NAME¶

LIBRARY¶

SYNOPSIS¶

int
ptrace(int request, pid_t pid, caddr_t addr, int data);

DESCRIPTION¶

Most of the time, the traced process runs normally, but when it receives a signal (see sigaction(2)), it stops. The tracing process is expected to notice this via wait(2) or the delivery of a SIGCHLD signal, examine the state of the stopped process, and cause it to terminate or continue as appropriate. The signal may be a normal process signal, generated as a result of traced process behavior, or use of the kill(2) system call; alternatively, it may be generated by the tracing facility as a result of attaching, system calls, or stepping by the tracing process. The tracing process may choose to intercept the signal, using it to observe process behavior (such as SIGTRAP), or forward the signal to the process if appropriate. The ptrace() system call is the mechanism by which all this happens.

The request argument specifies what operation is being performed; the meaning of the rest of the arguments depends on the operation, but except for one special case noted below, all ptrace() calls are made by the tracing process, and the pid argument specifies the process ID of the traced process or a corresponding thread ID. The request argument can be:

PT_TRACE_ME

This request is the only one used by the traced process; it declares that the process expects to be traced by its parent. All the other arguments are ignored. (If the parent process does not expect to trace the child, it will probably be rather confused by the results; once the traced process stops, it cannot be made to continue except via ptrace().) When a process has used this request and calls execve(2) or any of the routines built on it (such as execv(3)), it will stop before executing the first instruction of the new image. Also, any setuid or setgid bits on the executable being executed will be ignored. If the child was created by vfork(2) system call or rfork(2) call with the RFMEM flag specified, the debugging events are reported to the parent only after the execve(2) is executed.

PT_READ_I, PT_READ_D

These requests read a single int of data from the traced process's address space. Traditionally, ptrace() has allowed for machines with distinct address spaces for instruction and data, which is why there are two requests: conceptually, PT_READ_I reads from the instruction space and PT_READ_D reads from the data space. In the current FreeBSD implementation, these two requests are completely identical. The addr argument specifies the address (in the traced process's virtual address space) at which the read is to be done. This address does not have to meet any alignment constraints. The value read is returned as the return value from ptrace().

PT_WRITE_I, PT_WRITE_D

These requests parallel PT_READ_I and PT_READ_D, except that they write rather than read. The data argument supplies the value to be written.

PT_IO

This request allows reading and writing arbitrary amounts of data in the traced process's address space. The addr argument specifies a pointer to a struct ptrace_io_desc, which is defined as follows:

struct ptrace_io_desc {
	int	piod_op;	/* I/O operation */
	void	*piod_offs;	/* child offset */
	void	*piod_addr;	/* parent offset */
	size_t	piod_len;	/* request length */
};

/*
 * Operations in piod_op.
 */
#define PIOD_READ_D	1	/* Read from D space */
#define PIOD_WRITE_D	2	/* Write to D space */
#define PIOD_READ_I	3	/* Read from I space */
#define PIOD_WRITE_I	4	/* Write to I space */
    

The data argument is ignored. The actual number of bytes read or written is stored in piod_len upon return.

PT_CONTINUE

The traced process continues execution. The addr argument is an address specifying the place where execution is to be resumed (a new value for the program counter), or (caddr_t)1 to indicate that execution is to pick up where it left off. The data argument provides a signal number to be delivered to the traced process as it resumes execution, or 0 if no signal is to be sent.

PT_STEP

The traced process is single stepped one instruction. The addr argument should be passed (caddr_t)1. The data argument provides a signal number to be delivered to the traced process as it resumes execution, or 0 if no signal is to be sent.

PT_KILL

The traced process terminates, as if PT_CONTINUE had been used with SIGKILL given as the signal to be delivered.

PT_ATTACH

This request allows a process to gain control of an otherwise unrelated process and begin tracing it. It does not need any cooperation from the to-be-traced process. In this case, pid specifies the process ID of the to-be-traced process, and the other two arguments are ignored. This request requires that the target process must have the same real UID as the tracing process, and that it must not be executing a setuid or setgid executable. (If the tracing process is running as root, these restrictions do not apply.) The tracing process will see the newly-traced process stop and may then control it as if it had been traced all along.

PT_DETACH

This request is like PT_CONTINUE, except that it does not allow specifying an alternate place to continue execution, and after it succeeds, the traced process is no longer traced and continues execution normally.

