hakmem/docs/status/PHASE15_BUG_ROOT_CAUSE_FINAL.md

# Phase 15 Bug - Root Cause Analysis (FINAL)

**Date**: 2025-11-15  
**Status**: ROOT CAUSE IDENTIFIED ✅

## Summary

Page-aligned Tiny allocations (`0x...000`) reach ExternalGuard → `__libc_free()` → crash.

## Evidence

### Phase 14 vs Phase 15 Behavior

| Phase | Test Result | Behavior |
|-------|-------------|----------|
| Phase 14 | ✅ PASS (5.69M ops/s) | No crash with same test |
| Phase 15 | ❌ CRASH | ExternalGuard → `__libc_free()` failure |

### Crash Pattern

```
[ExternalGuard] ptr=0x706c21a00000 offset_in_page=0x0 (page-aligned!)
[ExternalGuard] hak_super_lookup(ptr) = (nil)  ← SuperSlab registry: NOT FOUND
[ExternalGuard] FrontGate classification: domain=MIDCAND
[ExternalGuard] ptr=0x706c21a00000 delegated to __libc_free
free(): invalid pointer  ← CRASH
```

## Root Cause

### 1. Page-Aligned Tiny Allocations Exist

**Proof** (mathematical):
- Block stride = user_size + 1 (with 1-byte header)
- Example: 257B stride (class 5)
- Carved pointer: `base + (carved_index × 257)`
- User pointer: `carved_ptr + 1`
- For page-aligned user_ptr: `(n × 257) mod 4096 == 4095`
- Since gcd(257, 4096) = 1, **solution exists**!

**Allocation flow**:
```c
// hakmem_tiny.c:160-163
#define HAK_RET_ALLOC(cls, base_ptr) do { \
    *(uint8_t*)(base_ptr) = HEADER_MAGIC | ((cls) & HEADER_CLASS_MASK); \
    return (void*)((uint8_t*)(base_ptr) + 1);  ← Returns user_ptr
} while(0)
```

If `base_ptr = 0x...FFF`, then `user_ptr = 0x...000` (PAGE-ALIGNED!).

### 2. Box FrontGate Classifies as MIDCAND (Correct by Design)

**front_gate_v2.h:52-59**:
```c
// CRITICAL: Same-page guard (header must be in same page as ptr)
uintptr_t offset_in_page = (uintptr_t)ptr & 0xFFF;
if (offset_in_page == 0) {
    // Page-aligned pointer → no header in same page → must be MIDCAND
    result.domain = FG_DOMAIN_MIDCAND;
    return result;
}
```

**Reason**: Reading header at `ptr-1` would cross page boundary (unsafe).  
**Result**: Page-aligned Tiny allocations → classified as MIDCAND ✅

### 3. MIDCAND Routing → SuperSlab Registry Lookup FAILS

**hak_free_api.inc.h** MIDCAND path:
1. Mid registry lookup → NULL (not Mid allocation)
2. L25 registry lookup → NULL (not L25 allocation)
3. **SuperSlab registry lookup** → **NULL** ❌ (BUG!)
4. ExternalGuard → `__libc_free()` → crash

**Why SuperSlab lookup fails**:

**Theory A**: Pointer is NOT from hakmem
- **REJECTED**: System malloc test shows no page-aligned pointers for 16-1040B

**Theory B**: SuperSlab is not registered
- **LIKELY**: Race condition, registry exhaustion, or allocation before registration

**Theory C**: Registry lookup bug
- **POSSIBLE**: Hash collision, probe limit, or alignment mismatch

### 4. Why Phase 14 Works but Phase 15 Doesn't

**Phase 14**: Old classification system (no Box FrontGate/ExternalGuard)
- Uses different routing logic
- May have headerless path for page-aligned pointers
- Different SuperSlab lookup implementation?

**Phase 15**: New Box architecture
- Box FrontGate → classifies page-aligned as MIDCAND
- Box routing → SuperSlab lookup
- Box ExternalGuard → delegates to `__libc_free()` → **CRASH**

## Fix Options

### Option 1: Fix SuperSlab Registry Lookup ✅ **RECOMMENDED**

**Issue**: `hak_super_lookup(0x706c21a00000)` returns NULL for valid hakmem allocation.

**Root cause options**:
1. SuperSlab not registered (allocation race)
2. Registry full/hash collision
3. Lookup alignment mismatch

**Investigation needed**:
- Add debug logging to `hak_super_register()` / `hak_super_lookup()`
- Check if SuperSlab exists for this pointer
- Verify registration happens before user pointer is returned

**Fix**: Ensure all SuperSlabs are properly registered before returning user pointers.

### Option 2: Add Page-Aligned Special Path in FrontGate ❌ NOT RECOMMENDED

**Idea**: Classify page-aligned Tiny pointers as TINY instead of MIDCAND.

**Problems**:
- Can't read header at `ptr-1` (page boundary violation)
- Would need alternative classification (size class lookup?)
- Violates Box FG design (1-byte header only)

### Option 3: Fix ExternalGuard Fallback ⚠️ WORKAROUND

**Idea**: ExternalGuard should NOT delegate unknown pointers to `__libc_free()`.

**Change**:
```c
// Before (BUG):
if (!is_mapped) return 0;  // Delegate to __libc_free (crashes!)

// After (FIX):
if (!is_mapped) {
    // Unknown pointer - log and return success (leak vs crash tradeoff)
    fprintf(stderr, "[ExternalGuard] WARNING: Unknown pointer %p (ignored)\n", ptr);
    return 1;  // Claim handled (prevent __libc_free crash)
}
```

**Cons**: Memory leak for genuinely external pointers.

## Next Steps

1. **Add SuperSlab Registry Debug Logging** ✅
   - Log all `hak_super_register()` calls
   - Log all `hak_super_lookup()` failures
   - Track when `0x706c21a00000` is allocated and registered

2. **Verify Registration Timing**
   - Ensure SuperSlab is registered BEFORE user pointers are returned
   - Check for race conditions in allocation path

3. **Implement Fix Option 1**
   - Fix SuperSlab registry lookup
   - Verify with 100K iterations test

## Conclusion

**Primary Bug**: SuperSlab registry lookup fails for page-aligned Tiny allocations.

**Secondary Bug**: ExternalGuard unconditionally delegates to `__libc_free()` (should handle unknown pointers safely).

**Recommended Fix**: Fix SuperSlab registry (Option 1) + improve ExternalGuard safety (Option 3 as backup).