libbpf analyzes bpf C program, searches in-kernel BTF for given type name
and stores it into expected_attach_type.
The kernel verifier expects this btf_id to point to something like:
typedef void (*btf_trace_kfree_skb)(void *, struct sk_buff *skb, void *loc);
which represents signature of raw_tracepoint "kfree_skb".

Then btf_ctx_access() matches ctx+0 access in bpf program with 'skb'
and 'ctx+8' access with 'loc' arguments of "kfree_skb" tracepoint.
In first case it passes btf_id of 'struct sk_buff *' back to the verifier core
and 'void *' in second case.

Then the verifier tracks PTR_TO_BTF_ID as any other pointer type.
Like PTR_TO_SOCKET points to 'struct bpf_sock',
PTR_TO_TCP_SOCK points to 'struct bpf_tcp_sock', and so on.
PTR_TO_BTF_ID points to in-kernel structs.
If 1234 is btf_id of 'struct sk_buff' in vmlinux's BTF
then PTR_TO_BTF_ID#1234 points to one of in kernel skbs.

When PTR_TO_BTF_ID#1234 is dereferenced (like r2 = *(u64 *)r1 + 32)
the btf_struct_access() checks which field of 'struct sk_buff' is
at offset 32. Checks that size of access matches type definition
of the field and continues to track the dereferenced type.
If that field was a pointer to 'struct net_device' the r2's type
will be PTR_TO_BTF_ID#456. Where 456 is btf_id of 'struct net_device'
in vmlinux's BTF.

Such verifier analysis prevents "cheating" in BPF C program.
The program cannot cast arbitrary pointer to 'struct sk_buff *'
and access it. C compiler would allow type cast, of course,
but the verifier will notice type mismatch based on BPF assembly
and in-kernel BTF.
Signed-off-by: Alexei Starovoitov <ast@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Daniel Borkmann <daniel@iogearbox.net>
Acked-by: Andrii Nakryiko <andriin@fb.com>
Acked-by: Martin KaFai Lau <kafai@fb.com>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/20191016032505.2089704-7-ast@kernel.org