Christian Brauner f1ec2b5604 exec: label mm->exe_file with the binary for a transparent dispatch
When binfmt_misc dispatches a binary to an interpreter, the interpreter
becomes bprm->file and begin_new_exec() labels mm->exe_file with it. For
wine or qemu-user that is the point. For the transparent mode it
defeats the point. The interpreter is an implementation detail and the
process's identity is the binary. Relocatable programs that locate
themselves via /proc/self/exe find the dynamic linker instead [1].

Userspace cannot get this right on its own. PR_SET_MM_MAP's exe_fd is
gated on checkpoint_restore_ns_capable() in the caller's own user
namespace - that is how CRIU restores an exe link - so the ability to
retarget mm->exe_file is not what this adds. What userspace cannot do
is have the link be right from the first instruction. Credentials are
unaffected either way: they still derive from the interpreter unless
'C' says otherwise.

bprm->executable is the file execve() access-checked and kept open for
AT_EXECFD. It is already the file would_dump() bases the dumpability
decision on and the file bprm->execfd_creds derives credentials from.
Label mm->exe_file with it when the dispatch is transparent and the
identity is correct from the start. The label names precisely the file
the caller passed to execve().

Write-denial moves along with the label. Rather than tracking per mode
who still owes a release, the denial do_open_execat() took stays on
bprm->executable until the file is handed over. begin_new_exec() drops
it right before installing the descriptor - set_mm_exe_file() has taken
its own denial on the identity file by then - and free_bprm() releases
an unconsumed executable with do_close_execat() like the other exec
files. For a transparent dispatch the result is exact parity with a
direct execution: a concurrently written binary fails execve() with
-ETXTBSY at open and a running one cannot be opened for writing. The
interpreter consequently is not exe-pinned and matches the role it has
in a native PT_INTERP exec. A classic execfd dispatch now keeps the
binary write-denied until the exec completes rather than only until the
interpreter swap; the difference is confined to the exec itself.

Nothing sets BINPRM_FLAGS_TRANSPARENT_INTERP yet; the transparent
dispatch machinery in binfmt_misc follows and raises it from birth, so
the label and the aux vector bit that announces it appear together.

Link: https://inbox.sourceware.org/libc-alpha/87ik6fymha.fsf@oldenburg.str.redhat.com [1]
Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20260721-work-bpf-binfmt_misc-ptinterp-v2-9-e57866e4ae0f@kernel.org
Signed-off-by: Christian Brauner (Amutable) <brauner@kernel.org>
2026-08-03 10:08:45 +02:00
2026-01-26 19:07:09 -08:00
2022-09-28 09:02:20 +02:00
2026-07-14 16:34:04 +02:00
2025-02-19 14:53:27 -07:00
2026-07-26 14:45:48 -07:00

Linux kernel
============

The Linux kernel is the core of any Linux operating system. It manages hardware,
system resources, and provides the fundamental services for all other software.

Quick Start
-----------

* Report a bug: See Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst
* Get the latest kernel: https://kernel.org
* Build the kernel: See Documentation/admin-guide/quickly-build-trimmed-linux.rst
* Join the community: https://lore.kernel.org/

Essential Documentation
-----------------------

All users should be familiar with:

* Building requirements: Documentation/process/changes.rst
* Code of Conduct: Documentation/process/code-of-conduct.rst
* License: See COPYING

Documentation can be built with make htmldocs or viewed online at:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/


Who Are You?
============

Find your role below:

* New Kernel Developer - Getting started with kernel development
* Academic Researcher - Studying kernel internals and architecture
* Security Expert - Hardening and vulnerability analysis
* Backport/Maintenance Engineer - Maintaining stable kernels
* System Administrator - Configuring and troubleshooting
* Maintainer - Leading subsystems and reviewing patches
* Hardware Vendor - Writing drivers for new hardware
* Distribution Maintainer - Packaging kernels for distros
* AI Coding Assistant - LLMs and AI-powered development tools


For Specific Users
==================

New Kernel Developer
--------------------

Welcome! Start your kernel development journey here:

