diff --git a/include/linux/bpf.h b/include/linux/bpf.h
index f3f50e29d639..15164787ce7f 100644
--- a/include/linux/bpf.h
+++ b/include/linux/bpf.h
@@ -968,6 +968,7 @@ struct bpf_insn_access_aux {
 		struct {
 			struct btf *btf;
 			u32 btf_id;
+			u32 ref_obj_id;
 		};
 	};
 	struct bpf_verifier_log *log; /* for verbose logs */
@@ -1481,6 +1482,8 @@ struct bpf_ctx_arg_aux {
 	enum bpf_reg_type reg_type;
 	struct btf *btf;
 	u32 btf_id;
+	u32 ref_obj_id;
+	bool refcounted;
 };
 
 struct btf_mod_pair {
@@ -1507,7 +1510,7 @@ struct bpf_prog_aux {
 	u32 max_rdonly_access;
 	u32 max_rdwr_access;
 	struct btf *attach_btf;
-	const struct bpf_ctx_arg_aux *ctx_arg_info;
+	struct bpf_ctx_arg_aux *ctx_arg_info;
 	void __percpu *priv_stack_ptr;
 	struct mutex dst_mutex; /* protects dst_* pointers below, *after* prog becomes visible */
 	struct bpf_prog *dst_prog;
@@ -1945,6 +1948,9 @@ static inline void bpf_struct_ops_desc_release(struct bpf_struct_ops_desc *st_op
 
 #endif
 
+int bpf_prog_ctx_arg_info_init(struct bpf_prog *prog,
+			       const struct bpf_ctx_arg_aux *info, u32 cnt);
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_CGROUP_BPF) && defined(CONFIG_BPF_LSM)
 int bpf_trampoline_link_cgroup_shim(struct bpf_prog *prog,
 				    int cgroup_atype);
@@ -2546,7 +2552,7 @@ struct bpf_iter__bpf_map_elem {
 
 int bpf_iter_reg_target(const struct bpf_iter_reg *reg_info);
 void bpf_iter_unreg_target(const struct bpf_iter_reg *reg_info);
-bool bpf_iter_prog_supported(struct bpf_prog *prog);
+int bpf_iter_prog_supported(struct bpf_prog *prog);
 const struct bpf_func_proto *
 bpf_iter_get_func_proto(enum bpf_func_id func_id, const struct bpf_prog *prog);
 int bpf_iter_link_attach(const union bpf_attr *attr, bpfptr_t uattr, struct bpf_prog *prog);
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/bpf_iter.c b/kernel/bpf/bpf_iter.c
index 106735145948..380e9a7cac75 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/bpf_iter.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/bpf_iter.c
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ static void cache_btf_id(struct bpf_iter_target_info *tinfo,
 	tinfo->btf_id = prog->aux->attach_btf_id;
 }
 
-bool bpf_iter_prog_supported(struct bpf_prog *prog)
+int bpf_iter_prog_supported(struct bpf_prog *prog)
 {
 	const char *attach_fname = prog->aux->attach_func_name;
 	struct bpf_iter_target_info *tinfo = NULL, *iter;
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ bool bpf_iter_prog_supported(struct bpf_prog *prog)
 	int prefix_len = strlen(prefix);
 
 	if (strncmp(attach_fname, prefix, prefix_len))
-		return false;
+		return -EINVAL;
 
 	mutex_lock(&targets_mutex);
 	list_for_each_entry(iter, &targets, list) {
@@ -360,12 +360,11 @@ bool bpf_iter_prog_supported(struct bpf_prog *prog)
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&targets_mutex);
 
-	if (tinfo) {
-		prog->aux->ctx_arg_info_size = tinfo->reg_info->ctx_arg_info_size;
-		prog->aux->ctx_arg_info = tinfo->reg_info->ctx_arg_info;
-	}
+	if (!tinfo)
+		return -EINVAL;
 
-	return tinfo != NULL;
+	return bpf_prog_ctx_arg_info_init(prog, tinfo->reg_info->ctx_arg_info,
+					  tinfo->reg_info->ctx_arg_info_size);
 }
 
 const struct bpf_func_proto *
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c b/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c
index 9b7f3b9c5262..db13ee70d94d 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ void bpf_struct_ops_image_free(void *image)
 }
 