PT_GETREGS

This request reads the traced process's machine registers into the “struct reg” (defined in <machine/reg.h>) pointed to by addr.

PT_SETREGS

This request is the converse of PT_GETREGS; it loads the traced process's machine registers from the “struct reg” (defined in <machine/reg.h>) pointed to by addr.

PT_GETFPREGS

This request reads the traced process's floating-point registers into the “struct fpreg” (defined in <machine/reg.h>) pointed to by addr.

PT_SETFPREGS

This request is the converse of PT_GETFPREGS; it loads the traced process's floating-point registers from the “struct fpreg” (defined in <machine/reg.h>) pointed to by addr.

PT_GETDBREGS

This request reads the traced process's debug registers into the “struct dbreg” (defined in <machine/reg.h>) pointed to by addr.

PT_SETDBREGS

This request is the converse of PT_GETDBREGS; it loads the traced process's debug registers from the “struct dbreg” (defined in <machine/reg.h>) pointed to by addr.

PT_LWPINFO

This request can be used to obtain information about the kernel thread, also known as light-weight process, that caused the traced process to stop. The addr argument specifies a pointer to a struct ptrace_lwpinfo, which is defined as follows:

struct ptrace_lwpinfo {
	lwpid_t pl_lwpid;
	int	pl_event;
	int	pl_flags;
	sigset_t pl_sigmask;
	sigset_t pl_siglist;
	siginfo_t pl_siginfo;
	char	pl_tdname[MAXCOMLEN + 1];
	pid_t	pl_child_pid;
	u_int	pl_syscall_code;
	u_int	pl_syscall_narg;
};
    

The data argument is to be set to the size of the structure known to the caller. This allows the structure to grow without affecting older programs.

The fields in the struct ptrace_lwpinfo have the following meaning:

pl_lwpid

LWP id of the thread

pl_event

Event that caused the stop. Currently defined events are

PL_EVENT_NONE

No reason given

PL_EVENT_SIGNAL

Thread stopped due to the pending signal

pl_flags

Flags that specify additional details about observed stop. Currently defined flags are:

PL_FLAG_SCE

The thread stopped due to system call entry, right after the kernel is entered. The debugger may examine syscall arguments that are stored in memory and registers according to the ABI of the current process, and modify them, if needed.

PL_FLAG_SCX

The thread is stopped immediately before syscall is returning to the usermode. The debugger may examine system call return values in the ABI-defined registers and/or memory.

PL_FLAG_EXEC

When PL_FLAG_SCX is set, this flag may be additionally specified to inform that the program being executed by debuggee process has been changed by successful execution of a system call from the execve(2) family.

PL_FLAG_SI

Indicates that pl_siginfo member of struct ptrace_lwpinfo contains valid information.

PL_FLAG_FORKED

Indicates that the process is returning from a call to fork(2) that created a new child process. The process identifier of the new process is available in the pl_child_pid member of struct ptrace_lwpinfo.

PL_FLAG_CHILD

The flag is set for first event reported from a new child, which is automatically attached due to PT_FOLLOW_FORK enabled.

PL_FLAG_BORN

This flag is set for the first event reported from a new LWP when LWP events are enabled via PT_LWP_EVENTS. It is reported along with PL_FLAG_SCX and is always reported if LWP events are enabled.

PL_FLAG_EXITED

This flag is set for the last event reported by an exiting LWP when LWP events are enabled via PT_LWP_EVENTS. Note that this event is not reported when the last LWP in a process exits. The termination of the last thread is reported via a normal process exit event.

pl_sigmask

The current signal mask of the LWP

pl_siglist

The current pending set of signals for the LWP. Note that signals that are delivered to the process would not appear on an LWP siglist until the thread is selected for delivery.

pl_siginfo

The siginfo that accompanies the signal pending. Only valid for PL_EVENT_SIGNAL stop when PL_FLAG_SI is set in pl_flags.

pl_tdname

The name of the thread.

pl_child_pid

The process identifier of the new child process. Only valid for a PL_EVENT_SIGNAL stop when PL_FLAG_FORKED is set in pl_flags.

pl_syscall_code

The ABI-specific identifier of the current system call. Note that for indirect system calls this field reports the indirected system call. Only valid when PL_FLAG_SCE or PL_FLAG_SCX is set in pl_flags.

pl_syscall_narg

The number of arguments passed to the current system call not counting the system call identifier. Note that for indirect system calls this field reports the arguments passed to the indirected system call. Only valid when PL_FLAG_SCE or PL_FLAG_SCX is set in pl_flags.