* Getting Started: Documentation/process/development-process.rst
* Your First Patch: Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
* Coding Style: Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
* Build System: Documentation/kbuild/index.rst
* Development Tools: Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst
* Kernel Hacking Guide: Documentation/kernel-hacking/hacking.rst
* Core APIs: Documentation/core-api/index.rst

Academic Researcher
-------------------

Explore the kernel's architecture and internals:

* Researcher Guidelines: Documentation/process/researcher-guidelines.rst
* Memory Management: Documentation/mm/index.rst
* Scheduler: Documentation/scheduler/index.rst
* Networking Stack: Documentation/networking/index.rst
* Filesystems: Documentation/filesystems/index.rst
* RCU (Read-Copy Update): Documentation/RCU/index.rst
* Locking Primitives: Documentation/locking/index.rst
* Power Management: Documentation/power/index.rst

Security Expert
---------------

Security documentation and hardening guides:

* Security Documentation: Documentation/security/index.rst
* LSM Development: Documentation/security/lsm-development.rst
* Self Protection: Documentation/security/self-protection.rst
* Reporting Vulnerabilities: Documentation/process/security-bugs.rst
* CVE Procedures: Documentation/process/cve.rst
* Embargoed Hardware Issues: Documentation/process/embargoed-hardware-issues.rst
* Security Features: Documentation/userspace-api/seccomp_filter.rst

Backport/Maintenance Engineer
-----------------------------

Maintain and stabilize kernel versions:

* Stable Kernel Rules: Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst
* Backporting Guide: Documentation/process/backporting.rst
* Applying Patches: Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst
* Subsystem Profile: Documentation/maintainer/maintainer-entry-profile.rst
* Git for Maintainers: Documentation/maintainer/configure-git.rst

System Administrator
--------------------

Configure, tune, and troubleshoot Linux systems:

* Admin Guide: Documentation/admin-guide/index.rst
* Kernel Parameters: Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst
* Sysctl Tuning: Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/index.rst
* Tracing/Debugging: Documentation/trace/index.rst
* Performance Security: Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst
* Hardware Monitoring: Documentation/hwmon/index.rst

Maintainer
----------

Lead kernel subsystems and manage contributions:

* Maintainer Handbook: Documentation/maintainer/index.rst
* Pull Requests: Documentation/maintainer/pull-requests.rst
* Managing Patches: Documentation/maintainer/modifying-patches.rst
* Rebasing and Merging: Documentation/maintainer/rebasing-and-merging.rst
* Development Process: Documentation/process/maintainer-handbooks.rst
* Maintainer Entry Profile: Documentation/maintainer/maintainer-entry-profile.rst
* Git Configuration: Documentation/maintainer/configure-git.rst

Hardware Vendor
---------------

Write drivers and support new hardware:

* Driver API Guide: Documentation/driver-api/index.rst
* Driver Model: Documentation/driver-api/driver-model/driver.rst
* Device Drivers: Documentation/driver-api/infrastructure.rst
* Bus Types: Documentation/driver-api/driver-model/bus.rst
* Device Tree Bindings: Documentation/devicetree/bindings/
* Power Management: Documentation/driver-api/pm/index.rst
* DMA API: Documentation/core-api/dma-api.rst

Distribution Maintainer
-----------------------

Package and distribute the kernel:

* Stable Kernel Rules: Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst
* ABI Documentation: Documentation/ABI/README
* Kernel Configuration: Documentation/kbuild/kconfig.rst
* Module Signing: Documentation/admin-guide/module-signing.rst
* Kernel Parameters: Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst
* Tainted Kernels: Documentation/admin-guide/tainted-kernels.rst

AI Coding Assistant
-------------------

CRITICAL: If you are an LLM or AI-powered coding assistant, you MUST read and
follow the AI coding assistants documentation before contributing to the Linux
kernel:

* Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst

This documentation contains essential requirements about licensing, attribution,
and the Developer Certificate of Origin that all AI tools must comply with.


Communication and Support
=========================

* Mailing Lists: https://lore.kernel.org/
* IRC: #kernelnewbies on irc.oftc.net
* Bugzilla: https://bugzilla.kernel.org/
* MAINTAINERS file: Lists subsystem maintainers and mailing lists
* Email Clients: Documentation/process/email-clients.rst
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