Documentation/x86/elf_auxvec.rst

.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0

==================================
x86-specific ELF Auxiliary Vectors
==================================

This document describes the semantics of the x86 auxiliary vectors.

Introduction
============

ELF Auxiliary vectors enable the kernel to efficiently provide
configuration-specific parameters to userspace. In this example, a program
allocates an alternate stack based on the kernel-provided size::

   #include <sys/auxv.h>
   #include <elf.h>
   #include <signal.h>
   #include <stdlib.h>
   #include <assert.h>
   #include <err.h>

   #ifndef AT_MINSIGSTKSZ
   #define AT_MINSIGSTKSZ	51
   #endif

   ....
   stack_t ss;

   ss.ss_sp = malloc(ss.ss_size);
   assert(ss.ss_sp);

   ss.ss_size = getauxval(AT_MINSIGSTKSZ) + SIGSTKSZ;
   ss.ss_flags = 0;

   if (sigaltstack(&ss, NULL))
        err(1, "sigaltstack");


The exposed auxiliary vectors
=============================

AT_SYSINFO is used for locating the vsyscall entry point.  It is not
exported on 64-bit mode.

AT_SYSINFO_EHDR is the start address of the page containing the vDSO.

AT_MINSIGSTKSZ denotes the minimum stack size required by the kernel to
deliver a signal to user-space.  AT_MINSIGSTKSZ comprehends the space
consumed by the kernel to accommodate the user context for the current
hardware configuration.  It does not comprehend subsequent user-space stack
consumption, which must be added by the user.  (e.g. Above, user-space adds
SIGSTKSZ to AT_MINSIGSTKSZ.)