[PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API

Aleksa Sarai posted 8 patches 1 week ago
[PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API
Posted by Aleksa Sarai 1 week ago
This is a new API added in Linux 6.15, and is effectively just a minor
expansion of open_tree(2) in order to allow for MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP to be
changed for an existing ID-mapped mount.  glibc does not yet have a
wrapper for this.

While working on this man-page, I discovered a bug in open_tree_attr(2)
that accidentally permitted changing MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP for extant
detached ID-mapped mount objects.  This is definitely a bug, but there
is no need to add this to BUGS because the patch to fix this has already
been accepted (slated for 6.18, and will be backported to 6.15+).

Cc: Christian Brauner <brauner@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Aleksa Sarai <cyphar@cyphar.com>
---
 man/man2/open_tree.2      | 191 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 man/man2/open_tree_attr.2 |   1 +
 2 files changed, 192 insertions(+)

diff --git a/man/man2/open_tree.2 b/man/man2/open_tree.2
index 6b04a80927a8b6a394cf7ab341b8d6b29d42d304..8b48f3b782bbb8d017ff50ae6624707cc1db992b 100644
--- a/man/man2/open_tree.2
+++ b/man/man2/open_tree.2
@@ -15,7 +15,19 @@ .SH SYNOPSIS
 .B #include <sys/mount.h>
 .P
 .BI "int open_tree(int " dirfd ", const char *" path ", unsigned int " flags );
+.P
+.BR "#include <sys/syscall.h>" "    /* Definition of " SYS_* " constants */"
+.P
+.B int syscall(SYS_open_tree_attr,
+.BI "            int " dirfd ", const char *" path ", unsigned int " flags ,
+.BI "            struct mount_attr *_Nullable " attr ", size_t " size );
 .fi
+.P
+.IR Note :
+glibc provides no wrapper for
+.BR open_tree_attr (),
+necessitating the use of
+.BR syscall (2).
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 The
 .BR open_tree ()
@@ -263,6 +275,129 @@ .SH DESCRIPTION
 as a detached mount object.
 This flag is only permitted in conjunction with
 .BR \%OPEN_TREE_CLONE .
+.SS open_tree_attr()
+The
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+system call operates in exactly the same way as
+.BR open_tree (),
+except for the differences described here.
+.P
+After performing the same operation as with
+.BR open_tree (),
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+will apply the mount attribute changes described in
+.I attr
+to the file descriptor before it is returned.
+(See
+.BR mount_attr (2type)
+for a description of the
+.I \%mount_attr
+structure.
+As described in
+.BR mount_setattr (2),
+.I size
+must be set to
+.I \%sizeof(struct mount_attr)
+in order to support future extensions.)
+If
+.I attr
+is NULL,
+or has
+.IR \%attr.attr_clr ,
+.IR \%attr.attr_set ,
+and
+.I \%attr.propagation
+all set to zero,
+then
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+has identical behaviour to
+.BR open_tree ().
+.P
+The application of
+.I attr
+to the resultant file descriptor
+has identical semantics to
+.BR mount_setattr (2),
+except for the following extensions and general caveats:
+.IP \[bu] 3
+Unlike
+.BR mount_setattr (2)
+called with a regular
+.B OPEN_TREE_CLONE
+detached mount object from
+.BR open_tree (),
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+can specify a different setting for
+.B \%MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP
+to the original mount object cloned with
+.BR \%OPEN_TREE_CLONE .
+.IP
+Adding
+.B \%MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP
+to
+.I \%attr.attr_clr
+will disable ID-mapping for the new mount object;
+adding
+.B \%MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP
+to
+.I \%attr.attr_set
+will configure the mount object to have the ID-mapping defined by
+the user namespace referenced by the file descriptor
+.IR \%attr.userns_fd .
+(The semantics of which are identical to when
+.BR mount_setattr (2)
+is used to configure
+.BR \%MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP .)
+.IP
+Changing or removing the mapping
+of an ID-mapped mount is only permitted
