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* [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets
@ 2024-03-26  5:42 David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 1/4] tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK David Gibson
                   ` (4 more replies)
  0 siblings, 5 replies; 6+ messages in thread
From: David Gibson @ 2024-03-26  5:42 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: passt-dev, Stefano Brivio; +Cc: maxi.rostock, pholzing, David Gibson

A recently reported podman bug shows transfer failures in podman
custom rootless networks connected with pasta.  Analysis suggests this
is triggered by pasta generating a TCP packet without the ACK flag
when it should have one.

The exact symptoms seem to arise because of some odd kernel behaviour
- rather than simply ignoring the packet, an RST is observed killing
the connection.  However, there are also packets seen after the RST
which don't seem to make sense.

While there are some mysteries which we still hope to track down here,
in the meantime it definitely seems like pasta's ACK behaviour isn't
correct, and appears to trigger the other problems.  So, fix it.

Link: https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/22146
Link: https://bugs.passt.top/show_bug.cgi?id=84

David Gibson (4):
  tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK
  tcp: Rearrange logic for setting ACK flag in tcp_send_flag()
  tcp: Never automatically add the ACK flag to RST packets
  tcp: Unconditionally force ACK for all !SYN, !RST packets

 tcp.c | 13 ++++---------
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

-- 
2.44.0


^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 6+ messages in thread

* [PATCH 1/4] tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK
  2024-03-26  5:42 [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets David Gibson
@ 2024-03-26  5:42 ` David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 2/4] tcp: Rearrange logic for setting ACK flag in tcp_send_flag() David Gibson
                   ` (3 subsequent siblings)
  4 siblings, 0 replies; 6+ messages in thread
From: David Gibson @ 2024-03-26  5:42 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: passt-dev, Stefano Brivio; +Cc: maxi.rostock, pholzing, David Gibson

The DUP_ACK flag to tcp_send_flag() has two effects: first it forces the
setting of the ACK flag in the packet, even if we otherwise wouldn't.
Secondly, it causes a duplicate of the flags packet to be sent immediately
after the first.

Setting the ACK flag to tcp_send_flag() also has the first effect, so
instead of having DUP_ACK also do that, pass both flags when we need both
operations.  This slightly simplifies the logic of tcp_send_flag() in a way
that makes some future changes easier.

Signed-off-by: David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au>
---
 tcp.c | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/tcp.c b/tcp.c
index a1860d10..edd3d899 100644
--- a/tcp.c
+++ b/tcp.c
@@ -1677,7 +1677,7 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 
 		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK);
 	} else {
-		th->ack = !!(flags & (ACK | DUP_ACK)) ||
+		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK)) ||
 			  conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
 			  !prev_wnd_to_tap;
 	}
@@ -2503,7 +2503,7 @@ out:
 		 */
 		if (conn->seq_dup_ack_approx != (conn->seq_from_tap & 0xff)) {
 			conn->seq_dup_ack_approx = conn->seq_from_tap & 0xff;
-			tcp_send_flag(c, conn, DUP_ACK);
+			tcp_send_flag(c, conn, ACK | DUP_ACK);
 		}
 		return p->count - idx;
 	}
-- 
@@ -1677,7 +1677,7 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 
 		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK);
 	} else {
-		th->ack = !!(flags & (ACK | DUP_ACK)) ||
+		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK)) ||
 			  conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
 			  !prev_wnd_to_tap;
 	}
@@ -2503,7 +2503,7 @@ out:
 		 */
 		if (conn->seq_dup_ack_approx != (conn->seq_from_tap & 0xff)) {
 			conn->seq_dup_ack_approx = conn->seq_from_tap & 0xff;
-			tcp_send_flag(c, conn, DUP_ACK);
+			tcp_send_flag(c, conn, ACK | DUP_ACK);
 		}
 		return p->count - idx;
 	}
-- 
2.44.0


^ permalink raw reply related	[flat|nested] 6+ messages in thread

* [PATCH 2/4] tcp: Rearrange logic for setting ACK flag in tcp_send_flag()
  2024-03-26  5:42 [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 1/4] tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK David Gibson
@ 2024-03-26  5:42 ` David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 3/4] tcp: Never automatically add the ACK flag to RST packets David Gibson
                   ` (2 subsequent siblings)
  4 siblings, 0 replies; 6+ messages in thread
From: David Gibson @ 2024-03-26  5:42 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: passt-dev, Stefano Brivio; +Cc: maxi.rostock, pholzing, David Gibson

We have different paths for controlling the ACK flag for the SYN and !SYN
paths.  This amounts to sometimes forcing on the ACK flag in the !SYN path
regardless of options.  We can rearrange things to explicitly be that which
will make things neater for some future changes.