PT_GETNUMLWPS

This request returns the number of kernel threads associated with the traced process.

PT_GETLWPLIST

This request can be used to get the current thread list. A pointer to an array of type lwpid_t should be passed in addr, with the array size specified by data. The return value from ptrace() is the count of array entries filled in.

PT_SETSTEP

This request will turn on single stepping of the specified process.

PT_CLEARSTEP

This request will turn off single stepping of the specified process.

PT_SUSPEND

This request will suspend the specified thread.

PT_RESUME

This request will resume the specified thread.

PT_TO_SCE

This request will trace the specified process on each system call entry.

PT_TO_SCX

This request will trace the specified process on each system call exit.

PT_SYSCALL

This request will trace the specified process on each system call entry and exit.

PT_FOLLOW_FORK

This request controls tracing for new child processes of a traced process. If data is non-zero, then new child processes will enable tracing and stop before executing their first instruction. If data is zero, then new child processes will execute without tracing enabled. By default, tracing is not enabled for new child processes. Child processes do not inherit this property. The traced process will set the PL_FLAG_FORKED flag upon exit from a system call that creates a new process.

PT_LWP_EVENTS

This request controls tracing of LWP creation and destruction. If data is non-zero, then LWPs will stop to report creation and destruction events. If data is zero, then LWP creation and destruction events will not be reported. By default, tracing is not enabled for LWP events. Child processes do not inherit this property. New LWPs will stop to report an event with PL_FLAG_BORN set before executing their first instruction. Exiting LWPs will stop to report an event with PL_FLAG_EXITED set before completing their termination.

Note that new processes do not report an event for the creation of their initial thread, and exiting processes do not report an event for the termination of the last thread.

PT_VM_TIMESTAMP

This request returns the generation number or timestamp of the memory map of the traced process as the return value from ptrace(). This provides a low-cost way for the tracing process to determine if the VM map changed since the last time this request was made.

PT_VM_ENTRY

This request is used to iterate over the entries of the VM map of the traced process. The addr argument specifies a pointer to a struct ptrace_vm_entry, which is defined as follows:

struct ptrace_vm_entry {
	int		pve_entry;
	int		pve_timestamp;
	u_long		pve_start;
	u_long		pve_end;
	u_long		pve_offset;
	u_int		pve_prot;
	u_int		pve_pathlen;
	long		pve_fileid;
	uint32_t	pve_fsid;
	char		*pve_path;
};
    

The first entry is returned by setting pve_entry to zero. Subsequent entries are returned by leaving pve_entry unmodified from the value returned by previous requests. The pve_timestamp field can be used to detect changes to the VM map while iterating over the entries. The tracing process can then take appropriate action, such as restarting. By setting pve_pathlen to a non-zero value on entry, the pathname of the backing object is returned in the buffer pointed to by pve_path, provided the entry is backed by a vnode. The pve_pathlen field is updated with the actual length of the pathname (including the terminating null character). The pve_offset field is the offset within the backing object at which the range starts. The range is located in the VM space at pve_start and extends up to pve_end (inclusive).

The data argument is ignored.

x86 MACHINE-SPECIFIC REQUESTS¶

PT_GETXMMREGS

Copy the XMM FPU state into the buffer pointed to by the argument addr. The buffer has the same layout as the 32-bit save buffer for the machine instruction FXSAVE.

This request is only valid for i386 programs, both on native 32-bit systems and on amd64 kernels. For 64-bit amd64 programs, the XMM state is reported as part of the FPU state returned by the PT_GETFPREGS request.

The data argument is ignored.

PT_SETXMMREGS

Load the XMM FPU state for the thread from the buffer pointed to by the argument addr. The buffer has the same layout as the 32-bit load buffer for the machine instruction FXRSTOR.

As with PT_GETXMMREGS, this request is only valid for i386 programs.

The data argument is ignored.

