Merge release-20200804.0-39-g93cb66825 (automated)

8 files changed, 318 insertions, 195 deletions

diff --git a/pkg/abi/linux/linux_abi_autogen_unsafe.go b/pkg/abi/linux/linux_abi_autogen_unsafe.go
index ad7e8b46b..07e6c416f 100644
--- a/pkg/abi/linux/linux_abi_autogen_unsafe.go
+++ b/pkg/abi/linux/linux_abi_autogen_unsafe.go
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func (s *Statx) UnmarshalBytes(src []byte) {
 // Packed implements marshal.Marshallable.Packed.
 //go:nosplit
 func (s *Statx) Packed() bool {
-    return s.Ctime.Packed() && s.Mtime.Packed() && s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed()
+    return s.Mtime.Packed() && s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed() && s.Ctime.Packed()
 }
 
 // MarshalUnsafe implements marshal.Marshallable.MarshalUnsafe.
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func (s *Statx) MarshalUnsafe(dst []byte) {
 
 // UnmarshalUnsafe implements marshal.Marshallable.UnmarshalUnsafe.
 func (s *Statx) UnmarshalUnsafe(src []byte) {
-    if s.Btime.Packed() && s.Ctime.Packed() && s.Mtime.Packed() && s.Atime.Packed() {
+    if s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed() && s.Ctime.Packed() && s.Mtime.Packed() {
         safecopy.CopyOut(unsafe.Pointer(s), src)
     } else {
         // Type Statx doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fallback to UnmarshalBytes.
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func (s *Statx) UnmarshalUnsafe(src []byte) {
 // CopyOutN implements marshal.Marshallable.CopyOutN.
 //go:nosplit
 func (s *Statx) CopyOutN(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr, limit int) (int, error) {
-    if !s.Mtime.Packed() && s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed() && s.Ctime.Packed() {
+    if !s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed() && s.Ctime.Packed() && s.Mtime.Packed() {
         // Type Statx doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fall back to MarshalBytes.
         buf := task.CopyScratchBuffer(s.SizeBytes()) // escapes: okay.
         s.MarshalBytes(buf) // escapes: fallback.
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func (s *Statx) CopyIn(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr) (int, error) {
 
 // WriteTo implements io.WriterTo.WriteTo.
 func (s *Statx) WriteTo(w io.Writer) (int64, error) {
-    if !s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed() && s.Ctime.Packed() && s.Mtime.Packed() {
+    if !s.Ctime.Packed() && s.Mtime.Packed() && s.Atime.Packed() && s.Btime.Packed() {
         // Type Statx doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fall back to MarshalBytes.
         buf := make([]byte, s.SizeBytes())
         s.MarshalBytes(buf)
@@ -1635,7 +1635,7 @@ func (i *IPTEntry) Packed() bool {
 
 // MarshalUnsafe implements marshal.Marshallable.MarshalUnsafe.
 func (i *IPTEntry) MarshalUnsafe(dst []byte) {
-    if i.IP.Packed() && i.Counters.Packed() {
+    if i.Counters.Packed() && i.IP.Packed() {
         safecopy.CopyIn(dst, unsafe.Pointer(i))
     } else {
         // Type IPTEntry doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fallback to MarshalBytes.
@@ -1656,7 +1656,7 @@ func (i *IPTEntry) UnmarshalUnsafe(src []byte) {
 // CopyOutN implements marshal.Marshallable.CopyOutN.
 //go:nosplit
 func (i *IPTEntry) CopyOutN(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr, limit int) (int, error) {
-    if !i.Counters.Packed() && i.IP.Packed() {
+    if !i.IP.Packed() && i.Counters.Packed() {
         // Type IPTEntry doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fall back to MarshalBytes.
         buf := task.CopyScratchBuffer(i.SizeBytes()) // escapes: okay.
         i.MarshalBytes(buf) // escapes: fallback.
@@ -1823,7 +1823,7 @@ func (i *IPTIP) Packed() bool {
 
 // MarshalUnsafe implements marshal.Marshallable.MarshalUnsafe.
 func (i *IPTIP) MarshalUnsafe(dst []byte) {
-    if i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() {
+    if i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() && i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() {
         safecopy.CopyIn(dst, unsafe.Pointer(i))
     } else {
         // Type IPTIP doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fallback to MarshalBytes.
@@ -1833,7 +1833,7 @@ func (i *IPTIP) MarshalUnsafe(dst []byte) {
 
