This is similar to commit 7472d5a642c9 ("compiler_types: define __user as __attribute__((btf_type_tag("user")))"), where a type tag "user" was introduced to identify the pointers that point to user memory. With that change, the newest compile toolchain can encode __user information into vmlinux BTF, which can be used by the BPF verifier to enforce safe program behaviors. Similarly, we have __percpu attribute, which is mainly used to indicate memory is allocated in percpu region. The __percpu pointers in kernel are supposed to be used together with functions like per_cpu_ptr() and this_cpu_ptr(), which perform necessary calculation on the pointer's base address. Without the btf_type_tag introduced in this patch, __percpu pointers will be treated as regular memory pointers in vmlinux BTF and BPF programs are allowed to directly dereference them, generating incorrect behaviors. Now with "percpu" btf_type_tag, the BPF verifier is able to differentiate __percpu pointers from regular pointers and forbids unexpected behaviors like direct load. The following is an example similar to the one given in commit 7472d5a642c9: [$ ~] cat test.c #define __percpu __attribute__((btf_type_tag("percpu"))) int foo(int __percpu *arg) { return *arg; } [$ ~] clang -O2 -g -c test.c [$ ~] pahole -JV test.o ... File test.o: [1] INT int size=4 nr_bits=32 encoding=SIGNED [2] TYPE_TAG percpu type_id=1 [3] PTR (anon) type_id=2 [4] FUNC_PROTO (anon) return=1 args=(3 arg) [5] FUNC foo type_id=4 [$ ~] for the function argument "int __percpu *arg", its type is described as PTR -> TYPE_TAG(percpu) -> INT The kernel can use this information for bpf verification or other use cases. Like commit 7472d5a642c9, this feature requires clang (>= clang14) and pahole (>= 1.23). Cc: Yonghong Song <yhs@xxxxxx> Signed-off-by: Hao Luo <haoluo@xxxxxxxxxx> --- include/linux/compiler_types.h | 7 ++++++- 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/include/linux/compiler_types.h b/include/linux/compiler_types.h index 3f31ff400432..223abf43679a 100644 --- a/include/linux/compiler_types.h +++ b/include/linux/compiler_types.h @@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ static inline void __chk_io_ptr(const volatile void __iomem *ptr) { } # define __user # endif # define __iomem -# define __percpu +# if defined(CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF) && defined(CONFIG_PAHOLE_HAS_BTF_TAG) && \ + __has_attribute(btf_type_tag) +# define __percpu __attribute__((btf_type_tag("percpu"))) +# else +# define __percpu +# endif # define __rcu # define __chk_user_ptr(x) (void)0 # define __chk_io_ptr(x) (void)0 -- 2.35.1.616.g0bdcbb4464-goog