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x86/syscall: Maximize MSR_SYSCALL_MASK
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It is better to clear as many flags as possible when we do a system
call entry, as opposed to the other way around. The fewer flags we
keep, the lesser the possible interference between the kernel and user
space.

The flags changed are:

 - CF, PF, AF, ZF, SF, OF: these are arithmetic flags which affect
   branches, possibly speculatively. They should be cleared for the same
   reasons we now clear all GPRs on entry.

 - RF: suppresses a code breakpoint on the subsequent instruction. It is
   probably impossible to enter the kernel with RF set, but if it is
   somehow not, it would break a kernel debugger setting a breakpoint on
   the entry point. Either way, user space should not be able to control
   kernel behavior here.

 - ID: this flag has no direct effect (it is a scratch bit only.)
   However, there is no reason to retain the user space value in the
   kernel, and the standard should be to clear unless needed, not the
   other way around.

Signed-off-by: H. Peter Anvin (Intel) <hpa@zytor.com>
Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@kernel.org>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20210510185316.3307264-5-hpa@zytor.com
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H. Peter Anvin (Intel) authored and Ingo Molnar committed May 12, 2021
1 parent dce0aa3 commit 6de4ac1
Showing 1 changed file with 9 additions and 3 deletions.
12 changes: 9 additions & 3 deletions arch/x86/kernel/cpu/common.c
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -1773,10 +1773,16 @@ void syscall_init(void)
wrmsrl_safe(MSR_IA32_SYSENTER_EIP, 0ULL);
#endif

/* Flags to clear on syscall */
/*
* Flags to clear on syscall; clear as much as possible
* to minimize user space-kernel interference.
*/
wrmsrl(MSR_SYSCALL_MASK,
X86_EFLAGS_TF|X86_EFLAGS_DF|X86_EFLAGS_IF|
X86_EFLAGS_IOPL|X86_EFLAGS_AC|X86_EFLAGS_NT);
X86_EFLAGS_CF|X86_EFLAGS_PF|X86_EFLAGS_AF|
X86_EFLAGS_ZF|X86_EFLAGS_SF|X86_EFLAGS_TF|
X86_EFLAGS_IF|X86_EFLAGS_DF|X86_EFLAGS_OF|
X86_EFLAGS_IOPL|X86_EFLAGS_NT|X86_EFLAGS_RF|
X86_EFLAGS_AC|X86_EFLAGS_ID);
}

#else /* CONFIG_X86_64 */
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