 #define MAYBE_NULL_SUFFIX "__nullable"
+#define REFCOUNTED_SUFFIX "__ref"
 
 /* Prepare argument info for every nullable argument of a member of a
  * struct_ops type.
@@ -174,11 +175,13 @@ static int prepare_arg_info(struct btf *btf,
 			    struct bpf_struct_ops_arg_info *arg_info)
 {
 	const struct btf_type *stub_func_proto, *pointed_type;
+	bool is_nullable = false, is_refcounted = false;
 	const struct btf_param *stub_args, *args;
 	struct bpf_ctx_arg_aux *info, *info_buf;
 	u32 nargs, arg_no, info_cnt = 0;
 	char ksym[KSYM_SYMBOL_LEN];
 	const char *stub_fname;
+	const char *suffix;
 	s32 stub_func_id;
 	u32 arg_btf_id;
 	int offset;
@@ -223,10 +226,18 @@ static int prepare_arg_info(struct btf *btf,
 	info = info_buf;
 	for (arg_no = 0; arg_no < nargs; arg_no++) {
 		/* Skip arguments that is not suffixed with
-		 * "__nullable".
+		 * "__nullable or __ref".
 		 */
-		if (!btf_param_match_suffix(btf, &stub_args[arg_no],
-					    MAYBE_NULL_SUFFIX))
+		is_nullable = btf_param_match_suffix(btf, &stub_args[arg_no],
+						     MAYBE_NULL_SUFFIX);
+		is_refcounted = btf_param_match_suffix(btf, &stub_args[arg_no],
+						       REFCOUNTED_SUFFIX);
+
+		if (is_nullable)
+			suffix = MAYBE_NULL_SUFFIX;
+		else if (is_refcounted)
+			suffix = REFCOUNTED_SUFFIX;
+		else
 			continue;
 
 		/* Should be a pointer to struct */
@@ -236,7 +247,7 @@ static int prepare_arg_info(struct btf *btf,
 		if (!pointed_type ||
 		    !btf_type_is_struct(pointed_type)) {
 			pr_warn("stub function %s has %s tagging to an unsupported type\n",
-				stub_fname, MAYBE_NULL_SUFFIX);
+				stub_fname, suffix);
 			goto err_out;
 		}
 
@@ -254,11 +265,15 @@ static int prepare_arg_info(struct btf *btf,
 		}
 
 		/* Fill the information of the new argument */
-		info->reg_type =
-			PTR_TRUSTED | PTR_TO_BTF_ID | PTR_MAYBE_NULL;
 		info->btf_id = arg_btf_id;
 		info->btf = btf;
 		info->offset = offset;
+		if (is_nullable) {
+			info->reg_type = PTR_TRUSTED | PTR_TO_BTF_ID | PTR_MAYBE_NULL;
+		} else if (is_refcounted) {
+			info->reg_type = PTR_TRUSTED | PTR_TO_BTF_ID;
+			info->refcounted = true;
+		}
 
 		info++;
 		info_cnt++;
@@ -375,7 +390,7 @@ int bpf_struct_ops_desc_init(struct bpf_struct_ops_desc *st_ops_desc,
 	st_ops_desc->value_type = btf_type_by_id(btf, value_id);
 
 	for_each_member(i, t, member) {
-		const struct btf_type *func_proto;
+		const struct btf_type *func_proto, *ret_type;
 		void **stub_func_addr;
 		u32 moff;
 
@@ -412,6 +427,16 @@ int bpf_struct_ops_desc_init(struct bpf_struct_ops_desc *st_ops_desc,
 		if (!func_proto || bpf_struct_ops_supported(st_ops, moff))
 			continue;
 
