elf_backend_section_flags and _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data

elf_backend_section_flags and _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data

[Alan Modra]

I was looking at elf_backend_section_flags as a means of setting
SEC_SMALL_DATA for .sdata, .sbss and the like, and condidered adding
an asection* parameter to access the section name easily before
realising that hdr->bfd_section of course makes the section
available.  So no new parameter needed.  In fact the flagword*
parameter isn't needed either, so out it goes.

The patch also tidies some horrible code in _bfd_elf_new_section_hook
that can change whether known ABI sections have sh_type and sh_flags
set up depending on which of the bfd_make_section functions is used.
(Some of those set section flags before _bfd_elf_new_section_hook is
called, others leave the flags zero.)  The function also had some
hacks for .init_array and .fini_array to affect how
_bfd_elf_init_private_section_data behaved for those sections.  It's
cleaner to do that in _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data.  So that all
goes and we now init sh_type and sh_flags for all known ABI sections
in _bfd_elf_new_section_hook.  _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data is
changed to suit, and now doesn't just single out SHT_INIT_ARRAY and
SHT_FINI_ARRAY but rather any of the special section types.

The _bfd_elf_new_section_hook change resulting in
+FAIL: ld-aarch64/erratum835769-843419
exposing some errors in the aarch64 backend.  elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs
should not be looking at linker created sections in the stub bfd.  Nor
should code like "symtab_hdr = &elf_tdata (input_bfd)->symtab_hdr" be
run without first checking that input_bfd is ELF.

	* elf-bfd.h (elf_backend_section_flags): Remove flagword* param.
	* elf.c (_bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr): Set section flags before
	calling elf_backend_section_flags with adjusted params.  Use
	newsect->flags past that point.
	(_bfd_elf_new_section_hook): Always set sh_type and sh_flags for
	special sections.
	(_bfd_elf_init_private_section_data): Allow normal sh_type sections
	to have their type overridden, and all sh_flags but processor and
	os specific.
	* elf32-arm.c (elf32_arm_section_flags): Adjust for changed params.
	* elf32-mep.c (mep_elf_section_flags): Likewise.
	* elf32-nios2.c (nios2_elf32_section_flags): Likewise.
	* elf64-alpha.c (elf64_alpha_section_flags): Likewise.
	* elf64-ia64-vms.c (elf64_ia64_section_flags): Likewise.
	* elfnn-ia64.c (elfNN_ia64_section_flags): Likewise.
	* elfnn-aarch64.c (elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs): Exclude the linker
	stub BFD and non-aarch64 input files when scanning for stubs.

diff --git a/bfd/elf-bfd.h b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
index b930761363..61e733f068 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-bfd.h
+++ b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ struct elf_backend_data
   /* A function to convert machine dependent ELF section header flags to
      BFD internal section header flags.  */
   bfd_boolean (*elf_backend_section_flags)
-    (flagword *, const Elf_Internal_Shdr *);
+    (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *);
 
   /* A function that returns a struct containing ELF section flags and
      type for the given BFD section.   */
diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index 265fc87ad5..fcd84d2d17 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -1114,14 +1114,14 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
       && elf_next_in_group (newsect) == NULL)
     flags |= SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_LINK_DUPLICATES_DISCARD;
 
+  if (!bfd_set_section_flags (newsect, flags))
+    return FALSE;
+
   bed = get_elf_backend_data (abfd);
   if (bed->elf_backend_section_flags)
-    if (! bed->elf_backend_section_flags (&flags, hdr))
+    if (!bed->elf_backend_section_flags (hdr))
       return FALSE;
 
-  if (!bfd_set_section_flags (newsect, flags))
-    return FALSE;
-
   /* We do not parse the PT_NOTE segments as we are interested even in the
      separate debug info files which may have the segments offsets corrupted.
      PT_NOTEs from the core files are currently not parsed using BFD.  */
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
       free (contents);
     }
 