 // UnmarshalUnsafe implements marshal.Marshallable.UnmarshalUnsafe.
 func (i *IPTIP) UnmarshalUnsafe(src []byte) {
-    if i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() && i.Src.Packed() {
+    if i.DstMask.Packed() && i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() {
         safecopy.CopyOut(unsafe.Pointer(i), src)
     } else {
         // Type IPTIP doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fallback to UnmarshalBytes.
@@ -1844,7 +1844,7 @@ func (i *IPTIP) UnmarshalUnsafe(src []byte) {
 // CopyOutN implements marshal.Marshallable.CopyOutN.
 //go:nosplit
 func (i *IPTIP) CopyOutN(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr, limit int) (int, error) {
-    if !i.DstMask.Packed() && i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() {
+    if !i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() {
         // Type IPTIP doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fall back to MarshalBytes.
         buf := task.CopyScratchBuffer(i.SizeBytes()) // escapes: okay.
         i.MarshalBytes(buf) // escapes: fallback.
@@ -1874,7 +1874,7 @@ func (i *IPTIP) CopyOut(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr) (int, error) {
 // CopyIn implements marshal.Marshallable.CopyIn.
 //go:nosplit
 func (i *IPTIP) CopyIn(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr) (int, error) {
-    if !i.DstMask.Packed() && i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() {
+    if !i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() {
         // Type IPTIP doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fall back to UnmarshalBytes.
         buf := task.CopyScratchBuffer(i.SizeBytes()) // escapes: okay.
         length, err := task.CopyInBytes(addr, buf) // escapes: okay.
@@ -1900,7 +1900,7 @@ func (i *IPTIP) CopyIn(task marshal.Task, addr usermem.Addr) (int, error) {
 
 // WriteTo implements io.WriterTo.WriteTo.
 func (i *IPTIP) WriteTo(w io.Writer) (int64, error) {
-    if !i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() && i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() {
+    if !i.Src.Packed() && i.Dst.Packed() && i.SrcMask.Packed() && i.DstMask.Packed() {
         // Type IPTIP doesn't have a packed layout in memory, fall back to MarshalBytes.
         buf := make([]byte, i.SizeBytes())
         i.MarshalBytes(buf)
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/directory.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/directory.go
index 1679066ba..2a8011eb4 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/directory.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/directory.go
@@ -90,10 +90,8 @@ func (d *dentry) createSyntheticChildLocked(opts *createSyntheticOpts) {
 		uid:       uint32(opts.kuid),
 		gid:       uint32(opts.kgid),
 		blockSize: usermem.PageSize, // arbitrary
-		handle: handle{
-			fd: -1,
-		},
-		nlink: uint32(2),
+		hostFD:    -1,
+		nlink:     uint32(2),
 	}
 	switch opts.mode.FileType() {
 	case linux.S_IFDIR:
@@ -205,14 +203,14 @@ func (d *dentry) getDirents(ctx context.Context) ([]vfs.Dirent, error) {
 		off := uint64(0)
 		const count = 64 * 1024 // for consistency with the vfs1 client
 		d.handleMu.RLock()
-		if !d.handleReadable {
+		if d.readFile.isNil() {
 			// This should not be possible because a readable handle should
 			// have been opened when the calling directoryFD was opened.
 			d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 			panic("gofer.dentry.getDirents called without a readable handle")
 		}
 		for {
-			p9ds, err := d.handle.file.readdir(ctx, off, count)
+			p9ds, err := d.readFile.readdir(ctx, off, count)
 			if err != nil {
 				d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 				return nil, err
@@ -304,5 +302,5 @@ func (fd *directoryFD) Seek(ctx context.Context, offset int64, whence int32) (in
 
 // Sync implements vfs.FileDescriptionImpl.Sync.
 func (fd *directoryFD) Sync(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return fd.dentry().handle.sync(ctx)
+	return fd.dentry().syncRemoteFile(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go
index 582b744bb..eaef2594d 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (fs *filesystem) Sync(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 	// Sync regular files.
 	for _, d := range ds {
-		err := d.syncSharedHandle(ctx)
+		err := d.syncCachedFile(ctx)
 		d.DecRef(ctx)
 		if err != nil && retErr == nil {
 			retErr = err
@@ -1107,12 +1107,18 @@ func (d *dentry) createAndOpenChildLocked(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.Resolving
 	useRegularFileFD := child.fileType() == linux.S_IFREG && !d.fs.opts.regularFilesUseSpecialFileFD
 	if useRegularFileFD {
 		child.handleMu.Lock()
-		child.handle.file = openFile
-		if fdobj != nil {
-			child.handle.fd = int32(fdobj.Release())
+		if vfs.MayReadFileWithOpenFlags(opts.Flags) {
+			child.readFile = openFile
+			if fdobj != nil {
+				child.hostFD = int32(fdobj.Release())
+			}
+		} else if fdobj != nil {
+			// Can't use fdobj if it's not readable.
+			fdobj.Close()
+		}
+		if vfs.MayWriteFileWithOpenFlags(opts.Flags) {
+			child.writeFile = openFile
 		}
-		child.handleReadable = vfs.MayReadFileWithOpenFlags(opts.Flags)
-		child.handleWritable = vfs.MayWriteFileWithOpenFlags(opts.Flags)
 		child.handleMu.Unlock()
 	}
 	// Insert the dentry into the tree.
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go
index 59323086d..f1d3bf911 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go
@@ -506,9 +506,9 @@ func (fs *filesystem) Release(ctx context.Context) {
 	for d := range fs.syncableDentries {
 		d.handleMu.Lock()
 		d.dataMu.Lock()
-		if d.handleWritable {
+		if h := d.writeHandleLocked(); h.isOpen() {
 			// Write dirty cached data to the remote file.
-			if err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, fs.mfp.MemoryFile(), d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
+			if err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, fs.mfp.MemoryFile(), h.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
 				log.Warningf("gofer.filesystem.Release: failed to flush dentry: %v", err)
 			}
 			// TODO(jamieliu): Do we need to flushf/fsync d?
@@ -518,9 +518,9 @@ func (fs *filesystem) Release(ctx context.Context) {
 		d.dirty.RemoveAll()
 		d.dataMu.Unlock()
 		// Close the host fd if one exists.
-		if d.handle.fd >= 0 {
-			syscall.Close(int(d.handle.fd))
-			d.handle.fd = -1
+		if d.hostFD >= 0 {
+			syscall.Close(int(d.hostFD))
+			d.hostFD = -1
 		}
 		d.handleMu.Unlock()
 	}
@@ -622,7 +622,12 @@ type dentry struct {
 	mtime int64
 	ctime int64
 	btime int64
-	// File size, protected by both metadataMu and dataMu (i.e. both must be
+	// File size, which differs from other metadata in two ways:
+	//
+	// - We make a best-effort attempt to keep it up to date even if
+	// !dentry.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() for the sake of O_APPEND writes.
+	//
+	// - size is protected by both metadataMu and dataMu (i.e. both must be
 	// locked to mutate it; locking either is sufficient to access it).
 	size uint64
 	// If this dentry does not represent a synthetic file, deleted is 0, and
@@ -643,30 +648,28 @@ type dentry struct {
 	// the file into memmap.MappingSpaces. mappings is protected by mapsMu.
 	mappings memmap.MappingSet
 