+		if (func_proto->type) {
+			ret_type = btf_type_resolve_ptr(btf, func_proto->type, NULL);
+			if (ret_type && !__btf_type_is_struct(ret_type)) {
+				pr_warn("func ptr %s in struct %s returns non-struct pointer, which is not supported\n",
+					mname, st_ops->name);
+				err = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+				goto errout;
+			}
+		}
+
 		if (btf_distill_func_proto(log, btf,
 					   func_proto, mname,
 					   &st_ops->func_models[i])) {
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/btf.c b/kernel/bpf/btf.c
index f8335bdc8bf8..69f5752e880b 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/btf.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/btf.c
@@ -6774,6 +6774,7 @@ bool btf_ctx_access(int off, int size, enum bpf_access_type type,
 			info->reg_type = ctx_arg_info->reg_type;
 			info->btf = ctx_arg_info->btf ? : btf_vmlinux;
 			info->btf_id = ctx_arg_info->btf_id;
+			info->ref_obj_id = ctx_arg_info->ref_obj_id;
 			return true;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/syscall.c b/kernel/bpf/syscall.c
index c420edbfb7c8..4b89a5df8ebc 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/syscall.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/syscall.c
@@ -2313,6 +2313,7 @@ static void __bpf_prog_put_noref(struct bpf_prog *prog, bool deferred)
 	kvfree(prog->aux->jited_linfo);
 	kvfree(prog->aux->linfo);
 	kfree(prog->aux->kfunc_tab);
+	kfree(prog->aux->ctx_arg_info);
 	if (prog->aux->attach_btf)
 		btf_put(prog->aux->attach_btf);
 
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index 3c286ec9e841..e7bc74171c99 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -1543,6 +1543,17 @@ static void release_reference_state(struct bpf_verifier_state *state, int idx)
 	return;
 }
 
+static bool find_reference_state(struct bpf_verifier_state *state, int ptr_id)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < state->acquired_refs; i++)
+		if (state->refs[i].id == ptr_id)
+			return true;
+
+	return false;
+}
+
 static int release_lock_state(struct bpf_verifier_state *state, int type, int id, void *ptr)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -5981,7 +5992,8 @@ static int check_packet_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, u32 regno, int off,
 /* check access to 'struct bpf_context' fields.  Supports fixed offsets only */
 static int check_ctx_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int insn_idx, int off, int size,
 			    enum bpf_access_type t, enum bpf_reg_type *reg_type,
-			    struct btf **btf, u32 *btf_id, bool *is_retval, bool is_ldsx)
+			    struct btf **btf, u32 *btf_id, bool *is_retval, bool is_ldsx,
+			    u32 *ref_obj_id)
 {
 	struct bpf_insn_access_aux info = {
 		.reg_type = *reg_type,
@@ -6003,8 +6015,16 @@ static int check_ctx_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int insn_idx, int off,
 		*is_retval = info.is_retval;
 
 		if (base_type(*reg_type) == PTR_TO_BTF_ID) {
+			if (info.ref_obj_id &&
+			    !find_reference_state(env->cur_state, info.ref_obj_id)) {
+				verbose(env, "invalid bpf_context access off=%d. Reference may already be released\n",
+					off);
+				return -EACCES;
+			}
+
 			*btf = info.btf;
 			*btf_id = info.btf_id;
+			*ref_obj_id = info.ref_obj_id;
 		} else {
 			env->insn_aux_data[insn_idx].ctx_field_size = info.ctx_field_size;
 		}
@@ -7367,7 +7387,7 @@ static int check_mem_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int insn_idx, u32 regn
 		struct bpf_retval_range range;
 		enum bpf_reg_type reg_type = SCALAR_VALUE;
 		struct btf *btf = NULL;
-		u32 btf_id = 0;
+		u32 btf_id = 0, ref_obj_id = 0;
 
 		if (t == BPF_WRITE && value_regno >= 0 &&
 		    is_pointer_value(env, value_regno)) {
@@ -7380,7 +7400,7 @@ static int check_mem_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int insn_idx, u32 regn
 			return err;
 