PT_GETXSTATE_INFO

Report which XSAVE FPU extensions are supported by the CPU and allowed in userspace programs. The addr argument must point to a variable of type struct ptrace_xstate_info, which contains the information on the request return. struct ptrace_xstate_info is defined as follows:

struct ptrace_xstate_info {
	uint64_t	xsave_mask;
	uint32_t	xsave_len;
};
    

The xsave_mask field is a bitmask of the currently enabled extensions. The meaning of the bits is defined in the Intel and AMD processor documentation. The xsave_len field reports the length of the XSAVE area for storing the hardware state for currently enabled extensions in the format defined by the x86 XSAVE machine instruction.

The data argument value must be equal to the size of the struct ptrace_xstate_info.

PT_GETXSTATE

Return the content of the XSAVE area for the thread. The addr argument points to the buffer where the content is copied, and the data argument specifies the size of the buffer. The kernel copies out as much content as allowed by the buffer size. The buffer layout is specified by the layout of the save area for the XSAVE machine instruction.

PT_SETXSTATE

Load the XSAVE state for the thread from the buffer specified by the addr pointer. The buffer size is passed in the data argument. The buffer must be at least as large as the struct savefpu (defined in x86/fpu.h) to allow the complete x87 FPU and XMM state load. It must not be larger than the XSAVE state length, as reported by the xsave_len field from the struct ptrace_xstate_info of the PT_GETXSTATE_INFO request. Layout of the buffer is identical to the layout of the load area for the XRSTOR machine instruction.

PT_GETFSBASE

Return the value of the base used when doing segmented memory addressing using the %fs segment register. The addr argument points to an unsigned long variable where the base value is stored.

The data argument is ignored.

PT_GETGSBASE

Like the PT_GETFSBASE request, but returns the base for the %gs segment register.

PT_SETFSBASE

Set the base for the %fs segment register to the value pointed to by the addr argument. addr must point to the unsigned long variable containing the new base.

The data argument is ignored.

PT_SETGSBASE

Like the PT_SETFSBASE request, but sets the base for the %gs segment register.

PowerPC MACHINE-SPECIFIC REQUESTS¶

PT_GETVRREGS

Return the thread's ALTIVEC machine state in the buffer pointed to by addr.

The data argument is ignored.

PT_SETVRREGS

Set the thread's ALTIVEC machine state from the buffer pointed to by addr.

The data argument is ignored.

Additionally, other machine-specific requests can exist.

RETURN VALUES¶

ERRORS¶

[ESRCH]

• No process having the specified process ID exists.

[EINVAL]

• A process attempted to use PT_ATTACH on itself.
• The request argument was not one of the legal requests.
• The signal number (in data) to PT_CONTINUE was neither 0 nor a legal signal number.
• PT_GETREGS, PT_SETREGS, PT_GETFPREGS, PT_SETFPREGS, PT_GETDBREGS, or PT_SETDBREGS was attempted on a process with no valid register set. (This is normally true only of system processes.)
• PT_VM_ENTRY was given an invalid value for pve_entry. This can also be caused by changes to the VM map of the process.
• The size (in data) provided to PT_LWPINFO was less than or equal to zero, or larger than the ptrace_lwpinfo structure known to the kernel.
• The size (in data) provided to the x86-specific PT_GETXSTATE_INFO request was not equal to the size of the struct ptrace_xstate_info.
• The size (in data) provided to the x86-specific PT_SETXSTATE request was less than the size of the x87 plus the XMM save area.
• The size (in data) provided to the x86-specific PT_SETXSTATE request was larger than returned in the xsave_len member of the struct ptrace_xstate_info from the PT_GETXSTATE_INFO request.
• The base value, provided to the amd64-specific requests PT_SETFSBASE or PT_SETGSBASE, pointed outside of the valid user address space. This error will not occur in 32-bit programs.

[EBUSY]

• PT_ATTACH was attempted on a process that was already being traced.
• A request attempted to manipulate a process that was being traced by some process other than the one making the request.
• A request (other than PT_ATTACH) specified a process that was not stopped.

[EPERM]

• A request (other than PT_ATTACH) attempted to manipulate a process that was not being traced at all.
• An attempt was made to use PT_ATTACH on a process in violation of the requirements listed under PT_ATTACH above.

[ENOENT]

• PT_VM_ENTRY previously returned the last entry of the memory map. No more entries exist.

[ENAMETOOLONG]

• PT_VM_ENTRY cannot return the pathname of the backing object because the buffer is not big enough. pve_pathlen holds the minimum buffer size required on return.

SEE ALSO¶

HISTORY¶