In 1992, Steven McCanne and Van Jacobson wrote a paper called The BSD packet filter: A New architecture for user-level packet capture. This was the first time that BPF, which is also known as Berkeley Packet Filters, was talked about.
They talked about BPF architecture, how it connected to the rest of the system, and a new way to filter in this paper. If you want to read the paper you can find it here. https://www. tcpdump. org/papers/bpf-usenix93. pdf.
In the paper, they talked about a new virtual machine designed to work with register-based CPUs. Also the usage of per application buffers that could filter packets without copying all of packet information.
It’s too hard for me to understand what the paper is about, so I’m not going to read it all the way through. In this section, we’ll talk about how BPF has grown and how you can write BPF programs.
In 2014. Alexei Starovoitov introduced the extended BPF implementation. BPF is an advanced VM, running in an isolated environment. It runs the piece of code that you write as a BPF program. You can consider it the same as JVM.
This is a code that you write to be loaded into the kernel. You can write it in C code and compilers that support BPF can convert it into BPF instructions.
This according to me is the most important part of this extended BPF. In order to make sure you don’t crash your kernel or put in an infinite loop, it checks your program for bugs like loops and makes sure each code path gets to the end. It keeps it safe and lets you write the BPF program without having to think too much about kernels.
There is also a “just in time” compiler in the kernel that changes the BPF bytecode to machine code after the program has been checked.
Since you are loading your program into kernel don’t think you need to restart the kernel. This is done while your system is running.
In the realm of networking and system programming, Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) has emerged as a powerful tool with far-reaching implications Its ability to efficiently filter and analyze network traffic, coupled with its extensibility through eBPF, has made it an indispensable asset for network administrators, security professionals, and developers alike
To help you prepare for interviews related to BPF we have compiled a comprehensive list of questions covering various aspects of this technology. This guide will delve into the fundamentals of BPF its practical applications, and advanced concepts like eBPF, providing you with the knowledge and insights to excel in your discussions.
Basic Questions
- What is the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) and what is its primary purpose in data communication?
BPF is a technology used in data communication for efficient packet filtering and network traffic analysis. It operates at the kernel level, providing a raw interface to data link layers, which allows it to capture all packets on the network segment without interference from the protocol stack. BPF’s primary purpose is to filter out irrelevant packets as early as possible, reducing unnecessary overheads. This is achieved by applying user-defined filters that specify which packets are of interest. These filters can be based on various parameters like source/destination IP addresses, port numbers, or protocols. Additionally, BPF supports ‘packet-mangling’ where packets can be modified before they reach their destination.
- How does BPF differ from other traditional packet filtering methods?
BPF differs from traditional packet filtering methods in its efficiency and flexibility Traditional filters process packets one at a time, examining each field individually, which is computationally expensive. BPF, however, uses a virtual machine model to evaluate an ‘expression’ for each packet, reducing the number of instructions executed per packet This makes it faster than conventional methods.
Moreover, BPF provides more control over what data is captured. It lets users choose a filter program that picks out which packets to process further. This cuts down on network traffic and CPU use because useless packets are thrown away early.
Furthermore, BPF supports both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols while some traditional methods only support IPv4. Also BPF can handle encapsulated packets something not all traditional filters can do.
Lastly, BPF’s ability to attach to any network type and provide raw link-layer packets makes it superior to traditional methods that may require specific hardware or software configurations.
- In which applications or systems is BPF most useful?
BPF is most useful in systems or apps that need to watch and analyze network traffic. Tools for fixing problems with networks, such as tcpdump, Wireshark, and ntop, use it a lot to record and sort packets. Intrusion detection systems like Snort also use BPF to filter out network traffic that isn’t important. Because it works well and can be used in many situations, eBPF (extended BPF) is used by Linux for system profiling, tracing, networking, and security.
- Can you provide an example of how to use BPF for network traffic analysis?
BPF is a powerful tool for network traffic analysis. It can be used with tcpdump, a command-line packet analyzer. Here’s an example:
To capture only TCP packets that are going to or from port 80, we use the following command: tcpdump -i eth0 ‘tcp port 80’. The -i option specifies the interface while ‘tcp port 80’ is our BPF expression.
For more complex filtering, such as capturing only SYN packets, we modify our BPF expression: tcpdump -i eth0 ‘tcp[13] & 2 != 0’.
In these examples, BPF allows us to specify exactly what type of network traffic we’re interested in, making it an invaluable tool for network administrators and security professionals alike.
- What is the relationship between BPF and pcap?
BPF and pcap have a symbiotic relationship. BPF is a technology used for filtering network packets, while pcap is an API that captures these packets. Pcap utilizes BPF to filter out unnecessary data, enhancing efficiency in packet capturing. This combination allows applications to selectively monitor pertinent network traffic.
- Can you explain how the BPF works at the kernel level?
BPF operates at the kernel level, providing a raw interface to data link layers. It uses a virtual machine model for its operation, where it accepts and processes instructions from user-level programs. The BPF’s primary function is filtering packets, which it does by executing an ‘if-then-else’ condition check on each packet that comes through the network stack.
The filter consists of a list of conditions or expressions compiled into binary code for efficiency. Each expression checks specific properties in the packet header, like source IP address or port number. If a packet matches all conditions, it gets accepted; otherwise, it’s discarded.
Moreover, BPF has a buffer mechanism called ‘buffered mode’, storing multiple packets before passing them to the user process, reducing system calls and increasing performance.
- What are some limitations and challenges associated with the implementation of BPF?
