[v4,3/3] linux: Add fallback for clone failure on posix_spawn (BZ #29115)

Message ID 20220510191155.1998575-4-adhemerval.zanella@linaro.org
State Superseded
Headers
Series Linux: Fix posix_spawn when user with time namespaces |

Checks

Context Check Description
dj/TryBot-apply_patch success Patch applied to master at the time it was sent
dj/TryBot-32bit success Build for i686

Commit Message

Adhemerval Zanella Netto May 10, 2022, 7:11 p.m. UTC
  Linux clone with CLONE_VM may fail for some namespace restriction (for
instance if kernel does not allow processes in different time namespaces
to share the sameaddress space).

In this case clone fails with EINVAL and posix_spawn can not spawn a new
process.  However the same process can be spawned with fork and exec.

The patch fixes by retrying the clone syscall with just CLONE_VFORK
if clone fails with a non transient failure (ENOMEM and EAGAIN still
returns failure to caller).

Error on preparation phase or execve is returned by a pipe now that
there is no shared memory that ca be used.  It requires some extra care
for some file operations:

  * If the file operation would clobber the pipe file descriptor, the
    helper process dup the pipe onto an unoccupied file descriptor.

  * dup2 file action that targets the pipe file descriptor returns
    EBADF.

  * If closefrom argument overlaps the pipe file descriptor, it is
    splited in two calls: [lowdp, pipe - 1] and [pipe + 1, ~Ou].

Failure on prepare phase in helper process does not trigger the fork
and exec fallback.

Some spawn tests were adapted to run inside a created time namespace.

Checked on x86_64-linux-gnu.
---
 include/unistd.h                             |   4 +-
 io/closefrom.c                               |   2 +-
 posix/Makefile                               |  16 +-
 posix/tst-spawn-chdir-timens.c               |   2 +
 posix/tst-spawn-chdir.c                      |   8 +
 posix/tst-spawn-timens.c                     |   2 +
 posix/tst-spawn.c                            |   6 +
 posix/tst-spawn2-timens.c                    |   2 +
 posix/tst-spawn2.c                           |   8 +
 posix/tst-spawn4-timens.c                    |   2 +
 posix/tst-spawn4.c                           |  10 +-
 posix/tst-spawn5-timens.c                    |   2 +
 posix/tst-spawn5.c                           |  10 +-
 posix/tst-spawn6-timens.c                    |   2 +
 posix/tst-spawn6.c                           |  12 +-
 sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/closefrom_fallback.c |   6 +-
 sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/spawni.c             | 233 +++++++++++++++----
 17 files changed, 271 insertions(+), 56 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 posix/tst-spawn-chdir-timens.c
 create mode 100644 posix/tst-spawn-timens.c
 create mode 100644 posix/tst-spawn2-timens.c
 create mode 100644 posix/tst-spawn4-timens.c
 create mode 100644 posix/tst-spawn5-timens.c
 create mode 100644 posix/tst-spawn6-timens.c
  

Patch

diff --git a/include/unistd.h b/include/unistd.h
index af795a37c8..2643991a09 100644
--- a/include/unistd.h
+++ b/include/unistd.h
@@ -167,7 +167,9 @@  static inline _Bool __closefrom_fallback (int __lowfd, _Bool dirfd_fallback)
   return false;
 }
 #  else
-extern _Bool __closefrom_fallback (int __lowfd, _Bool) attribute_hidden;
+extern _Bool __closefrom_fallback (unsigned int __from, unsigned int __to,
+				   _Bool)
+     attribute_hidden;
 #  endif
 extern ssize_t __read (int __fd, void *__buf, size_t __nbytes);
 libc_hidden_proto (__read)
diff --git a/io/closefrom.c b/io/closefrom.c
index 48cac2e3d1..a07de06e9b 100644
--- a/io/closefrom.c
+++ b/io/closefrom.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@  __closefrom (int lowfd)
   if (r == 0)
     return ;
 
