Re: [PATCH] x86/debug: 'Fix' ptrace dr6 output

[Andrew Cooper]

On 28/01/2021 18:20, Peter Zijlstra wrote:
> --- a/arch/x86/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
> +++ b/arch/x86/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
> @@ -496,9 +496,32 @@ static int hw_breakpoint_handler(struct
>  	dr6_p = (unsigned long *)ERR_PTR(args->err);
>  	dr6 = *dr6_p;
>  
> -	/* If it's a single step, TRAP bits are random */
> -	if (dr6 & DR_STEP)
> +	/*
> +	 * If DR_STEP is set, TRAP bits might also be set, but we must not
> +	 * process them since another exception (without DR_STEP) will follow.

:) How lucky are you feeling?

Data breakpoints will in principle merge with DR_STEP (as will all other
#DB's with trap semantics), other than the many errata about breakpoints
not being recognised correctly.

Under VT-x because there is a still unfixed vmexit microcode bug which
loses all breakpoint information if DR_STEP is set.  %dr6 handling works
fine when #DB isn't intercepted, but then you get to keep the pipeline
livelock vulnerability as a consequence.

Instruction breakpoints on the following instruction will be delivered
as a second #DB, because fault style #DBs are raised at a separate
position in the instruction execution cycle.

~Andrew