[PATCH v16 01/18] seccomp: Convert __secure_computing() to return boolean

[Jinjie Ruan]

On 7/1/2026 12:37 AM, Ada Couprie Diaz wrote:
> Hi Jinjie,
> 
> On 29/06/2026 14:05, Jinjie Ruan wrote:
>> The return value of __secure_computing() currently uses 0 to indicate
>> that a system call should be allowed, and -1 to indicate that it should
>> be blocked/killed. This 0/-1 pattern is non-intuitive for a security
>> check function and makes the control flow at the call sites less
>> readable.
>>
>> Furthermore, any potential future changes to these return values would
>> require a high-risk, error-prone audit of all its users across different
>> architectures.
>>
>> Sanitize this logic by converting the return type of __secure_computing()
>> to a proper boolean, where 'true' explicitly means 'allow' and 'false'
>> means 'fail/deny'.
>>
>> Update all the two dozen or so call sites across the tree to align with
>> this new boolean semantic. No functional changes are intended, as the
>> callers still return -1 to the lower-level assembly entry code upon
>> seccomp denial.
> Would it be relevant to mention that this fixes the unsound return value of
> `syscall_trace_enter()` in generic entry, which motivated the patch
> initially[0] ?

That's a very good point. It's definitely worth mentioning

>> Suggested-by: Thomas Gleixner <tglx at kernel.org>
>> Signed-off-by: Jinjie Ruan <ruanjinjie at huawei.com>
>> ---
>>   arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c            |  2 +-
>>   arch/arm/kernel/ptrace.c              |  2 +-
>>   arch/arm64/kernel/ptrace.c            |  2 +-
>>   arch/csky/kernel/ptrace.c             |  2 +-
>>   arch/m68k/kernel/ptrace.c             |  2 +-
>>   arch/mips/kernel/ptrace.c             |  2 +-
>>   arch/parisc/kernel/ptrace.c           |  2 +-
>>   arch/sh/kernel/ptrace_32.c            |  2 +-
>>   arch/um/kernel/skas/syscall.c         |  2 +-
>>   arch/x86/entry/vsyscall/vsyscall_64.c |  2 +-
>>   arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c           |  3 +--
>>   include/linux/entry-common.h          |  7 +++---
>>   include/linux/seccomp.h               | 10 ++++----
>>   kernel/seccomp.c                      | 34 +++++++++++++--------------
>>   14 files changed, 36 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
> 
> This is missing an update to the Kconfig documentation, a possible
> suggestion :

Will update it.

> 
> diff --git a/arch/Kconfig b/arch/Kconfig
> index fa7507ac8e13..9e3d40088afb 100644
> --- a/arch/Kconfig
> +++ b/arch/Kconfig
> @@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ config HAVE_ARCH_SECCOMP_FILTER
>           - syscall_set_return_value()
>           - SIGSYS siginfo_t support
>           - secure_computing is called from a ptrace_event()-safe context
> -         - secure_computing return value is checked and a return value
> of -1
> +         - secure_computing return value is checked and if false
>             results in the system call being skipped immediately.
>           - seccomp syscall wired up
>           - if !HAVE_SPARSE_SYSCALL_NR, have SECCOMP_ARCH_NATIVE,
> 
>> [...]
>> diff --git a/include/linux/entry-common.h b/include/linux/entry-common.h
>> index 416a3352261f..3f66320e46d3 100644
>> --- a/include/linux/entry-common.h
>> +++ b/include/linux/entry-common.h
>> @@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ static __always_inline long
>> syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned l
>>         /* Do seccomp after ptrace, to catch any tracer changes. */
>>       if (work & SYSCALL_WORK_SECCOMP) {
>> -        ret = __secure_computing();
>> -        if (ret == -1L)
>> -            return ret;
>> +        if (!__secure_computing())
>> +            return -1L;
>>       }
>>         /* Either of the above might have changed the syscall number */
>> @@ -113,7 +112,7 @@ static __always_inline long
>> syscall_trace_enter(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned l
>>         syscall_enter_audit(regs, syscall);
>>   -    return ret ? : syscall;
>> +    return syscall;
>>   }
>> [...]
> 
> Otherwise this feels like a more appropriate change with regards to
> "safeguarding against new `secure_computing()` return value" !
> 
> With the updated Kconfig :
> Reviewed-by: Ada Couprie Diaz <ada.coupriediaz at arm.com>
> 
> Thanks,
> Ada
> 
> [0]: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20260511092103.1974980-2-
> ruanjinjie at huawei.com
> 
>