BPF, while powerful, has limitations. Its inability to handle complex data structures is a significant drawback as it restricts the scope of its application. BPF also lacks support for loops which can limit efficiency in certain use cases. Additionally, debugging tools for BPF are not as mature or comprehensive as those available for other systems, making troubleshooting more challenging. The complexity of writing and understanding BPF bytecode is another challenge, especially for developers unfamiliar with low-level programming. Lastly, there’s the issue of security; although BPF provides isolation mechanisms, improper usage could potentially lead to vulnerabilities.
- How would you go about debugging a BPF program?
Debugging a BPF program involves several steps. Start by checking the syntax and semantics of your code using clang, which will catch most errors. If there are no syntax or semantic issues, use bpftool to load the program into the kernel. This tool provides detailed error messages if loading fails due to invalid BPF instructions or verifier rejections.
If the program loads successfully but doesn’t behave as expected, you can debug it at runtime. Use tracepoints, kprobes, or uprobes to collect data about its execution. You can also use bpf_trace_printk() function for logging debug information from within the BPF program itself.
For more complex issues, consider using tools like BCC (BPF Compiler Collection) that provide higher-level abstractions and utilities for debugging. It includes tools like trace and argdist that can be very helpful in understanding what’s happening inside your BPF programs.
Advanced Questions
- Can you explain the role of eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) and its advantages over classic BPF?
eBPF, an enhancement of the classic BPF, is a technology used for efficient packet filtering and network traffic analysis. It operates in kernel space, providing a safe and general-purpose programmable environment.
The primary advantage of eBPF over classic BPF lies in its flexibility and extensibility. Unlike classic BPF, which was primarily designed for network packets filtering, eBPF extends this functionality to other parts of the system such as process control, file systems, and security. This makes it more versatile and applicable across various domains.
Another significant advantage is performance. eBPF programs are JIT-compiled into native code that runs at near-native speed, making them faster than their interpreted classic BPF counterparts.
Moreover, eBPF supports complex data structures like maps and arrays, allowing for more sophisticated programming constructs. It also provides better interaction with user-space applications through bpf() syscall, enhancing communication between kernel and user space.
- How can you use BPF to drop or accept packets in an application?
BPF can be used to drop or accept packets in an application by implementing a filtering mechanism. This is achieved through the creation of BPF programs, which are sets of instructions that define how packets should be processed.
To use BPF for packet control, you first need to create a socket and attach it to the network interface. Then, compile your BPF program into bytecode using a compiler like clang. The compiled code will contain instructions on whether to drop or accept packets based on their attributes such as source IP, destination IP, port numbers, etc.
Once the BPF program is compiled, it needs to be loaded into the kernel using the BPF system call. After loading, the kernel executes these instructions for each incoming packet, deciding whether to pass them to the application or discard them based on the rules defined in the BPF program.
In case of accepting packets, they are passed up the protocol stack to the application. If the decision is to drop a packet, it’s discarded immediately without further processing.
- What is the concept of BPF maps and how do they contribute to BPF’s flexibility?
BPF maps are key-value store data structures that provide a generic interface for storing and retrieving data in BPF programs. They contribute to BPF’s flexibility by allowing communication between the kernel and user space, as well as between different BPF programs. Maps can be accessed from any BPF program type and support various operations like lookup, update, and delete. This allows dynamic modification of BPF programs’ behavior based on real-time conditions or requirements. For instance, they enable sharing of data across multiple instances of BPF programs, thus facilitating efficient network traffic monitoring or manipulation.
- Can you outline the steps to compile a BPF program?
To compile a BPF program, start by writing the code in C. Use clang to compile it into BPF bytecode using target bpf and output as
Components of BPF Code.
Now, what all your program actually contains. Your BPF program mainly has 3 components. The first part is the execution part of the kernel code. These execution points are predefined and you can use any of these to execute your program. For example, you can put the execution point to be a particular system. In this scenario whenever that particular system call is executed your BPF program will be executed.
Second is how you will share data between kernel and user-space. This can be done by using the BPF map. With these, you can share data in both directions. Whenever you create a BPF program you can create a BPF map for data sharing.
The third is your program what it actually does. Most of the times your use cases will fall in performance or troubleshooting categories.
In short, BPF lets you run your piece of code at any point in the kernel. That code can be used to check how well the system is running, filter network packets, and do many other things.
I’ll try to write about how to write and run a BPF program in the next few posts. I’m also new to this area, so I’m trying to learn more and will keep you posted.
Introduction to BPF | LINUX Berkeley Packet Filter | CodiLime
FAQ
What would you use Berkeley packet filters for?
At which protocol layer does the Berkeley Packet Filter operate?
Does Wireshark use Berkeley Packet Filter?
What is Berkeley Packet Filter architecture in OS?
What is Berkeley Packet filtering?
Berkeley Packet Filters (BPF) provide a powerful tool for intrusion detection analysis. Use BPF filtering to quickly reduce large packet captures to a reduced set of results by filtering based on a specific type of traffic. Both admin and non-admin users can create BPF filters.
Do you need a packet filter?
If, however, you capture packets for a good reason (like traffic analysis or intrusion detection), filtering those you are not interested in as early as possible is crucial for performance. The first type of filtering is typically done with a firewall. Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) is what comes to the rescue in the second case.
Can Berkeley packet filters be used as a firewall?
Berkeley Packet Filters and their OS-specific implementations are no substitute for conventional firewalling code (like Netfilter in Linux). However, they may become indispensable when a fast application or system-level traffic filtering is the requirement.
Can a packet be filtered sequentially?
Doing each filter sequentially would require comparing the Ethernet type of the packet 500 times against the (same) IP Ethernet type field and comparing the IP protocol field 500 times against the (same) TCP protocol value. This is wasteful ( P1 ).
