Re: [PATCH] x86, powerpc : pkey-mprotect must allow pkey-0

From: Ram Pai
Date: Sat Mar 10 2018 - 00:56:08 EST


On Fri, Mar 09, 2018 at 02:40:32PM -0800, Dave Hansen wrote:
> On 03/09/2018 12:12 AM, Ram Pai wrote:
> > Once an address range is associated with an allocated pkey, it cannot be
> > reverted back to key-0. There is no valid reason for the above behavior. On
> > the contrary applications need the ability to do so.
>
> Why don't we just set pkey 0 to be allocated in the allocation bitmap by
> default?

ok. that will make it allocatable. But it will not be associatable,
given the bug in the current code. And what will be the
default key associated with a pte? zero? or something else?

>
> We *could* also just not let it be special and let it be freed. An app
> could theoretically be careful and make sure nothing is using it.

unable to see how this solves the problem. Need some more explaination.


RP