-  if (!__closefrom_fallback (l, true))
+  if (!__closefrom_fallback (l, ~0U, true))
     __fortify_fail ("closefrom failed to close a file descriptor");
 }
 weak_alias (__closefrom, closefrom)
diff --git a/posix/Makefile b/posix/Makefile
index 9b30b53a7c..3597aa354b 100644
--- a/posix/Makefile
+++ b/posix/Makefile
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@  tests		:= test-errno tstgetopt testfnm runtests runptests \
 		   tst-glob-tilde test-ssize-max tst-spawn4 bug-regex37 \
 		   bug-regex38 tst-regcomp-truncated tst-spawn-chdir \
 		   tst-wordexp-nocmd tst-execveat tst-spawn5 \
-		   tst-sched_getaffinity tst-spawn6
+		   tst-sched_getaffinity tst-spawn6 \
+		   tst-spawn-chdir-timens tst-spawn4-timens tst-spawn5-timens \
+		   tst-spawn6-timens
 
 # Test for the glob symbol version that was replaced in glibc 2.27.
 ifeq ($(have-GLIBC_2.26)$(build-shared),yesyes)
@@ -130,7 +132,15 @@  xtests		:= tst-getaddrinfo4 tst-getaddrinfo5 tst-sched_rr_get_interval
 xtests-time64	:= tst-sched_rr_get_interval-time64
 ifeq (yes,$(build-shared))
 test-srcs	:= globtest
-tests           += wordexp-test tst-exec tst-spawn tst-spawn2 tst-spawn3
+tests           += \
+  tst-exec \
+  tst-spawn \
+  tst-spawn-timens \
+  tst-spawn2 \
+  tst-spawn2-timens \
+  tst-spawn3 \
+  wordexp-test \
+  # tests
 endif
 ifeq (yesyes,$(build-shared)$(have-thread-library))
 tests		+= tst-getopt-cancel tst-_Fork
@@ -290,7 +300,9 @@  tst-execvpe5-ARGS = -- $(host-test-program-cmd)
 tst-spawn-ARGS = -- $(host-test-program-cmd)
 tst-spawn-static-ARGS = $(tst-spawn-ARGS)
 tst-spawn5-ARGS = -- $(host-test-program-cmd)
+tst-spawn5-timens-ARGS = -- $(host-test-program-cmd)
 tst-spawn6-ARGS = -- $(host-test-program-cmd)
+tst-spawn6-timens-ARGS = -- $(host-test-program-cmd)
 tst-dir-ARGS = `pwd` `cd $(common-objdir)/$(subdir); pwd` `cd $(common-objdir); pwd` $(objpfx)tst-dir
 tst-chmod-ARGS = $(objdir)
 tst-vfork3-ARGS = --test-dir=$(objpfx)
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn-chdir-timens.c b/posix/tst-spawn-chdir-timens.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a659e3201e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn-chdir-timens.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ 
+#define CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+#include "tst-spawn-chdir.c"
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn-chdir.c b/posix/tst-spawn-chdir.c
index 18e90c2957..ecb0634816 100644
--- a/posix/tst-spawn-chdir.c
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn-chdir.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ 
 #include <support/test-driver.h>
 #include <support/xstdio.h>
 #include <support/xunistd.h>
+#include <support/namespace.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 /* Reads the file at PATH, which must consist of exactly one line.
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@  get_pwd_program (void)
   FAIL_EXIT1 ("cannot find pwd program");
 }
 
+
 /* Adds chdir operations to ACTIONS, using PATH.  If DO_FCHDIR, use
    the open function and TMPFD to emulate chdir using fchdir.  */
 static void
@@ -87,6 +89,12 @@  add_chdir (posix_spawn_file_actions_t *actions, const char *path,
 static int
 do_test (void)
 {
+#ifdef CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+  support_become_root();
+  if (!support_enter_time_namespace ())
+    return EXIT_UNSUPPORTED;
+#endif
+
   /* Directory for temporary file data.  Each subtest uses a numeric
      subdirectory.  */
   char *directory = support_create_temp_directory ("tst-spawn-chdir-");
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn-timens.c b/posix/tst-spawn-timens.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a659e3201e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn-timens.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ 
+#define CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+#include "tst-spawn-chdir.c"
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn.c b/posix/tst-spawn.c
index e378c72f1b..2007384a90 100644
--- a/posix/tst-spawn.c
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn.c
@@ -178,6 +178,12 @@  do_test (int argc, char *argv[])
     return handle_restart (argv[1], argv[2], argv[3], argv[4], argv[5],
 			   argv[6]);
 