 		err = check_ctx_access(env, insn_idx, off, size, t, &reg_type, &btf,
-				       &btf_id, &is_retval, is_ldsx);
+				       &btf_id, &is_retval, is_ldsx, &ref_obj_id);
 		if (err)
 			verbose_linfo(env, insn_idx, "; ");
 		if (!err && t == BPF_READ && value_regno >= 0) {
@@ -7411,6 +7431,7 @@ static int check_mem_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int insn_idx, u32 regn
 				if (base_type(reg_type) == PTR_TO_BTF_ID) {
 					regs[value_regno].btf = btf;
 					regs[value_regno].btf_id = btf_id;
+					regs[value_regno].ref_obj_id = ref_obj_id;
 				}
 			}
 			regs[value_regno].type = reg_type;
@@ -10737,6 +10758,8 @@ record_func_key(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_call_arg_meta *meta,
 static int check_reference_leak(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, bool exception_exit)
 {
 	struct bpf_verifier_state *state = env->cur_state;
+	enum bpf_prog_type type = resolve_prog_type(env->prog);
+	struct bpf_reg_state *reg = reg_state(env, BPF_REG_0);
 	bool refs_lingering = false;
 	int i;
 
@@ -10746,6 +10769,12 @@ static int check_reference_leak(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, bool exception_exi
 	for (i = 0; i < state->acquired_refs; i++) {
 		if (state->refs[i].type != REF_TYPE_PTR)
 			continue;
+		/* Allow struct_ops programs to return a referenced kptr back to
+		 * kernel. Type checks are performed later in check_return_code.
+		 */
+		if (type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS && !exception_exit &&
+		    reg->ref_obj_id == state->refs[i].id)
+			continue;
 		verbose(env, "Unreleased reference id=%d alloc_insn=%d\n",
 			state->refs[i].id, state->refs[i].insn_idx);
 		refs_lingering = true;
@@ -16397,13 +16426,14 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 	const char *exit_ctx = "At program exit";
 	struct tnum enforce_attach_type_range = tnum_unknown;
 	const struct bpf_prog *prog = env->prog;
-	struct bpf_reg_state *reg;
+	struct bpf_reg_state *reg = reg_state(env, regno);
 	struct bpf_retval_range range = retval_range(0, 1);
 	enum bpf_prog_type prog_type = resolve_prog_type(env->prog);
 	int err;
 	struct bpf_func_state *frame = env->cur_state->frame[0];
 	const bool is_subprog = frame->subprogno;
 	bool return_32bit = false;
+	const struct btf_type *reg_type, *ret_type = NULL;
 
 	/* LSM and struct_ops func-ptr's return type could be "void" */
 	if (!is_subprog || frame->in_exception_callback_fn) {
@@ -16412,10 +16442,26 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 			if (prog->expected_attach_type == BPF_LSM_CGROUP)
 				/* See below, can be 0 or 0-1 depending on hook. */
 				break;
-			fallthrough;
+			if (!prog->aux->attach_func_proto->type)
+				return 0;
+			break;
 		case BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS:
 			if (!prog->aux->attach_func_proto->type)
 				return 0;
+
+			if (frame->in_exception_callback_fn)
+				break;
+
+			/* Allow a struct_ops program to return a referenced kptr if it
+			 * matches the operator's return type and is in its unmodified
+			 * form. A scalar zero (i.e., a null pointer) is also allowed.
+			 */
+			reg_type = reg->btf ? btf_type_by_id(reg->btf, reg->btf_id) : NULL;
+			ret_type = btf_type_resolve_ptr(prog->aux->attach_btf,
+							prog->aux->attach_func_proto->type,
+							NULL);
+			if (ret_type && ret_type == reg_type && reg->ref_obj_id)
+				return __check_ptr_off_reg(env, reg, regno, false);
 			break;
 		default:
 			break;
@@ -16437,8 +16483,6 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 		return -EACCES;
 	}
 
-	reg = cur_regs(env) + regno;
-
 	if (frame->in_async_callback_fn) {
 		/* enforce return zero from async callbacks like timer */
 		exit_ctx = "At async callback return";
@@ -16537,6 +16581,11 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_NETFILTER:
 		range = retval_range(NF_DROP, NF_ACCEPT);
 		break;
+	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS:
+		if (!ret_type)
+			return 0;
+		range = retval_range(0, 0);
+		break;
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_EXT:
 		/* freplace program can return anything as its return value
 		 * depends on the to-be-replaced kernel func or bpf program.
@@ -22176,6 +22225,7 @@ static int do_check_common(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int subprog)
 {
 	bool pop_log = !(env->log.level & BPF_LOG_LEVEL2);
 	struct bpf_subprog_info *sub = subprog_info(env, subprog);
+	struct bpf_prog_aux *aux = env->prog->aux;
 	struct bpf_verifier_state *state;
 	struct bpf_reg_state *regs;
 	int ret, i;
@@ -22283,6 +22333,13 @@ static int do_check_common(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int subprog)
 		mark_reg_known_zero(env, regs, BPF_REG_1);
 	}
 