-  if ((flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
+  if ((newsect->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
     {
       Elf_Internal_Phdr *phdr;
       unsigned int i, nload;
@@ -1163,7 +1163,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	       || phdr->p_type == PT_TLS)
 	      && ELF_SECTION_IN_SEGMENT (hdr, phdr))
 	    {
-	      if ((flags & SEC_LOAD) == 0)
+	      if ((newsect->flags & SEC_LOAD) == 0)
 		newsect->lma = (phdr->p_paddr
 				+ hdr->sh_addr - phdr->p_vaddr);
 	      else
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 
   /* Compress/decompress DWARF debug sections with names: .debug_* and
      .zdebug_*, after the section flags is set.  */
-  if ((flags & SEC_DEBUGGING)
+  if ((newsect->flags & SEC_DEBUGGING)
       && ((name[1] == 'd' && name[6] == '_')
 	  || (name[1] == 'z' && name[7] == '_')))
     {
@@ -2900,28 +2900,13 @@ _bfd_elf_new_section_hook (bfd *abfd, asection *sec)
   bed = get_elf_backend_data (abfd);
   sec->use_rela_p = bed->default_use_rela_p;
 
-  /* When we read a file, we don't need to set ELF section type and
-     flags.  They will be overridden in _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr
-     anyway.  We will set ELF section type and flags for all linker
-     created sections.  If user specifies BFD section flags, we will
-     set ELF section type and flags based on BFD section flags in
-     elf_fake_sections.  Special handling for .init_array/.fini_array
-     output sections since they may contain .ctors/.dtors input
-     sections.  We don't want _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data to
-     copy ELF section type from .ctors/.dtors input sections.  */
-  if (abfd->direction != read_direction
-      || (sec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
+  /* Set up ELF section type and flags for newly created sections, if
+     there is an ABI mandated section.  */
+  ssect = (*bed->get_sec_type_attr) (abfd, sec);
+  if (ssect != NULL)
     {
-      ssect = (*bed->get_sec_type_attr) (abfd, sec);
-      if (ssect != NULL
-	  && (!sec->flags
-	      || (sec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0
-	      || ssect->type == SHT_INIT_ARRAY
-	      || ssect->type == SHT_FINI_ARRAY))
-	{
-	  elf_section_type (sec) = ssect->type;
-	  elf_section_flags (sec) = ssect->attr;
-	}
+      elf_section_type (sec) = ssect->type;
+      elf_section_flags (sec) = ssect->attr;
     }
 
   return _bfd_generic_new_section_hook (abfd, sec);
@@ -7757,10 +7742,19 @@ _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data (bfd *ibfd,
 
   BFD_ASSERT (elf_section_data (osec) != NULL);
 
-  /* For objcopy and relocatable link, don't copy the output ELF
-     section type from input if the output BFD section flags have been
-     set to something different.  For a final link allow some flags
-     that the linker clears to differ.  */
+  /* If this is a known ABI section, ELF section type and flags may
+     have been set up when OSEC was created.  For normal sections we
+     allow the user to override the type and flags other than
+     SHF_MASKOS and SHF_MASKPROC.  */
+  if (elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_PROGBITS
+      || elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_NOTE
+      || elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_NOBITS)
+    elf_section_type (osec) = SHT_NULL;
+  /* For objcopy and relocatable link, copy the ELF section type from
+     the input file if the BFD section flags are the same.  (If they
+     are different the user may be doing something like
+     "objcopy --set-section-flags .text=alloc,data".)  For a final
+     link allow some flags that the linker clears to differ.  */
   if (elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_NULL
       && (osec->flags == isec->flags
 	  || (final_link
@@ -7769,8 +7763,8 @@ _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data (bfd *ibfd,
     elf_section_type (osec) = elf_section_type (isec);
 
   /* FIXME: Is this correct for all OS/PROC specific flags?  */
-  elf_section_flags (osec) |= (elf_section_flags (isec)
-			       & (SHF_MASKOS | SHF_MASKPROC));
+  elf_section_flags (osec) = (elf_section_flags (isec)
+			      & (SHF_MASKOS | SHF_MASKPROC));
 
   /* Copy sh_info from input for mbind section.  */
   if ((elf_tdata (ibfd)->has_gnu_osabi & elf_gnu_osabi_mbind) != 0
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arm.c b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
index e9d93cc3b8..c899aeb8f6 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-arm.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
@@ -20230,10 +20230,10 @@ elf32_arm_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd,
 }
 
 static bfd_boolean
-elf32_arm_section_flags (flagword *flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr * hdr)
+elf32_arm_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_ARM_PURECODE)
-    *flags |= SEC_ELF_PURECODE;
+    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_ELF_PURECODE;
   return TRUE;
 }
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-mep.c b/bfd/elf32-mep.c
index 14a6d22621..c5775de649 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-mep.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-mep.c
@@ -717,10 +717,10 @@ mep_elf_object_p (bfd * abfd)
 }
 