+#ifdef CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+  support_become_root();
+  if (!support_enter_time_namespace ())
+    return EXIT_UNSUPPORTED;
+#endif
+
   /* Prepare the test.  We are creating four files: two which file descriptor
      will be marked with FD_CLOEXEC, another which is not.  */
 
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn2-timens.c b/posix/tst-spawn2-timens.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..612531fc86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn2-timens.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ 
+#define CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+#include "tst-spawn2.c"
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn2.c b/posix/tst-spawn2.c
index 45ff17f9a7..16fcbe4295 100644
--- a/posix/tst-spawn2.c
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn2.c
@@ -26,10 +26,18 @@ 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include <support/check.h>
+#include <support/test-driver.h>
+#include <support/namespace.h>
 
 int
 do_test (void)
 {
+#ifdef CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+  support_become_root();
+  if (!support_enter_time_namespace ())
+    return EXIT_UNSUPPORTED;
+#endif
+
   /* Check if posix_spawn correctly returns an error and an invalid pid
      by trying to spawn an invalid binary.  */
 
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn4-timens.c b/posix/tst-spawn4-timens.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3f4e8ea089
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn4-timens.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ 
+#define CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+#include "tst-spawn4.c"
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn4.c b/posix/tst-spawn4.c
index 9eac2d1080..29b7a6215d 100644
--- a/posix/tst-spawn4.c
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn4.c
@@ -21,13 +21,21 @@ 
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 
-#include <support/xunistd.h>
 #include <support/check.h>
+#include <support/namespace.h>
 #include <support/temp_file.h>
+#include <support/test-driver.h>
+#include <support/xunistd.h>
 
 static int
 do_test (void)
 {
+#ifdef CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+  support_become_root();
+  if (!support_enter_time_namespace ())
+    return EXIT_UNSUPPORTED;
+#endif
+
   char *scriptname;
   int fd = create_temp_file ("tst-spawn4.", &scriptname);
   TEST_VERIFY_EXIT (fd >= 0);
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn5-timens.c b/posix/tst-spawn5-timens.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d46819222
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn5-timens.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ 
+#define CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+#include "tst-spawn5.c"
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn5.c b/posix/tst-spawn5.c
index dd5b3f9357..045ab15358 100644
--- a/posix/tst-spawn5.c
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn5.c
@@ -28,8 +28,10 @@ 
 #include <limits.h>
 
 #include <support/check.h>
-#include <support/xunistd.h>
+#include <support/namespace.h>
 #include <support/support.h>
+#include <support/test-driver.h>
+#include <support/xunistd.h>
 
 #include <arch-fd_to_filename.h>
 #include <array_length.h>
@@ -278,6 +280,12 @@  do_test (int argc, char *argv[])
     /* Ignore the application name. */
     handle_restart (argc - 1, &argv[1]);
 
+#ifdef CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+  support_become_root();
+  if (!support_enter_time_namespace ())
+    return EXIT_UNSUPPORTED;
+#endif
+
   TEST_VERIFY_EXIT (argc == 2 || argc == 5);
 
   int i;
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn6-timens.c b/posix/tst-spawn6-timens.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a23d068ce5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn6-timens.c
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ 
+#define CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+#include "tst-spawn6.c"
diff --git a/posix/tst-spawn6.c b/posix/tst-spawn6.c
index 044abd8535..4c55a1c110 100644
--- a/posix/tst-spawn6.c
+++ b/posix/tst-spawn6.c
@@ -25,12 +25,14 @@ 
 #include <spawn.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <support/check.h>
+#include <support/namespace.h>
+#include <support/test-driver.h>
 #include <support/xunistd.h>
-#include <sys/wait.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
 #include <termios.h>
 
 #ifndef PATH_MAX
@@ -124,6 +126,12 @@  run_subprogram (int argc, char *argv[], const posix_spawnattr_t *attr,
 static int
 run_test (int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+#ifdef CHECK_TIMENAMESPACE
+  support_become_root();
+  if (!support_enter_time_namespace ())
+    return EXIT_UNSUPPORTED;
+#endif
+
   /* We must have either:
      - four parameters left if called initially:
        + path to ld.so         optional
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/closefrom_fallback.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/closefrom_fallback.c
index a9dd0c46b2..cb0642c637 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/closefrom_fallback.c
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/closefrom_fallback.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ 
    /proc/self/fd open will trigger a fallback that tries to close a file
    descriptor before proceed.  */
 _Bool
-__closefrom_fallback (int from, _Bool dirfd_fallback)
+__closefrom_fallback (unsigned int from, unsigned int to, _Bool dirfd_fallback)
 {
   int dirfd = __open_nocancel (FD_TO_FILENAME_PREFIX, O_RDONLY | O_DIRECTORY,
                                0);
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@  __closefrom_fallback (int from, _Bool dirfd_fallback)
 	return false;
 