+if a new detached mount object is being created with
+.I flags
+including
+.BR \%OPEN_TREE_CLONE .
+.\" Aleksa Sarai
+.\"  At time of writing, this is not actually true because of a bug where
+.\"  open_tree_attr() would accidentally permit changing MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP for
+.\"  existing detached mount objects without setting OPEN_TREE_CLONE, but a
+.\"  patch to fix it has been slated for 6.18 and will be backported to 6.15+.
+.\"  <https://lore.kernel.org/r/20250808-open_tree_attr-bugfix-idmap-v1-0-0ec7bc05646c@cyphar.com/>
+.IP \[bu]
+If
+.I flags
+contains
+.BR \%AT_RECURSIVE ,
+then the attributes described in
+.I attr
+are applied recursively
+(just as when
+.BR mount_setattr (2)
+is called with
+.BR \%AT_RECURSIVE ).
+However, this applies in addition to the
+.BR open_tree ()-specific
+behaviour regarding
+.BR \%AT_RECURSIVE ,
+and thus
+.I flags
+must also contain
+.BR \%OPEN_TREE_CLONE .
+.P
+Note that if
+.I flags
+does not contain
+.BR \%OPEN_TREE_CLONE ,
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+will attempt to modify the mount attributes of
+the mount object attached at
+the path described by
+.I dirfd
+and
+.IR path .
+As with
+.BR mount_setattr (2),
+if said path is not a mount point,
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+will return an error.
 .SH RETURN VALUE
 On success, a new file descriptor is returned.
 On error, \-1 is returned, and
@@ -356,10 +491,15 @@ .SH ERRORS
 .SH STANDARDS
 Linux.
 .SH HISTORY
+.SS open_tree()
 Linux 5.2.
 .\" commit a07b20004793d8926f78d63eb5980559f7813404
 .\" commit 400913252d09f9cfb8cce33daee43167921fc343
 glibc 2.36.
+.SS open_tree_attr()
+Linux 6.15.
+.\" commit c4a16820d90199409c9bf01c4f794e1e9e8d8fd8
+.\" commit 7a54947e727b6df840780a66c970395ed9734ebe
 .SH NOTES
 .SS Mount propagation
 The bind-mount mount objects created by
@@ -507,6 +647,57 @@ .SH EXAMPLES
 /* The bind-mount is now destroyed */
 .EE
 .in
+.SS open_tree_attr()
+The following is an example of how
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+can be used to
+take an existing id-mapped mount and
+construct a new bind-mount mount object
+with a different
+.B \%MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP
+attribute.
+The resultant detached mount object
+can be used
+like any other mount object
+returned by
+.BR open_tree ().
+.P
+.in +4n
+.EX
+int nsfd1, nsfd2;
+int mntfd1, mntfd2, mntfd3;
+struct mount_attr attr;
+mntfd1 = open_tree(AT_FDCWD, "/foo", OPEN_TREE_CLONE);
+\&
+/* Configure the id-mapping of mntfd1 */
+nsfd1 = open("/proc/1234/ns/user", O_RDONLY);
+memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
+attr.attr_set = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
+attr.userns_fd = nsfd1;
+mount_setattr(mntfd1, "", AT_EMPTY_PATH, &attr, sizeof(attr));
+\&
+/* Create a new copy with a different id-mapping */
+nsfd2 = open("/proc/5678/ns/user", O_RDONLY);
+memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
+attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
+.\" Using .attr_clr is not strictly necessary but makes the intent clearer.
+attr.attr_set = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
+attr.userns_fd = nsfd2;
+mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
+                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
+\&
+/* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
+memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
+attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
+mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
+                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
+.EE
+.in
+.P
+.BR open_tree_attr ()
+can also be used
+with attached mount objects;
+the above example is only intended to be illustrative.
 .SH SEE ALSO
 .BR fsconfig (2),
 .BR fsmount (2),
diff --git a/man/man2/open_tree_attr.2 b/man/man2/open_tree_attr.2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e57269bbd269bcce0b0a974425644ba75e379f2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/man2/open_tree_attr.2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.so man2/open_tree.2