Signed-off-by: David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au>
---
 tcp.c | 9 ++++-----
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/tcp.c b/tcp.c
index edd3d899..47954d11 100644
--- a/tcp.c
+++ b/tcp.c
@@ -1674,16 +1674,15 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 		*data++ = OPT_WS;
 		*data++ = OPT_WS_LEN;
 		*data++ = conn->ws_to_tap;
-
-		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK);
 	} else {
-		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK)) ||
-			  conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
-			  !prev_wnd_to_tap;
+		if (conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
+		    !prev_wnd_to_tap)
+			flags |= ACK;
 	}
 
 	th->doff = (sizeof(*th) + optlen) / 4;
 
+	th->ack = !!(flags & ACK);
 	th->rst = !!(flags & RST);
 	th->syn = !!(flags & SYN);
 	th->fin = !!(flags & FIN);
-- 
@@ -1674,16 +1674,15 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 		*data++ = OPT_WS;
 		*data++ = OPT_WS_LEN;
 		*data++ = conn->ws_to_tap;
-
-		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK);
 	} else {
-		th->ack = !!(flags & ACK)) ||
-			  conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
-			  !prev_wnd_to_tap;
+		if (conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
+		    !prev_wnd_to_tap)
+			flags |= ACK;
 	}
 
 	th->doff = (sizeof(*th) + optlen) / 4;
 
+	th->ack = !!(flags & ACK);
 	th->rst = !!(flags & RST);
 	th->syn = !!(flags & SYN);
 	th->fin = !!(flags & FIN);
-- 
2.44.0


^ permalink raw reply related	[flat|nested] 6+ messages in thread

* [PATCH 3/4] tcp: Never automatically add the ACK flag to RST packets
  2024-03-26  5:42 [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 1/4] tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 2/4] tcp: Rearrange logic for setting ACK flag in tcp_send_flag() David Gibson
@ 2024-03-26  5:42 ` David Gibson
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 4/4] tcp: Unconditionally force ACK for all !SYN, !RST packets David Gibson
  2024-03-26  8:54 ` [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets Stefano Brivio
  4 siblings, 0 replies; 6+ messages in thread
From: David Gibson @ 2024-03-26  5:42 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: passt-dev, Stefano Brivio; +Cc: maxi.rostock, pholzing, David Gibson

tcp_send_flag() will sometimes force on the ACK flag for all !SYN packets.
This doesn't make sense for RST packets, where plain RST and RST+ACK have
somewhat different meanings.  AIUI, RST+ACK indicates an abrupt end to
a connection, but acknowledges data already sent.  Plain RST indicates an
abort, when one end receives a packet that doesn't seem to make sense in
the context of what it knows about the connection.  All of the cases where
we send RSTs are the second, so we don't want an ACK flag, but we currently
could add one anyway.

Change that, so we won't add an ACK to an RST unless the caller explicitly
requests it.

Signed-off-by: David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au>
---
 tcp.c | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/tcp.c b/tcp.c
index 47954d11..b65ddeb5 100644
--- a/tcp.c
+++ b/tcp.c
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 		*data++ = OPT_WS;
 		*data++ = OPT_WS_LEN;
 		*data++ = conn->ws_to_tap;
-	} else {
+	} else if (!(flags & RST)) {
 		if (conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
 		    !prev_wnd_to_tap)
 			flags |= ACK;
-- 
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 		*data++ = OPT_WS;
 		*data++ = OPT_WS_LEN;
 		*data++ = conn->ws_to_tap;
-	} else {
+	} else if (!(flags & RST)) {
 		if (conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
 		    !prev_wnd_to_tap)
 			flags |= ACK;
-- 
2.44.0


^ permalink raw reply related	[flat|nested] 6+ messages in thread

* [PATCH 4/4] tcp: Unconditionally force ACK for all !SYN, !RST packets
  2024-03-26  5:42 [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets David Gibson
                   ` (2 preceding siblings ...)
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 3/4] tcp: Never automatically add the ACK flag to RST packets David Gibson
@ 2024-03-26  5:42 ` David Gibson
  2024-03-26  8:54 ` [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets Stefano Brivio
  4 siblings, 0 replies; 6+ messages in thread
From: David Gibson @ 2024-03-26  5:42 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: passt-dev, Stefano Brivio; +Cc: maxi.rostock, pholzing, David Gibson

Currently we set ACK on flags packets only when the acknowledged byte
pointer has advanced, or we hadn't previously set a window.  This means
in particular that we can send a window update with no ACK flag, which
doesn't appear to be correct.  RFC 9293 requires a receiver to ignore such
a packet [0], and indeed it appears that every non-SYN, non-RST packet
should have the ACK flag.

The reason for the existing logic, rather than always forcing an ACK seems
to be to avoid having the packet mistaken as a duplicate ACK which might
trigger a fast retransmit.  However, earlier tests in the function mean we
won't reach here if we don't have either an advance in the ack pointer -
which will already set the ACK flag, or a window update - which shouldn't
trigger a fast retransmit.

