Error using struct defined in linux kernel - c

I have a structure defined in /usr/src/linux-3.2/include/linux/unistd.h of the linux kernel:
#ifndef _LINUX_UNISTD_H_
#define _LINUX_UNISTD_H_
struct threadinfo_struct {
int pid;
int nthreads;
int *tid;
};
/*
* Include machine specific syscall numbers
*/
#include <asm/unistd.h>
#endif /* _LINUX_UNISTD_H_ */
After compiling and installing the kernel, then booting from it, I try to compile and run this program:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <linux/unistd.h>
int main(void) {
struct threadinfo_struct *ti = (struct threadinfo_struct*) malloc(sizeof(struct threadinfo_struct));
// ...
return 0;
}
However, when I try and do this, I get an error in compilation of the program:
test.c: In function 'main':
test.c:4:78: error: invalid application of 'sizeof' to incomplete type 'struct threadinfo_struct'
Why am I getting this error, and how can I resolve it? This is difficult for me to find much information, given that I am very new to the linux kernel.

The file /usr/src/linux-3.2/include/linux/unistd.h is not on a standard include path.
The user-space applications have their own build environment. You are including the file that is located at /usr/include/linux/unistd.h. Most of the internal kernel structures are not defined for user-space applications.
If you really need this structure to be defined then you need to copy the file from the linux tree to your project directory, or adjust the gcc command by adding the -isystem/usr/src/linux-3.2/include/ option.
However, the latter will create a big mess, so better just copy the file.

Related

malloc a struct in kernel header file error :invalid application of 'sizeof' to incomplete type

I'm new to linux.
I'm practice syscall and I want to copy struct to user.
So I write a syscall which is using copy_to_user().
But When I write and compile test.c to test my syscall appear some error.
in linux/sched.h has defined:
struct pacct_struct {
int ac_flag;
long ac_exitcode;
unsigned long ac_mem;
cputime_t ac_utime, ac_stime;
unsigned long ac_minflt, ac_majflt;
};
and then I write a program that use this struct(test.c)
#include "linux/sched.h"
#include <stdlib.h>
int main(){
struct pacct_struct *ts;
ts = (struct pacct_struct *)malloc(sizeof(struct pacct_struct));
return 0;
}
and gcc show the follow error message:
test.c:6:44: error: invalid application of 'sizeof' to incomplete type 'struct pacct_struct'
I wonder to know if it's fine to use kernel struct by include header file.
If so, do I miss something? How to make pacct_struct become a 'complete type'?
thanks.
addition:
I check preprocessor with gcc -E
I found that seems no "struct pacct_struct" being included.
Next, I going to view sched.h that I included which was created by "make headers_install" after I compile the kernel.
The file only contains some cloning flags such like "#define CSIGNAL 0x000000ff"
So, I tried to include original source file of sched.h in dir "/usr/src/linux-2.6.39.4/include/linux", but it continue showing same error 'incomplete type'.
Then I check preprocessor again.
I still can't find 'struct pacct_struct' even I include original header file
Anything in sched.h after #ifdef __KERNEL__ is disappear, What happened?

C errors: implicit declaration of function and storage size isn't known, despite the function and struct being members of an included header file

I'm trying to make a test program that simply searches for any file in its root folder:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <dir.h>
#include <dos.h>
struct ffblk ffblk;
int main(){
int result = findfirst("*.*", &ffblk,FA_ARCH);
return 0;
}
But when the code compiles, the ffblk struct declaration returns the error:
storage size of ffblk isn't known
and the findfirst() function returns:
warning: implicit declaration of function 'findfirst'[-Wimplicit-function-declaration]
as seen in this image, even though both findfirst and ffblk are members of dir.h, which is already included. I'm using Visual Studio and compiling with GCC. Does someone know what is wrong with the code, or the header files?
You really, really shouldn't be using obsolete APIs from obsolete headers like "dos.h" if you can at all avoid it. Honest!
Nevertheless, if you insist...
As dbush pointed out, the actual (obsolete!) API is _findfirst (not findfirst).
It is documented here
You'll see that the argument for this (again - OBSOLETE) API is struct _finddata_t *fileinfo (not struct ffblk).
Change your code, and everything should compile and run.
Better, change your headers (to "io.h" and "dir.h") - and the original code should probably compile and run.