       /* The closefrom should work even when process can't open new files.  */
-      for (int i = from; i < INT_MAX; i++)
+      for (int i = from; i <= to; i++)
         {
           int r = __close_nocancel (i);
           if (r == 0 || (r == -1 && errno != EBADF))
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@  __closefrom_fallback (int from, _Bool dirfd_fallback)
 
           if (fd == dirfd || fd < from)
             continue;
+	  if (fd > to)
+	    break;
 
           /* We ignore close errors because EBADF, EINTR, and EIO means the
              descriptor has been released.  */
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/spawni.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/spawni.c
index d6f5ca89cd..4ba7c2fc4f 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/spawni.c
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/spawni.c
@@ -44,7 +44,11 @@ 
    third issue is done by a stack allocation in parent, and by using a
    field in struct spawn_args where the child can write an error
    code. CLONE_VFORK ensures that the parent does not run until the
-   child has either exec'ed successfully or exited.  */
+   child has either exec'ed successfully or exited.
+
+   If the clone with CLONE_VM and CLONE_VFORK fails (due any kernel limitation
+   such as time namespace), only CLONE_VFORK is used instead and the
+   preparation and execve failures are communicated with a pipe.  */
 
 
 /* The Unix standard contains a long explanation of the way to signal
@@ -67,6 +71,7 @@  struct posix_spawn_args
   char *const *envp;
   int xflags;
   int err;
+  int pipe[2];
 };
 
 /* Older version requires that shell script without shebang definition
@@ -94,15 +99,59 @@  maybe_script_execute (struct posix_spawn_args *args)
     }
 }
 
+/* If the file operation would clobber the pipe fd used to communicate with
+   parent, dup the pipe onto an unoccupied file descriptor.  */
+static inline bool
+spawni_fa_handle_pipe (const struct __spawn_action *fa, int p[])
+{
+  int fd;
+
+  switch (fa->tag)
+    {
+    case spawn_do_close:
+      fd = fa->action.close_action.fd;
+      break;
+    case spawn_do_open:
+      fd = fa->action.open_action.fd;
+      break;
+    case spawn_do_dup2:
+      fd = fa->action.dup2_action.newfd;
+      break;
+    case spawn_do_fchdir:
+      fd = fa->action.fchdir_action.fd;
+    default:
+      return true;
+    }
+
+  if (fd == p[1])
+    {
+      int r = __fcntl (p[1], F_DUPFD_CLOEXEC);
+      if (r < 0)
+	return false;
+      __close_nocancel (p[1]);
+      p[1] = r;
+    }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+static inline bool
+spawni_fa_closerange (int from, int to)
+{
+  int r = INLINE_SYSCALL_CALL (close_range, from, to, 0);
+  return r == 0 || __closefrom_fallback (from, to, false);
+}
+
 /* Function used in the clone call to setup the signals mask, posix_spawn
    attributes, and file actions.  It run on its own stack (provided by the
    posix_spawn call).  */
-static int
-__spawni_child (void *arguments)
+static _Noreturn int
+spawni_child (void *arguments)
 {
   struct posix_spawn_args *args = arguments;
   const posix_spawnattr_t *restrict attr = args->attr;
   const posix_spawn_file_actions_t *file_actions = args->fa;
+  bool use_pipe = args->pipe[0] != -1;
 
   /* The child must ensure that no signal handler are enabled because it shared
      memory with parent, so the signal disposition must be either SIG_DFL or
@@ -113,6 +162,9 @@  __spawni_child (void *arguments)
   struct sigaction sa;
   memset (&sa, '\0', sizeof (sa));
 
+  if (use_pipe)
+    __close (args->pipe[0]);
+
   sigset_t hset;
   __sigprocmask (SIG_BLOCK, 0, &hset);
   for (int sig = 1; sig < _NSIG; ++sig)
@@ -181,6 +233,9 @@  __spawni_child (void *arguments)
 	{
 	  struct __spawn_action *action = &file_actions->__actions[cnt];
 
