Linus Torvalds fff0150b02 Merge tag 'vfs-7.3-rc1.kthread' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/vfs/vfs
Pull kthread vfs updates from Christian Brauner:
 "This stops kernel threads from sharing filesystem state with
  userspace. This work is about 3 cycles old and has been in -next
  for about that time.

  When the kernel boots init_task creates PID 1 and then kthreadd. From
  that point every kthread and PID 1 share the same fs_struct. That is
  why pivot_root() has to rewrite the fs_struct of all kthreads. The
  rewriting exists so that kthreads can use init's filesystem state when
  they want to. It also means userspace can move the ground out from
  under the kernel.

  PID 1 now gets a completely separate fs_struct. All kthreads are
  anchored in a private SB_KERNMOUNT instance of nullfs that cannot be
  mounted on and cannot be used to follow other mounts. Userspace init
  can no longer affect kthread filesystem state and kthreads can no
  longer affect userspace fs state without explicit opting in to that.

  Path lookup from a kthread now fails by default. It makes it
  deliberately hard to offload security sensitive operations into init's
  filesystem state from a kthread.

  Places that legitimately need to look something up there opt in
  through the new scoped_with_init_fs() which temporarily overrides the
  caller's fs_struct with init's. usermodehelpers remain the only kernel
  tasks that genuinely share init's filesystem state, since they execute
  random binaries in the root filesystem (excellent...).

  The visible result is that /proc/2/root is a nullfs with an empty
  mountinfo while /proc/1/root is the real root"

* tag 'vfs-7.3-rc1.kthread' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/vfs/vfs: (26 commits)
  initramfs_test: use test init/exit hooks to override init fs
  fs: stop rewriting paths for PF_EXITING | PF_DUMPCORE
  fs: stop rewriting kthread fs structs
  fs: start all kthreads in nullfs
  nullfs: make nullfs multi-instance
  devtmpfs: create private mount namespace
  fs: add umh argument to struct kernel_clone_args
  fs: stop sharing fs_struct between init_task and pid 1
  af_unix: use scoped_with_init_fs() for coredump socket lookup
  initramfs: use scoped_with_init_fs() for rootfs unpacking
  pnfs/blocklayout: use scoped_with_init_fs() for SCSI device lookup
  ksmbd: use scoped_with_init_fs() for VFS path operations
  ksmbd: use scoped_with_init_fs() for filesystem info path lookup
  ksmbd: use scoped_with_init_fs() for share path resolution
  fs: use scoped_with_init_fs() for kernel_read_file_from_path_initns()
  coredump: use scoped_with_init_fs() for coredump path resolution
  btrfs: use scoped_with_init_fs() for update_dev_time()
  scsi: target: use scoped_with_init_fs() for APTPL metadata
  scsi: target: use scoped_with_init_fs() for ALUA metadata
  crypto: ccp: use scoped_with_init_fs() for SEV file access
  ...
2026-08-17 11:35:12 -07:00
2026-06-29 10:29:28 +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
2026-08-16 14:32:26 -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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