-- 
2.51.0
Re: [PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API
Posted by Askar Safin 1 day ago
Aleksa Sarai <cyphar@cyphar.com>:
> +mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));

Your whole so-called "open_tree_attr example" doesn't contain any open_tree_attr
calls. :)

I think you meant open_tree_attr here.

> +\&
> +/* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
> +memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
> +attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
> +mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));

And here.

Otherwise your whole patchset looks good. Add to whole patchset:
Reviewed-by: Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com>

-- 
Askar Safin
Re: [PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API
Posted by Aleksa Sarai 17 hours ago
On 2025-10-01, Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com> wrote:
> Aleksa Sarai <cyphar@cyphar.com>:
> > +mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> 
> Your whole so-called "open_tree_attr example" doesn't contain any open_tree_attr
> calls. :)
> 
> I think you meant open_tree_attr here.

Oops.

> 
> > +\&
> > +/* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
> > +memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
> > +attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
> > +mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> 
> And here.

Oops x2.

> Otherwise your whole patchset looks good. Add to whole patchset:
> Reviewed-by: Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com>

-- 
Aleksa Sarai
Senior Software Engineer (Containers)
SUSE Linux GmbH
https://www.cyphar.com/
Re: [PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API
Posted by Alejandro Colomar 6 hours ago
Hi Aleksa,

On Wed, Oct 01, 2025 at 05:35:45PM +1000, Aleksa Sarai wrote:
> On 2025-10-01, Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Aleksa Sarai <cyphar@cyphar.com>:
> > > +mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> > 
> > Your whole so-called "open_tree_attr example" doesn't contain any open_tree_attr
> > calls. :)
> > 
> > I think you meant open_tree_attr here.
> 
> Oops.
> 
> > 
> > > +\&
> > > +/* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
> > > +memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
> > > +attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
> > > +mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> > 
> > And here.
> 
> Oops x2.
> 
> > Otherwise your whole patchset looks good. Add to whole patchset:
> > Reviewed-by: Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com>

I've applied the patch, with the following amendment:

	diff --git i/man/man2/open_tree.2 w/man/man2/open_tree.2
	index 8b48f3b78..f6f2fbecd 100644
	--- i/man/man2/open_tree.2
	+++ w/man/man2/open_tree.2
	@@ -683,14 +683,14 @@ .SS open_tree_attr()
	 .\" Using .attr_clr is not strictly necessary but makes the intent clearer.
	 attr.attr_set = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
	 attr.userns_fd = nsfd2;
	-mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
	-                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
	+mntfd2 = open_tree_attr(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
	+                        &attr, sizeof(attr));
	 \&
	 /* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
	 memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
	 attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
	-mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
	-                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
	+mntfd3 = open_tree_attr(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
	+                        &attr, sizeof(attr));
	 .EE
	 .in
	 .P


(Hopefully I got it right.)


Cheers,
Alex

> 
> -- 
> Aleksa Sarai
> Senior Software Engineer (Containers)
> SUSE Linux GmbH
> https://www.cyphar.com/



-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>
Use port 80 (that is, <...:80/>).
Re: [PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API
Posted by Alejandro Colomar 18 hours ago
Hi Askar,

On Wed, Oct 01, 2025 at 03:38:41AM +0300, Askar Safin wrote:
> Aleksa Sarai <cyphar@cyphar.com>:
> > +mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> 
> Your whole so-called "open_tree_attr example" doesn't contain any open_tree_attr
> calls. :)
> 
> I think you meant open_tree_attr here.

I'll wait for Aleksa to confirm before applying and amending.

> > +\&
> > +/* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
> > +memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
> > +attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
> > +mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> 
> And here.
> 
> Otherwise your whole patchset looks good. Add to whole patchset:
> Reviewed-by: Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com>

Thanks!  I'll retro-fit that to the commits I've aplied already too, as
I haven't pushed them to master yet.


Have a lovely day!
Alex

-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>
Use port 80 (that is, <...:80/>).
Re: [PATCH v5 7/8] man/man2/open_tree{,_attr}.2: document new open_tree_attr() API
Posted by Aleksa Sarai 17 hours ago
On 2025-10-01, Alejandro Colomar <alx@kernel.org> wrote:
> Hi Askar,
> 
> On Wed, Oct 01, 2025 at 03:38:41AM +0300, Askar Safin wrote:
> > Aleksa Sarai <cyphar@cyphar.com>:
> > > +mntfd2 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> > 
> > Your whole so-called "open_tree_attr example" doesn't contain any open_tree_attr
> > calls. :)
> > 
> > I think you meant open_tree_attr here.
> 
> I'll wait for Aleksa to confirm before applying and amending.

Yeah, Askar is right, they were a copy-paste snafu.

> > > +\&
> > > +/* Create a new copy with the id-mapping cleared */
> > > +memset(&attr, 0, sizeof(attr));
> > > +attr.attr_clr = MOUNT_ATTR_IDMAP;
> > > +mntfd3 = open_tree(mntfd1, "", OPEN_TREE_CLONE,
> > > +                   &attr, sizeof(attr));
> > 
> > And here.
> > 
> > Otherwise your whole patchset looks good. Add to whole patchset:
> > Reviewed-by: Askar Safin <safinaskar@gmail.com>
> 
> Thanks!  I'll retro-fit that to the commits I've aplied already too, as
> I haven't pushed them to master yet.
> 
> 
> Have a lovely day!
> Alex
> 
> -- 
> <https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>
> Use port 80 (that is, <...:80/>).



-- 
Aleksa Sarai
Senior Software Engineer (Containers)
SUSE Linux GmbH
https://www.cyphar.com/