Re: [PATCH v4 4/5] selftests/landlock: Test whiteout object behaviour in OverlayFS renames

On Fri, Jul 24, 2026 at 06:10:03PM +0200, Günther Noack wrote:
> Even though OverlayFS uses vfs_rename() with RENAME_WHITEOUT, and even
> though RENAME_WHITEOUT requires LANDLOCK_ACCESS_FS_MAKE_REG, a process that
> renames non-regular files in an OverlayFS can do so without having the
> LANDLOCK_ACCESS_FS_MAKE_REG right in that location.
> 
> This works, and is supposed to work, because OverlayFS uses the credentials
> determined at mount time for the internal vfs_rename() operation. -- The

This "--" doesn't seem useful.

> rename happens with the credentials of the user who mounted the OverlayFS.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Günther Noack <[email protected]>
> ---
>  tools/testing/selftests/landlock/fs_test.c | 39 ++++++++++++++++++++++
>  1 file changed, 39 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/landlock/fs_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/landlock/fs_test.c
> index fe5faeca83eb..73770dbb0592 100644
> --- a/tools/testing/selftests/landlock/fs_test.c
> +++ b/tools/testing/selftests/landlock/fs_test.c
> @@ -6972,6 +6972,45 @@ TEST_F_FORK(layout2_overlay, same_content_different_file)
>  	}
>  }
>  
> +TEST_F_FORK(layout2_overlay, rename_in_overlay_without_make_reg)
> +{
> +	struct stat st;
> +	const char *merge_fl1_renamed = MERGE_DATA "/fl1_renamed";
> +
> +	if (self->skip_test)
> +		SKIP(return, "overlayfs is not supported (test)");
> +
> +	/*
> +	 * In this test, merge_fl1 is a FIFO file.  MAKE_REG is restricted, but
> +	 * MAKE_FIFO is allowed.  Despite MAKE_REG being restricted, the rename
> +	 * on the OverlayFS works and creates a whiteout file in the underlying
> +	 * upper file system.
> +	 */
> +	ASSERT_EQ(0, unlink(merge_fl1));

merge_fl1 just became a whiteout with this unlink, so I think the test
is wrong because it doesn't check RENAME_WHITEOUT against the lower file.

> +	ASSERT_EQ(0, mknod(merge_fl1, S_IFIFO, 0));

The mode should be 0600.

> +	enforce_fs(_metadata, LANDLOCK_ACCESS_FS_MAKE_REG, NULL);
> +
> +	/*
> +	 * Execute a regular file rename within OverlayFS.

merge_fl1 is a fifo.

> +	 * merge_fl1 originates from lower layer, so this triggers a copy-up
> +	 * and creation of a whiteout in the upper layer.
> +	 */
> +	EXPECT_EQ(0, rename(merge_fl1, merge_fl1_renamed));
> +
> +	/* Check that the rename worked. */
> +	EXPECT_EQ(0, stat(merge_fl1_renamed, &st));
> +	EXPECT_EQ(-1, stat(merge_fl1, &st));
> +	EXPECT_EQ(ENOENT, errno);
> +
> +	/*
> +	 * Check that the whiteout object on the underlying "upper" filesystem
> +	 * exists after the rename.  This is OK because it was done with the
> +	 * credentials of the OverlayFS.
> +	 */
> +	EXPECT_EQ(0, stat(UPPER_DATA "/fl1", &st));
> +	EXPECT_TRUE(S_ISCHR(st.st_mode));
> +	EXPECT_EQ(0, st.st_rdev);
> +}
>  
>  FIXTURE(layout3_fs)
>  {
> -- 
> 2.55.0.229.g6434b31f56-goog
> 
>