 static bfd_boolean
-mep_elf_section_flags (flagword * flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr * hdr)
+mep_elf_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_MEP_VLIW)
-    * flags |= SEC_MEP_VLIW;
+    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_MEP_VLIW;
   return TRUE;
 }
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-nios2.c b/bfd/elf32-nios2.c
index 17e97bca5a..2fcfe6fd6c 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-nios2.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-nios2.c
@@ -4539,10 +4539,10 @@ nios2_elf32_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 /* Implement elf-backend_section_flags:
    Convert NIOS2 specific section flags to bfd internal section flags.  */
 static bfd_boolean
-nios2_elf32_section_flags (flagword *flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
+nios2_elf32_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_NIOS2_GPREL)
-    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
+    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
 }
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
index ed18202b71..9d2d7f1d4d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
@@ -1180,10 +1180,10 @@ elf64_alpha_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 /* Convert Alpha specific section flags to bfd internal section flags.  */
 
 static bfd_boolean
-elf64_alpha_section_flags (flagword *flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
+elf64_alpha_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_ALPHA_GPREL)
-    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
+    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
 }
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c b/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c
index 636d7897ee..d40fa4277a 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c
@@ -822,11 +822,10 @@ is_unwind_section_name (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, const char *name)
    flag.  */
 
 static bfd_boolean
-elf64_ia64_section_flags (flagword *flags,
-			  const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
+elf64_ia64_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_IA_64_SHORT)
-    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
+    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
 }
diff --git a/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c b/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
index 35dd8ab167..ba3ad45468 100644
--- a/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
+++ b/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
@@ -4313,9 +4313,15 @@ elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs (bfd *output_bfd,
 
       for (input_bfd = info->input_bfds;
 	   input_bfd != NULL; input_bfd = input_bfd->link.next)
-	if (!_bfd_aarch64_erratum_835769_scan (input_bfd, info,
-					       &num_erratum_835769_fixes))
-	  return FALSE;
+	{
+	  if (!is_aarch64_elf (input_bfd)
+	      || (input_bfd->flags & BFD_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
+	    continue;
+
+	  if (!_bfd_aarch64_erratum_835769_scan (input_bfd, info,
+						 &num_erratum_835769_fixes))
+	    return FALSE;
+	}
 
       _bfd_aarch64_resize_stubs (htab);
       (*htab->layout_sections_again) ();
@@ -4331,6 +4337,10 @@ elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs (bfd *output_bfd,
 	{
 	  asection *section;
 
+	  if (!is_aarch64_elf (input_bfd)
+	      || (input_bfd->flags & BFD_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
+	    continue;
+
 	  for (section = input_bfd->sections;
 	       section != NULL;
 	       section = section->next)
@@ -4353,6 +4363,10 @@ elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  asection *section;
 	  Elf_Internal_Sym *local_syms = NULL;
 
+	  if (!is_aarch64_elf (input_bfd)
+	      || (input_bfd->flags & BFD_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
+	    continue;
+
 	  /* We'll need the symbol table in a second.  */
 	  symtab_hdr = &elf_tdata (input_bfd)->symtab_hdr;
 	  if (symtab_hdr->sh_info == 0)
diff --git a/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c b/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c
index 1df2aa842c..208b85df90 100644
--- a/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c
+++ b/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c
@@ -942,11 +942,10 @@ elfNN_ia64_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
    flag.  */
 
 static bfd_boolean
-elfNN_ia64_section_flags (flagword *flags,
-			  const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
+elfNN_ia64_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_IA_64_SHORT)
-    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
+    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
 }

-- 
Alan Modra
Australia Development Lab, IBM

Re: elf_backend_section_flags and _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data

[Szabolcs Nagy]

The 03/02/2020 11:33, Alan Modra wrote:
> I was looking at elf_backend_section_flags as a means of setting
> SEC_SMALL_DATA for .sdata, .sbss and the like, and condidered adding
> an asection* parameter to access the section name easily before
> realising that hdr->bfd_section of course makes the section
> available.  So no new parameter needed.  In fact the flagword*
> parameter isn't needed either, so out it goes.
> 
> The patch also tidies some horrible code in _bfd_elf_new_section_hook
> that can change whether known ABI sections have sh_type and sh_flags
> set up depending on which of the bfd_make_section functions is used.
> (Some of those set section flags before _bfd_elf_new_section_hook is
> called, others leave the flags zero.)  The function also had some
> hacks for .init_array and .fini_array to affect how
> _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data behaved for those sections.  It's
> cleaner to do that in _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data.  So that all
> goes and we now init sh_type and sh_flags for all known ABI sections
> in _bfd_elf_new_section_hook.  _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data is
> changed to suit, and now doesn't just single out SHT_INIT_ARRAY and
> SHT_FINI_ARRAY but rather any of the special section types.
> 
> The _bfd_elf_new_section_hook change resulting in
> +FAIL: ld-aarch64/erratum835769-843419
> exposing some errors in the aarch64 backend.  elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs
> should not be looking at linker created sections in the stub bfd.  Nor
> should code like "symtab_hdr = &elf_tdata (input_bfd)->symtab_hdr" be
> run without first checking that input_bfd is ELF.