+	  if (use_pipe && !spawni_fa_handle_pipe (action, args->pipe))
+	    goto fail;
+
 	  switch (action->tag)
 	    {
 	    case spawn_do_close:
@@ -233,6 +288,11 @@  __spawni_child (void *arguments)
 	      break;
 
 	    case spawn_do_dup2:
+	      if (use_pipe && action->action.dup2_action.fd == args->pipe[1])
+		{
+		  errno = EBADF;
+		  goto fail;
+		}
 	      /* Austin Group issue #411 requires adddup2 action with source
 		 and destination being equal to remove close-on-exec flag.  */
 	      if (action->action.dup2_action.fd
@@ -264,8 +324,20 @@  __spawni_child (void *arguments)
 	    case spawn_do_closefrom:
 	      {
 		int lowfd = action->action.closefrom_action.from;
-	        int r = INLINE_SYSCALL_CALL (close_range, lowfd, ~0U, 0);
-		if (r != 0 && !__closefrom_fallback (lowfd, false))
+		/* Skip the pipe descriptor if it is used.  No need to handle
+		   it since it is created with O_CLOEXEC.  */
+		if (use_pipe && args->pipe[1] == lowfd)
+		  {
+		    if (!spawni_fa_closerange (lowfd + 1u, ~0U))
+		      goto fail;
+		  }
+		else if (use_pipe && args->pipe[1] > lowfd)
+		  {
+		    if (!spawni_fa_closerange (lowfd, args->pipe[1] - 1)
+			|| !spawni_fa_closerange (args->pipe[1] + 1u, ~0U))
+		      goto fail;
+		  }
+		else if (!spawni_fa_closerange (lowfd, ~0U))
 		  goto fail;
 	      } break;
 
@@ -300,10 +372,112 @@  fail:
      (EINTERNALBUG) describing that, use ECHILD.  Another option would
      be to set args->err to some negative sentinel and have the parent
      abort(), but that seems needlessly harsh.  */
-  args->err = errno ? : ECHILD;
+  int ret = errno ? : ECHILD;
+  if (use_pipe)
+    {
+      while (__write_nocancel (args->pipe[1], &ret, sizeof (ret)) < 0)
+	if (errno == EPIPE || errno == EBADF)
+	  break;
+    }
+  else
+    args->err = ret;
+
   _exit (SPAWN_ERROR);
 }
 