[0] https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc9293.html#section-3.10.7.4-2.5.2.1

Link: https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/22146
Link: https://bugs.passt.top/show_bug.cgi?id=84

Signed-off-by: David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au>
---
 tcp.c | 6 +-----
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/tcp.c b/tcp.c
index b65ddeb5..28562b7f 100644
--- a/tcp.c
+++ b/tcp.c
@@ -1593,8 +1593,6 @@ static void tcp_update_seqack_from_tap(const struct ctx *c,
  */
 static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 {
-	uint32_t prev_ack_to_tap = conn->seq_ack_to_tap;
-	uint32_t prev_wnd_to_tap = conn->wnd_to_tap;
 	struct tcp4_l2_flags_buf_t *b4 = NULL;
 	struct tcp6_l2_flags_buf_t *b6 = NULL;
 	struct tcp_info tinfo = { 0 };
@@ -1675,9 +1673,7 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 		*data++ = OPT_WS_LEN;
 		*data++ = conn->ws_to_tap;
 	} else if (!(flags & RST)) {
-		if (conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
-		    !prev_wnd_to_tap)
-			flags |= ACK;
+		flags |= ACK;
 	}
 
 	th->doff = (sizeof(*th) + optlen) / 4;
-- 
@@ -1593,8 +1593,6 @@ static void tcp_update_seqack_from_tap(const struct ctx *c,
  */
 static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 {
-	uint32_t prev_ack_to_tap = conn->seq_ack_to_tap;
-	uint32_t prev_wnd_to_tap = conn->wnd_to_tap;
 	struct tcp4_l2_flags_buf_t *b4 = NULL;
 	struct tcp6_l2_flags_buf_t *b6 = NULL;
 	struct tcp_info tinfo = { 0 };
@@ -1675,9 +1673,7 @@ static int tcp_send_flag(struct ctx *c, struct tcp_tap_conn *conn, int flags)
 		*data++ = OPT_WS_LEN;
 		*data++ = conn->ws_to_tap;
 	} else if (!(flags & RST)) {
-		if (conn->seq_ack_to_tap != prev_ack_to_tap ||
-		    !prev_wnd_to_tap)
-			flags |= ACK;
+		flags |= ACK;
 	}
 
 	th->doff = (sizeof(*th) + optlen) / 4;
-- 
2.44.0


^ permalink raw reply related	[flat|nested] 6+ messages in thread

* Re: [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets
  2024-03-26  5:42 [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets David Gibson
                   ` (3 preceding siblings ...)
  2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 4/4] tcp: Unconditionally force ACK for all !SYN, !RST packets David Gibson
@ 2024-03-26  8:54 ` Stefano Brivio
  4 siblings, 0 replies; 6+ messages in thread
From: Stefano Brivio @ 2024-03-26  8:54 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: David Gibson; +Cc: passt-dev, maxi.rostock, pholzing

On Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:42:20 +1100
David Gibson <david@gibson.dropbear.id.au> wrote:

> A recently reported podman bug shows transfer failures in podman
> custom rootless networks connected with pasta.  Analysis suggests this
> is triggered by pasta generating a TCP packet without the ACK flag
> when it should have one.
> 
> The exact symptoms seem to arise because of some odd kernel behaviour
> - rather than simply ignoring the packet, an RST is observed killing
> the connection.  However, there are also packets seen after the RST
> which don't seem to make sense.
> 
> While there are some mysteries which we still hope to track down here,
> in the meantime it definitely seems like pasta's ACK behaviour isn't
> correct, and appears to trigger the other problems.  So, fix it.
> 
> Link: https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/22146
> Link: https://bugs.passt.top/show_bug.cgi?id=84
> 
> David Gibson (4):
>   tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK
>   tcp: Rearrange logic for setting ACK flag in tcp_send_flag()
>   tcp: Never automatically add the ACK flag to RST packets
>   tcp: Unconditionally force ACK for all !SYN, !RST packets

Applied.

-- 
Stefano


^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 6+ messages in thread

end of thread, other threads:[~2024-03-26  8:55 UTC | newest]

Thread overview: 6+ messages (download: mbox.gz / follow: Atom feed)
-- links below jump to the message on this page --
2024-03-26  5:42 [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets David Gibson
2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 1/4] tcp: Split handling of DUP_ACK from ACK David Gibson
2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 2/4] tcp: Rearrange logic for setting ACK flag in tcp_send_flag() David Gibson
2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 3/4] tcp: Never automatically add the ACK flag to RST packets David Gibson
2024-03-26  5:42 ` [PATCH 4/4] tcp: Unconditionally force ACK for all !SYN, !RST packets David Gibson
2024-03-26  8:54 ` [PATCH 0/4] Corrections to seeting of ACK flag in TCP packets Stefano Brivio

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