[PATCH v5 0/3] RISC-V: KVM: fix vcpu vector context handling

Andy Chiu <[email protected]> Mon, 3 Aug 2026 16:52:39 -0500
Newsgroups org.infradead.lists.kvm-riscv,org.infradead.lists.linux-riscv,org.kernel.vger.linux-kernel
Message-ID <[email protected]>
This series fixes a vtype corruption encountered when running perf +
vector workload on KVM.

The root cause of the bug is that the kernel-mode vector (KMV)
misattributes the guest's vcpu context as the user's context. To solve
this, we need to correctly save the vcpu context when the kernel-mode
vector is serving a guest.

However, calling directly into KVM from RISC-V generic architecture code
creates a reverse dependency, which is problematic when KVM is built as
a module. To address this, we introduce an RCU-protected callback for
context flushing, which KVM registers during module init.

Patch 1 is a preparatory cleanup that refactors
riscv_v_start_kernel_context().
Patch 2 prepares get/put_cpu_vector_context() for gaurding the use of
vector in kvm_arch_vcpu_load/put()
Patch 3 implements the callback mechanism and fixes the context handling.

Reason for this respin:

put_cpu_vector_context may casue a volutary ctxswch. If we prematurely
set RISCV_PREEMPT_V, the context restore path will rasise NEED_RESTORE
for this kernel thread. As the result, any irq taken during the
subsequence preempt_v would trigger a restore from the empty/stale
context memory on the irq return path in riscv_v_context_nesting_end()

The fix is summarized as below:
--- a/arch/riscv/kernel/kernel_mode_vector.c
+++ b/arch/riscv/kernel/kernel_mode_vector.c
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ static int riscv_v_start_kernel_context(void)
        /* Transfer the ownership of V from user to kernel, then save */
        get_cpu_vector_context();
        __riscv_flush_vector_context();
-       riscv_v_start(RISCV_PREEMPT_V);
        put_cpu_vector_context();
+       riscv_v_start(RISCV_PREEMPT_V);
        return 0;
 }

We will send a optimization patch that removes the costly riscv_v_is_on()
for voluntary switch detection. A kselftest that stresses the vectorized
user copy will also be included into that series.

Patch summary:
 - unchanged patch: 1, 2
 - new patch: none
 - modified patch: 3

Changelog v5:
 - add the r-b from Yong-Xuan
 - fix a guest boot fail that hits ~1/100 in host kernel-mode vector
 - Link to v4: https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/

Changelog v4:
 - Include a header to solve a mid-series build fail (patchwork ci)
 - Drop preempt_v_started test in may_use_simd (Sashiko)
 - Link to v3: https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/

Changelog v3:
 - Limit the export scope for {get,put}_cpu_vector_context()
 - clears RISCV_V_VCPU_NEED_RESTORE flag in host restore to prevent
   leaking
 - consolidates guest vector restore at returning to guest to prevent
   unnecessary save/restore between the preemptible window from
   vcpu_load to vcpu_enter_exit
 - Document flags added to riscv_v_flags
 - Link to v2: https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/

Changelog v2:
 - Address issues pointed out by sashiko (2, 3)
 - Link to v1: https://lore.kernel.org/all/[email protected]/


Andy Chiu (3):
  riscv: vector: refactor riscv_v_start_kernel_context
  riscv: vector: allow non-preemptible kernel-mode vector with IRQs off
  RISC-V: KVM: fix vcpu vector context handling for kernel-mode vector

 arch/riscv/include/asm/kvm_vcpu_vector.h | 24 +++++++
 arch/riscv/include/asm/processor.h       |  8 +++
 arch/riscv/include/asm/simd.h            | 16 +----
 arch/riscv/include/asm/vector.h          |  5 ++
 arch/riscv/kernel/kernel_mode_vector.c   | 88 +++++++++++++++++-------
 arch/riscv/kvm/main.c                    |  4 ++
 arch/riscv/kvm/vcpu.c                    | 12 ++++
 arch/riscv/kvm/vcpu_vector.c             | 22 +++++-
 8 files changed, 139 insertions(+), 40 deletions(-)

-- 
2.43.0


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