Re: [PATCH v6] Added PR_SET_PROCTITLE_AREA option for prctl()

From: Ingo Molnar
Date: Tue Dec 08 2009 - 01:58:38 EST



* KOSAKI Motohiro <kosaki.motohiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> > >
> > > * KOSAKI Motohiro <kosaki.motohiro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > > The feature looks useful, but the choice of a prctl as an API is strange
> > > > > - it limits us to the current task only - while the ability to set
> > > > > arguments for another task looks a more generic (and potentially more
> > > > > useful) solution.
> > > >
> > > > No. It's impossible.
> > > > /proc/{pid}/cmdline read user process's memory. iow, this prctl() don't
> > > > receive string, it receive virtual address itself. [...]
> > >
> > > it's not 'impossible' at all, you yourself mention ptrace:
> >
> > Ah yes, 'impossible' was wrong word. but it doesn't works intentionally.
> >
> > 1. setproctitle() unaware application continue to see argv[0] directly.
> > it makes some inconsistent behavior.
> > 2. proc title (i.e. string) injection need to map new page as process title area.
> > implicit mapping increasing makes new trouble
> > - mihgt cause to exceed max_map_count awhile after.
> > - might cause leak proc title area (who know when it should be freed?)
> >
> > I think reasonable way is 1. send signal (or use another inter process
> > communication way) to target process 2. target process change own proc title
> > themself.
> >
> > Plus, I haven't seen the use-case of changin another task. iow I doubt
> > it's worth to change lots code.
>
> if your mention is strongly, can you please explain your expected use
> case?

I have no strong opinion - i just raised the possibility. We try to
avoid special-purpose APIs for new syscalls - we try to design them in a
generic way.

Ingo
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/