed-off-by: Masami Hiramatsu (Google) 
Reviewed-by: Steven Rostedt (Google)