+static pid_t
+clone_call (struct posix_spawn_args *args, int flags, void *stack,
+	    size_t stack_size)
+{
+  struct clone_args clone_args =
+    {
+      .flags = flags,
+      .exit_signal = SIGCHLD,
+      .stack = (uintptr_t) stack,
+      .stack_size = stack_size,
+    };
+  return __clone_internal (&clone_args, spawni_child, args);
+}
+
+/* Spawn a new process using clone with CLONE_VM | CLONE_VFORK (to optimize
+   memory and overcommit) and return TRUE if the helper was created or if the
+   failure was not due resource exhaustion.  */
+static bool
+spawni_clone (struct posix_spawn_args *args, pid_t *new_pid, int *ec,
+	      void *stack, size_t stack_size)
+{
+  /* The clone flags used will create a new child that will run in the same
+     memory space (CLONE_VM) and the execution of calling thread will be
+     suspend until the child calls execve or _exit.
+
+     Also since the calling thread execution will be suspend, there is not
+     need for CLONE_SETTLS.  Although parent and child share the same TLS
+     namespace, there will be no concurrent access for TLS variables (errno
+     for instance).  */
+  *new_pid = clone_call (args, CLONE_VM | CLONE_VFORK, stack, stack_size);
+
+  /* It needs to collect the case where the auxiliary process was created
+     but failed to execute the file (due either any preparation step or
+     for execve itself).  */
+  if (*new_pid > 0)
+    {
+      /* Also, it handles the unlikely case where the auxiliary process was
+	 terminated before calling execve as if it was successfully.  The
+	 args.err is set to 0 as default and changed to a positive value
+	 only in case of failure, so in case of premature termination
+	 due a signal args.err will remain zeroed and it will be up to
+	 caller to actually collect it.  */
+      *ec = args->err;
+      if (*ec > 0)
+	/* There still an unlikely case where the child is cancelled after
+	   setting args.err, due to a positive error value.  Also there is
+	   possible pid reuse race (where the kernel allocated the same pid
+	   to an unrelated process).  Unfortunately due synchronization
+	   issues where the kernel might not have the process collected
+	   the waitpid below can not use WNOHANG.  */
+	__waitpid (*new_pid, NULL, 0);
+    }
+  else
+    *ec = errno;
+
+  /* There is no much point in retrying with fork and exec if kernel returns a
+     failure due resource exhaustion.  */
+  return *new_pid > 0 || (errno == ENOMEM || errno == EAGAIN);
+}
+
+/* Fallback spawn case which does not use CLONE_VM.  Any preparation step or
+   execve failure is passed with a pipe, which requires additional care by
+   the helper stating process since it additional file descriptors handle.  */
+static void
+spawni_fork (struct posix_spawn_args *args, pid_t *new_pid, int *ec,
+	     char *stack, size_t stack_size)
+{
+  if (__pipe2 (args->pipe, O_CLOEXEC) != 0)
+    {
+      *ec = errno;
+      return;
+    }
+
+  /* Do not trigger atfork handler nor any internal state reset since the
+     helper process will call execve.  */
+  *new_pid = clone_call (args, CLONE_VFORK, stack, stack_size);
+
+  __close (args->pipe[1]);
+
+  if (*new_pid > 0)
+    {
+      if (__read (args->pipe[0], ec, sizeof *ec) != sizeof *ec)
+	/* A successful execve will close the helper process pipe end.  */
+	*ec = 0;
+      else
+	__waitpid (*new_pid, NULL, 0);
+    }
+  else
+    *ec = errno;
+
+  __close (args->pipe[0]);
+}
+
 /* Spawn a new process executing PATH with the attributes describes in *ATTRP.
    Before running the process perform the actions described in FILE-ACTIONS. */
 static int
@@ -367,49 +541,16 @@  __spawnix (pid_t * pid, const char *file,
   args.argc = argc;
   args.envp = envp;
   args.xflags = xflags;
+  args.pipe[0] = args.pipe[1] = -1;
 
   __libc_signal_block_all (&args.oldmask);
 
-  /* The clone flags used will create a new child that will run in the same
-     memory space (CLONE_VM) and the execution of calling thread will be
-     suspend until the child calls execve or _exit.
-
-     Also since the calling thread execution will be suspend, there is not
-     need for CLONE_SETTLS.  Although parent and child share the same TLS
-     namespace, there will be no concurrent access for TLS variables (errno
-     for instance).  */
-  struct clone_args clone_args =
-    {
-      .flags = CLONE_VM | CLONE_VFORK,
-      .exit_signal = SIGCHLD,
-      .stack = (uintptr_t) stack,
-      .stack_size = stack_size,
-    };
-  new_pid = __clone_internal (&clone_args, __spawni_child, &args);
-
-  /* It needs to collect the case where the auxiliary process was created
-     but failed to execute the file (due either any preparation step or
-     for execve itself).  */
-  if (new_pid > 0)
-    {
-      /* Also, it handles the unlikely case where the auxiliary process was
-	 terminated before calling execve as if it was successfully.  The
-	 args.err is set to 0 as default and changed to a positive value
-	 only in case of failure, so in case of premature termination
-	 due a signal args.err will remain zeroed and it will be up to
-	 caller to actually collect it.  */
-      ec = args.err;
-      if (ec > 0)
-	/* There still an unlikely case where the child is cancelled after
-	   setting args.err, due to a positive error value.  Also there is
-	   possible pid reuse race (where the kernel allocated the same pid
-	   to an unrelated process).  Unfortunately due synchronization
-	   issues where the kernel might not have the process collected
-	   the waitpid below can not use WNOHANG.  */
-	__waitpid (new_pid, NULL, 0);
-    }
-  else
-    ec = errno;
+  /* clone with CLONE_VM | CLONE_VFORK may fail for some namespace restriction
+     (for instance Linux does not allow processes in different time namespaces
+     to share address space) and in this case clone fails with EINVAL.  Retry
+     with fork and exec.  */
+  if (!spawni_clone (&args, &new_pid, &ec, stack, stack_size))
+    spawni_fork (&args, &new_pid, &ec, stack, stack_size);
 
   __munmap (stack, stack_size);