Build against newer linux headers than libc is built using

I want to write a program using the new SCHED_DEADLINE scheduling policy available since Linux 3.14.
I start out with a simple program trying to use the sched_setattr function.
#include <sched.h>
int main(void)
{
// struct sched_attr attr;
// attr.size = sizeof(struct sched_attr);
// attr.sched_policy = SCHED_DEADLINE;
sched_setattr(0, (void*)0, 0);
return 0;
}
However when compiling I get the following error:
$gcc dead.c
dead.c: In function ‘main’:
dead.c:8:2: warning: implicit declaration of function ‘sched_setattr’ [-Wimplicit-function-declaration]
sched_setattr(0, (void*)0, 0);
^~~~~~~~~~~~~
/tmp/ccGxWxZE.o: In function `main':
dead.c:(.text+0x19): undefined reference to `sched_setattr'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
My system is running Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety, with kernel 4.8.0-59-generic. The sched.h file included is found in /usr/include/sched.h and is provided by the package libc6-dev. This headerfile does not contain the function sched_setattr and friends that I am trying to use.
However the kernel (and kernel headers) I have installed comes with a sched.h header file containing the definitions I need. It is located at /usr/src/linux-headers-4.8.0-58/include/linux/sched.h, on my system.
So I naively think lets just build against the newer linux headers instead of the libc6-dev provided headers. My program will only run on this or newer kernels, but that is just fine.
I modify the first line to be: #include <linux/sched.h> and execute:
gcc -I/usr/src/linux-headers-$(uname -r)/include -I/usr/src/linux-headers-$(unam -r)/arch/x86/include dead.c
Now I am getting page after page of errors and warning. This does not seem the way to go.
What is the correct way to build a userspace program against a newer Linux headers than those that are provided by libc?
And subsequently how do I build the program above?
sched_setattr() is a syscall and doesn't seem to have one-to-one libc wrapper. You could do the wrapper yourself, something like this:
#define _GNU_SOURCE
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <linux/sched.h>
#include <sys/syscall.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
struct sched_attr {
uint32_t size; /* Size of this structure */
uint32_t sched_policy; /* Policy (SCHED_*) */
uint64_t sched_flags; /* Flags */
int32_t sched_nice; /* Nice value (SCHED_OTHER, SCHED_BATCH) */
uint32_t sched_priority; /* Static priority (SCHED_FIFO, SCHED_RR) */
/* Remaining fields are for SCHED_DEADLINE */
uint64_t sched_runtime;
uint64_t sched_deadline;
uint64_t sched_period;
};
static int sched_setattr (pid_t pid, const struct sched_attr *attr, unsigned int flags)
{
return syscall (SYS_sched_setattr, pid, attr, flags);
}
int main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
struct sched_attr attr;
int res;
memset (&attr, 0, sizeof (struct sched_attr));
attr.size = sizeof (struct sched_attr);
res = sched_setattr (getpid (), &attr, 0);
if (res < 0) {
perror ("sched_setattr");
return 1;
}
return 0;
}
Looking at the errors reported when trying to include kernel header files required to get the definition of struct sched_attr and reading the comments found by Googling "kernel headers in user space", I really can't suggest trying to include kernel header files just for this.