i'm looking at a 2.35 ld regression that affects
the aarch64 linux kernel and this commit might
have caused it.

opened
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=26378



> 
> 	* elf-bfd.h (elf_backend_section_flags): Remove flagword* param.
> 	* elf.c (_bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr): Set section flags before
> 	calling elf_backend_section_flags with adjusted params.  Use
> 	newsect->flags past that point.
> 	(_bfd_elf_new_section_hook): Always set sh_type and sh_flags for
> 	special sections.
> 	(_bfd_elf_init_private_section_data): Allow normal sh_type sections
> 	to have their type overridden, and all sh_flags but processor and
> 	os specific.
> 	* elf32-arm.c (elf32_arm_section_flags): Adjust for changed params.
> 	* elf32-mep.c (mep_elf_section_flags): Likewise.
> 	* elf32-nios2.c (nios2_elf32_section_flags): Likewise.
> 	* elf64-alpha.c (elf64_alpha_section_flags): Likewise.
> 	* elf64-ia64-vms.c (elf64_ia64_section_flags): Likewise.
> 	* elfnn-ia64.c (elfNN_ia64_section_flags): Likewise.
> 	* elfnn-aarch64.c (elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs): Exclude the linker
> 	stub BFD and non-aarch64 input files when scanning for stubs.
> 
> diff --git a/bfd/elf-bfd.h b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
> index b930761363..61e733f068 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf-bfd.h
> +++ b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
> @@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ struct elf_backend_data
>    /* A function to convert machine dependent ELF section header flags to
>       BFD internal section header flags.  */
>    bfd_boolean (*elf_backend_section_flags)
> -    (flagword *, const Elf_Internal_Shdr *);
> +    (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *);
>  
>    /* A function that returns a struct containing ELF section flags and
>       type for the given BFD section.   */
> diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
> index 265fc87ad5..fcd84d2d17 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf.c
> +++ b/bfd/elf.c
> @@ -1114,14 +1114,14 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
>        && elf_next_in_group (newsect) == NULL)
>      flags |= SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_LINK_DUPLICATES_DISCARD;
>  
> +  if (!bfd_set_section_flags (newsect, flags))
> +    return FALSE;
> +
>    bed = get_elf_backend_data (abfd);
>    if (bed->elf_backend_section_flags)
> -    if (! bed->elf_backend_section_flags (&flags, hdr))
> +    if (!bed->elf_backend_section_flags (hdr))
>        return FALSE;
>  
> -  if (!bfd_set_section_flags (newsect, flags))
> -    return FALSE;
> -
>    /* We do not parse the PT_NOTE segments as we are interested even in the
>       separate debug info files which may have the segments offsets corrupted.
>       PT_NOTEs from the core files are currently not parsed using BFD.  */
> @@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
>        free (contents);
>      }
>  
> -  if ((flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
> +  if ((newsect->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
>      {
>        Elf_Internal_Phdr *phdr;
>        unsigned int i, nload;
> @@ -1163,7 +1163,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
>  	       || phdr->p_type == PT_TLS)
>  	      && ELF_SECTION_IN_SEGMENT (hdr, phdr))
>  	    {
> -	      if ((flags & SEC_LOAD) == 0)
> +	      if ((newsect->flags & SEC_LOAD) == 0)
>  		newsect->lma = (phdr->p_paddr
>  				+ hdr->sh_addr - phdr->p_vaddr);
>  	      else
> @@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
>  
>    /* Compress/decompress DWARF debug sections with names: .debug_* and
>       .zdebug_*, after the section flags is set.  */
> -  if ((flags & SEC_DEBUGGING)
> +  if ((newsect->flags & SEC_DEBUGGING)
>        && ((name[1] == 'd' && name[6] == '_')
>  	  || (name[1] == 'z' && name[7] == '_')))
>      {
> @@ -2900,28 +2900,13 @@ _bfd_elf_new_section_hook (bfd *abfd, asection *sec)
>    bed = get_elf_backend_data (abfd);
>    sec->use_rela_p = bed->default_use_rela_p;
>  
> -  /* When we read a file, we don't need to set ELF section type and
> -     flags.  They will be overridden in _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr
> -     anyway.  We will set ELF section type and flags for all linker
> -     created sections.  If user specifies BFD section flags, we will
> -     set ELF section type and flags based on BFD section flags in
> -     elf_fake_sections.  Special handling for .init_array/.fini_array
> -     output sections since they may contain .ctors/.dtors input