+	/* Acquire references for struct_ops program arguments tagged with "__ref" */
+	if (!subprog && env->prog->type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS) {
+		for (i = 0; i < aux->ctx_arg_info_size; i++)
+			aux->ctx_arg_info[i].ref_obj_id = aux->ctx_arg_info[i].refcounted ?
+							  acquire_reference(env, 0) : 0;
+	}
+
 	ret = do_check(env);
 out:
 	/* check for NULL is necessary, since cur_state can be freed inside
@@ -22405,6 +22462,15 @@ static void print_verification_stats(struct bpf_verifier_env *env)
 		env->peak_states, env->longest_mark_read_walk);
 }
 
+int bpf_prog_ctx_arg_info_init(struct bpf_prog *prog,
+			       const struct bpf_ctx_arg_aux *info, u32 cnt)
+{
+	prog->aux->ctx_arg_info = kmemdup_array(info, cnt, sizeof(*info), GFP_KERNEL);
+	prog->aux->ctx_arg_info_size = cnt;
+
+	return prog->aux->ctx_arg_info ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
+}
+
 static int check_struct_ops_btf_id(struct bpf_verifier_env *env)
 {
 	const struct btf_type *t, *func_proto;
@@ -22485,17 +22551,12 @@ static int check_struct_ops_btf_id(struct bpf_verifier_env *env)
 		return -EACCES;
 	}
 
-	/* btf_ctx_access() used this to provide argument type info */
-	prog->aux->ctx_arg_info =
-		st_ops_desc->arg_info[member_idx].info;
-	prog->aux->ctx_arg_info_size =
-		st_ops_desc->arg_info[member_idx].cnt;
-
 	prog->aux->attach_func_proto = func_proto;
 	prog->aux->attach_func_name = mname;
 	env->ops = st_ops->verifier_ops;
 
-	return 0;
+	return bpf_prog_ctx_arg_info_init(prog, st_ops_desc->arg_info[member_idx].info,
+					  st_ops_desc->arg_info[member_idx].cnt);
 }
 #define SECURITY_PREFIX "security_"
 
@@ -22945,9 +23006,7 @@ static int check_attach_btf_id(struct bpf_verifier_env *env)
 		prog->aux->attach_btf_trace = true;
 		return 0;
 	} else if (prog->expected_attach_type == BPF_TRACE_ITER) {
-		if (!bpf_iter_prog_supported(prog))
-			return -EINVAL;
-		return 0;
+		return bpf_iter_prog_supported(prog);
 	}
 