Header and Source file problems in Code::Blocks

I am programming a game in C using Code::Blocks. I am using the most recent version of C and of Code::Blocks. I am still learning the language.
All of my past programs have been contained in one huge source file, so I decided to branch out and try putting my code in multiple files. I know that the proper way to do it is to have source files containing code definitions and such and a header file containing prototypes for other source files to use. This has worked out horribly for me and I either can't get the files to work together properly or it simply doesn't work period.
I have a single function in a source file called process.c and a function prototype in a file called process.h. I also have a main.h and a main.c containing all the rest of the code. The main issue is that I have a typedef struct Game in my main.h file and I can't get the 'Game' struct type I created to work in my process.c. Every function in my game needs the Game type in order to work. However, when I give process.c access to main.h (the file that Game is declared in) I get issues.
My code works fine when it's in one file. My header files are protected from duplication and are properly included in the program. The problem is, I need to include main.h in both main.c and process.c. And I have to include process.h in both 'main.c' and 'process.c'. I have tried every configuration and nothing works.
In some #include configurations I get no errors, but I get this weird message that says "It seems your project has not been built yet; would you like to build it now?" and when I click "Yes" nothing happens.
My compiler works fine and there is nothing wrong with the projects settings. What the heck is going on here? How do I get main.h and process.h to work together?
EDIT: Source code:
main.c:
#include <stdio.h>
#include "main.h"
#include "process.h"
void initGame(Game *thisGame)
{
variable = 10;
number = 5;
letter = 'c';
}
int main()
{
Game thisGame;
initGame(&thisGame);
displayData(&thisGame);
return 0;
}
main.h:
#ifndef _MAIN_H_
#define _MAIN_H_
typedef struct
{
int variable, number;
char letter;
}
#endif
process.c:
#include <stdio.h> //not sure if this should be here or not, it doesn't seem to effect my code
#include "main.h"
#include "process.h"
void displayData(Game *thisGame)
{
printf("%i, %i, %c", thisGame.variable, thisGame.number, thisGame.letter);
}
process.h:
#ifndef _MAIN_H_
#define _MAIN_H_
void displayData(Game *thisGame);
#endif
Error message
-------------- Build: Debug in FishKiller (compiler: GNU GCC Compiler)---------------
mingw32-g++.exe -L..\deps\lib -L..\SDLFILES\lib -o bin\Debug\FishKiller.exe obj\Debug\main.o obj\Debug\process.o -lmingw32 -lSDL2main -lSDL2 -lSDL2_image
obj\Debug\process.o:process.c:(.rdata+0x0): multiple definition of `SCREEN_WIDTH'
obj\Debug\main.o:main.c:(.rdata+0x0): first defined here
obj\Debug\process.o:process.c:(.rdata+0x4): multiple definition of `SCREEN_HEIGHT'
obj\Debug\main.o:main.c:(.rdata+0x4): first defined here
obj\Debug\process.o:process.c:(.rdata+0x8): multiple definition of `GAMESTATE_MENU'
obj\Debug\main.o:main.c:(.rdata+0x8): first defined here
obj\Debug\process.o:process.c:(.rdata+0xc): multiple definition of `GAMESTATE_GAME'
obj\Debug\main.o:main.c:(.rdata+0xc): first defined here
obj\Debug\process.o:process.c:(.rdata+0x10): multiple definition of `GAMESTATE_GAMEOVER'
obj\Debug\main.o:main.c:(.rdata+0x10): first defined here
collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status
Process terminated with status 1 (0 minute(s), 0 second(s))
0 error(s), 0 warning(s) (0 minute(s), 0 second(s))
Issues are address file by file below. Once these issues are corrected in your source, the executable will build.
1)
In process.h you have the wrong header blocks:
#ifndef _MAIN_H_
#define _MAIN_H_
//Change to:
#ifndef _PROCESS_H_
#define _PROCESS_H_
Also change:
void displayData(Game *thisGame);(see notes in main.h for explanation)
To:
void displayData(GAME *thisGame);
2) In process.c you have;
#include "main.h"
It does not hurt anything, but since we are analyzing everything, it is not needed to support current architecture.
You also have:
printf("%i, %i, %c", thisGame.variable, thisGame.number, thisGame.letter);
Because the thisGame is passed in as a pointer, you need to use struct pointer operator: ->
printf("%i, %i, %c", thisGame->variable, thisGame->number, thisGame->letter);
Also, the function protocol in the same file is incorrect. You are attempting to instantiate a variable type that does not exist: (see notes for main.h)
Change:
void displayData(Game *thisGame){...}
To:
void displayData(GAME *thisGame){...}//uses typedef struct GAME
3) in main.h you have a malformed struct:
typedef struct
{
int variable, number;
char letter;
}//no ";" statement terminator to indicate to your compiler _end of struct_
And with this definition, there is no struct name with which to reference or instantiate it in any other file. Change it to the following:
typedef struct
{
int variable;
int number;//style point , put each member on its own line
char letter;
}GAME;//note struct type name and terminator ";"
With the struct type name, in this case GAME, you can create instances of this struct in any file that #includes this file.
extern GAME Game;// using the extern modifier, create an instance of GAME
// that can be referenced in any file of the
//project, once initialized. (See the line GAME Game; in main.c)
4) in main.c you have variables in the function initGame that need to be referenced differently. Change this:
void initGame(Game *thisGame)
{
variable = 10;
number = 5;
letter = 'c';
}
To:
void initGame(GAME *thisGame)
{
thisGame->variable = 10;
thisGame->number = 5;
thisGame->letter = 'c';
}
There is Code::Blocks information here that may help you to set up your environment to get the error messages that will help you to debug your code.