> -     sections.  We don't want _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data to
> -     copy ELF section type from .ctors/.dtors input sections.  */
> -  if (abfd->direction != read_direction
> -      || (sec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
> +  /* Set up ELF section type and flags for newly created sections, if
> +     there is an ABI mandated section.  */
> +  ssect = (*bed->get_sec_type_attr) (abfd, sec);
> +  if (ssect != NULL)
>      {
> -      ssect = (*bed->get_sec_type_attr) (abfd, sec);
> -      if (ssect != NULL
> -	  && (!sec->flags
> -	      || (sec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0
> -	      || ssect->type == SHT_INIT_ARRAY
> -	      || ssect->type == SHT_FINI_ARRAY))
> -	{
> -	  elf_section_type (sec) = ssect->type;
> -	  elf_section_flags (sec) = ssect->attr;
> -	}
> +      elf_section_type (sec) = ssect->type;
> +      elf_section_flags (sec) = ssect->attr;
>      }
>  
>    return _bfd_generic_new_section_hook (abfd, sec);
> @@ -7757,10 +7742,19 @@ _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data (bfd *ibfd,
>  
>    BFD_ASSERT (elf_section_data (osec) != NULL);
>  
> -  /* For objcopy and relocatable link, don't copy the output ELF
> -     section type from input if the output BFD section flags have been
> -     set to something different.  For a final link allow some flags
> -     that the linker clears to differ.  */
> +  /* If this is a known ABI section, ELF section type and flags may
> +     have been set up when OSEC was created.  For normal sections we
> +     allow the user to override the type and flags other than
> +     SHF_MASKOS and SHF_MASKPROC.  */
> +  if (elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_PROGBITS
> +      || elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_NOTE
> +      || elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_NOBITS)
> +    elf_section_type (osec) = SHT_NULL;
> +  /* For objcopy and relocatable link, copy the ELF section type from
> +     the input file if the BFD section flags are the same.  (If they
> +     are different the user may be doing something like
> +     "objcopy --set-section-flags .text=alloc,data".)  For a final
> +     link allow some flags that the linker clears to differ.  */
>    if (elf_section_type (osec) == SHT_NULL
>        && (osec->flags == isec->flags
>  	  || (final_link
> @@ -7769,8 +7763,8 @@ _bfd_elf_init_private_section_data (bfd *ibfd,
>      elf_section_type (osec) = elf_section_type (isec);
>  
>    /* FIXME: Is this correct for all OS/PROC specific flags?  */
> -  elf_section_flags (osec) |= (elf_section_flags (isec)
> -			       & (SHF_MASKOS | SHF_MASKPROC));
> +  elf_section_flags (osec) = (elf_section_flags (isec)
> +			      & (SHF_MASKOS | SHF_MASKPROC));
>  
>    /* Copy sh_info from input for mbind section.  */
>    if ((elf_tdata (ibfd)->has_gnu_osabi & elf_gnu_osabi_mbind) != 0
> diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arm.c b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
> index e9d93cc3b8..c899aeb8f6 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf32-arm.c
> +++ b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
> @@ -20230,10 +20230,10 @@ elf32_arm_get_synthetic_symtab (bfd *abfd,
>  }
>  
>  static bfd_boolean
> -elf32_arm_section_flags (flagword *flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr * hdr)
> +elf32_arm_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
>  {
>    if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_ARM_PURECODE)
> -    *flags |= SEC_ELF_PURECODE;
> +    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_ELF_PURECODE;
>    return TRUE;
>  }
>  
> diff --git a/bfd/elf32-mep.c b/bfd/elf32-mep.c
> index 14a6d22621..c5775de649 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf32-mep.c
> +++ b/bfd/elf32-mep.c
> @@ -717,10 +717,10 @@ mep_elf_object_p (bfd * abfd)
>  }
>  
>  static bfd_boolean
> -mep_elf_section_flags (flagword * flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr * hdr)
> +mep_elf_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
>  {
>    if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_MEP_VLIW)
> -    * flags |= SEC_MEP_VLIW;
> +    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_MEP_VLIW;
>    return TRUE;
>  }
>  
> diff --git a/bfd/elf32-nios2.c b/bfd/elf32-nios2.c
> index 17e97bca5a..2fcfe6fd6c 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf32-nios2.c
> +++ b/bfd/elf32-nios2.c
> @@ -4539,10 +4539,10 @@ nios2_elf32_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
>  /* Implement elf-backend_section_flags:
>     Convert NIOS2 specific section flags to bfd internal section flags.  */