 	if (prog->type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_LSM) {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/test_struct_ops_kptr_return.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/test_struct_ops_kptr_return.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..467cc72a3588
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/test_struct_ops_kptr_return.c
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#include <test_progs.h>
+
+#include "struct_ops_kptr_return.skel.h"
+#include "struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__wrong_type.skel.h"
+#include "struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar.skel.h"
+#include "struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset.skel.h"
+#include "struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__local_kptr.skel.h"
+
+void test_struct_ops_kptr_return(void)
+{
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_kptr_return);
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__wrong_type);
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar);
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset);
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__local_kptr);
+}
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/test_struct_ops_refcounted.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/test_struct_ops_refcounted.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e290a2f6db95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/test_struct_ops_refcounted.c
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#include <test_progs.h>
+
+#include "struct_ops_refcounted.skel.h"
+#include "struct_ops_refcounted_fail__ref_leak.skel.h"
+#include "struct_ops_refcounted_fail__global_subprog.skel.h"
+
+void test_struct_ops_refcounted(void)
+{
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_refcounted);
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_refcounted_fail__ref_leak);
+	RUN_TESTS(struct_ops_refcounted_fail__global_subprog);
+}
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..36386b3c23a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return.c
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+/* This test struct_ops BPF programs returning referenced kptr. The verifier should
+ * allow a referenced kptr or a NULL pointer to be returned. A referenced kptr to task
+ * here is acquried automatically as the task argument is tagged with "__ref".
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_return_ref_kptr")
+struct task_struct *BPF_PROG(kptr_return, int dummy,
+			     struct task_struct *task, struct cgroup *cgrp)
+{
+	if (dummy % 2) {
+		bpf_task_release(task);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	return task;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_kptr_return = {
+	.test_return_ref_kptr = (void *)kptr_return,
+};
+
+
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..caeea158ef69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar.c
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+struct cgroup *bpf_cgroup_acquire(struct cgroup *p) __ksym;
+void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+/* This test struct_ops BPF programs returning referenced kptr. The verifier should
+ * reject programs returning a non-zero scalar value.
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_return_ref_kptr")
+__failure __msg("At program exit the register R0 has smin=1 smax=1 should have been in [0, 0]")
+struct task_struct *BPF_PROG(kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar, int dummy,
+			     struct task_struct *task, struct cgroup *cgrp)
+{
+	bpf_task_release(task);
+	return (struct task_struct *)1;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_kptr_return = {
+	.test_return_ref_kptr = (void *)kptr_return_fail__invalid_scalar,
+};
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__local_kptr.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__local_kptr.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b8b4f05c3d7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__local_kptr.c
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_experimental.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+struct cgroup *bpf_cgroup_acquire(struct cgroup *p) __ksym;
+void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+/* This test struct_ops BPF programs returning referenced kptr. The verifier should
+ * reject programs returning a local kptr.
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_return_ref_kptr")
+__failure __msg("At program exit the register R0 is not a known value (ptr_or_null_)")
+struct task_struct *BPF_PROG(kptr_return_fail__local_kptr, int dummy,
+			     struct task_struct *task, struct cgroup *cgrp)
+{
+	struct task_struct *t;
+
+	bpf_task_release(task);
+
+	t = bpf_obj_new(typeof(*task));
+	if (!t)
+		return NULL;
+
+	return t;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_kptr_return = {
+	.test_return_ref_kptr = (void *)kptr_return_fail__local_kptr,
+};
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7ddeb28c2329
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset.c
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+struct cgroup *bpf_cgroup_acquire(struct cgroup *p) __ksym;
+void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+/* This test struct_ops BPF programs returning referenced kptr. The verifier should
+ * reject programs returning a modified referenced kptr.
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_return_ref_kptr")
+__failure __msg("dereference of modified trusted_ptr_ ptr R0 off={{[0-9]+}} disallowed")
+struct task_struct *BPF_PROG(kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset, int dummy,
+			     struct task_struct *task, struct cgroup *cgrp)
+{
+	return (struct task_struct *)&task->jobctl;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_kptr_return = {
+	.test_return_ref_kptr = (void *)kptr_return_fail__nonzero_offset,
+};