stat.h file access file descriptors open() Hacking The Art of Exploitation

I am working out of the 2nd edition of Jon Erickson's "Hacking: The Art of Exploitation" using a VM (virutalbox) to run the LiveCD it came with (Ubuntu 7.04). In section 0x281 "File Access", the author explains accessing files through file descriptors, as well as the open() close() read() and write() functions, using an example on pages 82-84.
The code for the simplenote.c is as follows:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
void usage(char *prog_name,char *filename){
printf("Usage: %s < data to add to %s>\n",prog_name,filename);
exit(0);
}
void fatal(char *);
void *ec_malloc(unsigned int );
int main(int argc,char *argv[]){
int fd; //file descriptor
char *buffer,*datafile;
buffer = (char *)ec_malloc(100);
datafile = (char *)ec_malloc(20);
strcpy(datafile,"/tmp/notes");
if(argc < 2)
usage(argv[0],datafile);
strcpy(buffer,argv[1]);
printf("[DEBUG] buffer # %p:\'%s'\n",buffer,buffer);
printf("[DEBUG] datafile # %p:\'%s'\n",datafile,datafile);
strncat(buffer,"\n",1);//Add a newline on the end.
fd = open(datafile,O_WRONLY|O_CREAT|O_APPEND,S_IRUSR|S_IWUSR);
if(fd == -1)
fatal("in main() while opening file");
printf("[DEBUG] file descriptor is %d\n",fd);
//Writing data
if(write(fd,buffer,strlen(buffer)) == -1)
fatal("in main() while writing buffer to file");
//Closing file
if(close(fd) == -1)
fatal("in main() while closing file");
printf("Note has been saved.\n");
free(buffer);
free(datafile);
}
//A function to display an error message and then exit
void fatal(char *message){
char error_message[100];
strcpy(error_message,"[!!]Fatal Error");
strncat(error_message,message,83);
perror(error_message);
exit(-1);
}
//An error-checked malloc() wrapper function
void *ec_malloc(unsigned int size){
void *ptr;
ptr = malloc(size);
if(ptr == NULL)
fatal("in ec_malloc() on memory allocation");
return ptr;
}
However, when I type the following instructions stated in the book into my terminal window, it returns the following error message:
reader#hacking:~/booksrc $ gcc -o simplenote simplenote.c
In file included from /usr/include/sys/stat.h:105, from simplenote.c:6:
/usr/include/bits/stat.h:70: error: field 'st_atim' has incomplete type
/usr/include/bits/stat.h:71: error: field 'st_mtim' has incomplete type
/usr/include/bits/stat.h:72: error: field 'st_ctim' has incomplete type
simplenote.c: In function 'main':
simplenote.c:35: error: 'O-WRONLY' undeclared (first use in this function)
simplenote.c:35: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
simplenote.c:35: error: for each function it appears in.)
simplenote.c:35: error: 'O_CREAT' undeclared (first use in this function)
simplenote.c:35: error: 'O_APPEND' undeclared (first use in this function)
Here is sys/stat.h line 105:
#include <bits/stat.h>
And here is bits/stat.h lines 63-83:
#ifdef __USE_MISC
/* Nanosecond resolution timestamps are stored in a format
equivalent to 'struct timespec'. This is the type used
whenever possible but the Unix namespace rules do not allow the
identifier 'timespec' to appear in the <sys/stat.h> header.
Therefore we have to handle the use of this header in strictly
standard-compliant sources special. */
struct timespec st_atim; /* Time of last access. */
struct timespec st_mtim; /* Time of last modification. */
struct timespec st_ctim; /* Time of last status change. */
# define st_atime st_atim.tv_sec /* Backward compatibility */
# define st_mtime st_mtim.tv_sec
# define st_ctime st_ctim.tv_sec
#else
__time_t st_atime; /* Time of last access. */
unsigned long int st_atimensec; /* Nscecs of last access. */
__time_t st_mtime; /* Time of last modification. */
unsigned long int st_mtimensec; /* Nsecs of last modification. */
__time_t st_ctime; /* Time of last status change. */
unsigned long int st_ctimensec; /* Nsecs of last status change. */
#endif
I suppose this might be of some use for the first set of issues:
C++ system file bits/stat.h suddenly breaks with "error: field ‘st_atim’ has incomplete type"
/usr/include/time.h
cat time.h
doesn't do anything in my terminal window.
And here is the simplenote.c main function lines 1-6, 34-35:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
// Opening the file
fd = open(datafile, O_WRONLY|O_CREAT|O_APPEND, S_IRUSR|S_IWUSR);
I'm guessing the open function problems stem from fcntl.h ?
I seem to keep running into issues because of faulty code the author provided. I don't want to constantly depend on the stackoverflow community for help, so what suggestions do you have for a novice about examining and fixing these problems in the future?
Thanks.
Transferring a selection of comments into a semi-coherent answer.
You should probably explicitly enable POSIX definitions. Add -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=700 to the command line, or #define _XOPEN_SOURCE 700 before the first #include and see if that solves anything. You should not be running into the problem though; the header should be self-contained.
Oh, but Ubuntu 7.04 is archaic…you may need to use 600 instead of 700. When was it released (when was the book published)? If it was 2009 or before, you probably need the older version (600). It's still surprising that you're seeing the error. The command line you specify doesn't contain the options that normally cause trouble (-ansi -pedantic, for example, or -std=c99 -pedantic). You could try using -std=gnu99 too; it might work better.
You had a similar problem recently (gcc -o stdlib.h syntax error c Hacking the Art of Exploitation). Did you get that resolved? It sounds as if the compilation system on the Live CD is not self-coherent, or the way you're able to use it means that it is not behaving self-coherently. Are you sure the compilation system works? It appears to be semi-defunct. Is it using the wrong headers, somehow?
I was able to resolve the previous problem by inserting #include <stdint.h> before #include <stdlib.h>
I will try the -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=600 and get back to you. Something must be wrong with the compilation system.
Well, you might need to include <time.h> (or possibly <sys/time.h>) before <sys/stat.h>, but the <sys/stat.h> header is broken if that works. And the <stdlib.h> header is broken if you have to include <stdint.h> before including it. I suppose Ubuntu 7.04 could be so old that you're supposed to #include <sys/types.h> before many of these headers, but that's still not an excuse for <stdlib.h>; that should be self-contained. POSIX 1997 required #include <sys/types.h> before <sys/stat.h>; POSIX 2004 did not. And I don't think Ubuntu 7.04 is quite that old.
Note, though, that the st_atim member is new; it was added to POSIX 2008 (and hence is in POSIX 2013). It was just st_atime before (and st_atime is now a macro for st_atim.tv_sec).
Including the -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=600 dealt with the bits stat issue. Ubuntu 7.04 was released in 2007 and the 2nd edition of the book that I am using came out in 2008. Also, not sure if this is of use, but in another previous example that included both <stdio.h> and <string.h> (as opposed to only <stdio.h>), the code would run fine without any intervention.
Interesting…it is going to make life interesting for you, in a way that life should not need to be interesting. (Chinese curses like "May you live in interesting times" spring to mind.) Use the -DXOPEN_SOURCE=600 option in all your compilations and keep your fingers crossed; that may well resolve most of your problems. Consider using -std=gnu99 as well, or instead. With luck, either or both of those should get you around most problems.
In case someone else is having the same issue with this book, I downloaded the iso file from hacking-live-1.0.iso.
Created a bootable usb and all works just fine without corrupted headers or anything.

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