>  static bfd_boolean
> -nios2_elf32_section_flags (flagword *flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
> +nios2_elf32_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
>  {
>    if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_NIOS2_GPREL)
> -    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
> +    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
>  
>    return TRUE;
>  }
> diff --git a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
> index ed18202b71..9d2d7f1d4d 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
> +++ b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
> @@ -1180,10 +1180,10 @@ elf64_alpha_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
>  /* Convert Alpha specific section flags to bfd internal section flags.  */
>  
>  static bfd_boolean
> -elf64_alpha_section_flags (flagword *flags, const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
> +elf64_alpha_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
>  {
>    if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_ALPHA_GPREL)
> -    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
> +    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
>  
>    return TRUE;
>  }
> diff --git a/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c b/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c
> index 636d7897ee..d40fa4277a 100644
> --- a/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c
> +++ b/bfd/elf64-ia64-vms.c
> @@ -822,11 +822,10 @@ is_unwind_section_name (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, const char *name)
>     flag.  */
>  
>  static bfd_boolean
> -elf64_ia64_section_flags (flagword *flags,
> -			  const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
> +elf64_ia64_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
>  {
>    if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_IA_64_SHORT)
> -    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
> +    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
>  
>    return TRUE;
>  }
> diff --git a/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c b/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
> index 35dd8ab167..ba3ad45468 100644
> --- a/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
> +++ b/bfd/elfnn-aarch64.c
> @@ -4313,9 +4313,15 @@ elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs (bfd *output_bfd,
>  
>        for (input_bfd = info->input_bfds;
>  	   input_bfd != NULL; input_bfd = input_bfd->link.next)
> -	if (!_bfd_aarch64_erratum_835769_scan (input_bfd, info,
> -					       &num_erratum_835769_fixes))
> -	  return FALSE;
> +	{
> +	  if (!is_aarch64_elf (input_bfd)
> +	      || (input_bfd->flags & BFD_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
> +	    continue;
> +
> +	  if (!_bfd_aarch64_erratum_835769_scan (input_bfd, info,
> +						 &num_erratum_835769_fixes))
> +	    return FALSE;
> +	}
>  
>        _bfd_aarch64_resize_stubs (htab);
>        (*htab->layout_sections_again) ();
> @@ -4331,6 +4337,10 @@ elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs (bfd *output_bfd,
>  	{
>  	  asection *section;
>  
> +	  if (!is_aarch64_elf (input_bfd)
> +	      || (input_bfd->flags & BFD_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
> +	    continue;
> +
>  	  for (section = input_bfd->sections;
>  	       section != NULL;
>  	       section = section->next)
> @@ -4353,6 +4363,10 @@ elfNN_aarch64_size_stubs (bfd *output_bfd,
>  	  asection *section;
>  	  Elf_Internal_Sym *local_syms = NULL;
>  
> +	  if (!is_aarch64_elf (input_bfd)
> +	      || (input_bfd->flags & BFD_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
> +	    continue;
> +
>  	  /* We'll need the symbol table in a second.  */
>  	  symtab_hdr = &elf_tdata (input_bfd)->symtab_hdr;
>  	  if (symtab_hdr->sh_info == 0)
> diff --git a/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c b/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c
> index 1df2aa842c..208b85df90 100644
> --- a/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c
> +++ b/bfd/elfnn-ia64.c
> @@ -942,11 +942,10 @@ elfNN_ia64_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
>     flag.  */
>  
>  static bfd_boolean
> -elfNN_ia64_section_flags (flagword *flags,
> -			  const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
> +elfNN_ia64_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
>  {
>    if (hdr->sh_flags & SHF_IA_64_SHORT)
> -    *flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
> +    hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
>  
>    return TRUE;
>  }
> 
> -- 
> Alan Modra
> Australia Development Lab, IBM

--