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__wrong_type.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__wrong_type.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6a2dd5367802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_kptr_return_fail__wrong_type.c
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+struct cgroup *bpf_cgroup_acquire(struct cgroup *p) __ksym;
+void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+/* This test struct_ops BPF programs returning referenced kptr. The verifier should
+ * reject programs returning a referenced kptr of the wrong type.
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_return_ref_kptr")
+__failure __msg("At program exit the register R0 is not a known value (ptr_or_null_)")
+struct task_struct *BPF_PROG(kptr_return_fail__wrong_type, int dummy,
+			     struct task_struct *task, struct cgroup *cgrp)
+{
+	struct task_struct *ret;
+
+	ret = (struct task_struct *)bpf_cgroup_acquire(cgrp);
+	bpf_task_release(task);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_kptr_return = {
+	.test_return_ref_kptr = (void *)kptr_return_fail__wrong_type,
+};
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..76dcb6089d7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted.c
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+__attribute__((nomerge)) extern void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+/* This is a test BPF program that uses struct_ops to access a referenced
+ * kptr argument. This is a test for the verifier to ensure that it
+ * 1) recongnizes the task as a referenced object (i.e., ref_obj_id > 0), and
+ * 2) the same reference can be acquired from multiple paths as long as it
+ *    has not been released.
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_refcounted")
+int BPF_PROG(refcounted, int dummy, struct task_struct *task)
+{
+	if (dummy == 1)
+		bpf_task_release(task);
+	else
+		bpf_task_release(task);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_refcounted = {
+	.test_refcounted = (void *)refcounted,
+};
+
+
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted_fail__global_subprog.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted_fail__global_subprog.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ae074aa62852
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted_fail__global_subprog.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+extern void bpf_task_release(struct task_struct *p) __ksym;
+
+__noinline int subprog_release(__u64 *ctx __arg_ctx)
+{
+	struct task_struct *task = (struct task_struct *)ctx[1];
+	int dummy = (int)ctx[0];
+
+	bpf_task_release(task);
+
+	return dummy + 1;
+}
+
+/* Test that the verifier rejects a program that contains a global
+ * subprogram with referenced kptr arguments
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_refcounted")
+__failure __log_level(2)
+__msg("Validating subprog_release() func#1...")
+__msg("invalid bpf_context access off=8. Reference may already be released")
+int refcounted_fail__global_subprog(unsigned long long *ctx)
+{
+	struct task_struct *task = (struct task_struct *)ctx[1];
+
+	bpf_task_release(task);
+
+	return subprog_release(ctx);
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_ref_acquire = {
+	.test_refcounted = (void *)refcounted_fail__global_subprog,
+};
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted_fail__ref_leak.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted_fail__ref_leak.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e945b1a04294
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/struct_ops_refcounted_fail__ref_leak.c
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#include <vmlinux.h>
+#include <bpf/bpf_tracing.h>
+#include "../test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h"
+#include "bpf_misc.h"
+
+char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
+
+/* Test that the verifier rejects a program that acquires a referenced
+ * kptr through context without releasing the reference
+ */
+SEC("struct_ops/test_refcounted")
+__failure __msg("Unreleased reference id=1 alloc_insn=0")
+int BPF_PROG(refcounted_fail__ref_leak, int dummy,
+	     struct task_struct *task)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+SEC(".struct_ops.link")
+struct bpf_testmod_ops testmod_ref_acquire = {
+	.test_refcounted = (void *)refcounted_fail__ref_leak,
+};
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.c
index cc9dde507aba..89dc502de9d4 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.c
@@ -1176,10 +1176,25 @@ static int bpf_testmod_ops__test_maybe_null(int dummy,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int bpf_testmod_ops__test_refcounted(int dummy,
+					    struct task_struct *task__ref)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static struct task_struct *
+bpf_testmod_ops__test_return_ref_kptr(int dummy, struct task_struct *task__ref,
+				      struct cgroup *cgrp)
+{
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static struct bpf_testmod_ops __bpf_testmod_ops = {
 	.test_1 = bpf_testmod_test_1,
 	.test_2 = bpf_testmod_test_2,
 	.test_maybe_null = bpf_testmod_ops__test_maybe_null,
+	.test_refcounted = bpf_testmod_ops__test_refcounted,
+	.test_return_ref_kptr = bpf_testmod_ops__test_return_ref_kptr,
 };
 
 struct bpf_struct_ops bpf_bpf_testmod_ops = {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h
index 356803d1c10e..c9fab51f16e2 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_kmods/bpf_testmod.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 
 struct task_struct;
+struct cgroup;
 
 struct bpf_testmod_test_read_ctx {
 	char *buf;
@@ -36,6 +37,11 @@ struct bpf_testmod_ops {
 	/* Used to test nullable arguments. */
 	int (*test_maybe_null)(int dummy, struct task_struct *task);
 	int (*unsupported_ops)(void);
+	/* Used to test ref_acquired arguments. */
+	int (*test_refcounted)(int dummy, struct task_struct *task);
+	/* Used to test returning referenced kptr. */
+	struct task_struct *(*test_return_ref_kptr)(int dummy, struct task_struct *task,
+						    struct cgroup *cgrp);
 
 	/* The following fields are used to test shadow copies. */
 	char onebyte;