-	// If this dentry represents a regular file or directory:
-	//
-	// - handle is the I/O handle used by all regularFileFDs/directoryFDs
-	// representing this dentry.
-	//
-	// - handleReadable is true if handle is readable.
-	//
-	// - handleWritable is true if handle is writable.
-	//
-	// Invariants:
+	// - If this dentry represents a regular file or directory, readFile is the
+	// p9.File used for reads by all regularFileFDs/directoryFDs representing
+	// this dentry.
 	//
-	// - If handleReadable == handleWritable == false, then handle.file == nil
-	// (i.e. there is no open handle). Conversely, if handleReadable ||
-	// handleWritable == true, then handle.file != nil (i.e. there is an open
-	// handle).
+	// - If this dentry represents a regular file, writeFile is the p9.File
+	// used for writes by all regularFileFDs representing this dentry.
 	//
-	// - handleReadable and handleWritable cannot transition from true to false
-	// (i.e. handles may not be downgraded).
+	// - If this dentry represents a regular file, hostFD is the host FD used
+	// for memory mappings and I/O (when applicable) in preference to readFile
+	// and writeFile. hostFD is always readable; if !writeFile.isNil(), it must
+	// also be writable. If hostFD is -1, no such host FD is available.
 	//
 	// These fields are protected by handleMu.
-	handleMu       sync.RWMutex
-	handle         handle
-	handleReadable bool
-	handleWritable bool
+	//
+	// readFile and writeFile may or may not represent the same p9.File. Once
+	// either p9.File transitions from closed (isNil() == true) to open
+	// (isNil() == false), it may be mutated with handleMu locked, but cannot
+	// be closed until the dentry is destroyed.
+	handleMu  sync.RWMutex
+	readFile  p9file
+	writeFile p9file
+	hostFD    int32
 
 	dataMu sync.RWMutex
 
@@ -680,7 +683,7 @@ type dentry struct {
 	// tracks dirty segments in cache. dirty is protected by dataMu.
 	dirty fsutil.DirtySet
 
-	// pf implements platform.File for mappings of handle.fd.
+	// pf implements platform.File for mappings of hostFD.
 	pf dentryPlatformFile
 
 	// If this dentry represents a symbolic link, InteropModeShared is not in
@@ -742,9 +745,7 @@ func (fs *filesystem) newDentry(ctx context.Context, file p9file, qid p9.QID, ma
 		uid:       uint32(fs.opts.dfltuid),
 		gid:       uint32(fs.opts.dfltgid),
 		blockSize: usermem.PageSize,
-		handle: handle{
-			fd: -1,
-		},
+		hostFD:    -1,
 	}
 	d.pf.dentry = d
 	if mask.UID {
@@ -835,9 +836,13 @@ func (d *dentry) updateFromP9AttrsLocked(mask p9.AttrMask, attr *p9.Attr) {
 
 // Preconditions: !d.isSynthetic()
 func (d *dentry) updateFromGetattr(ctx context.Context) error {
-	// Use d.handle.file, which represents a 9P fid that has been opened, in
-	// preference to d.file, which represents a 9P fid that has not. This may
-	// be significantly more efficient in some implementations.
+	// Use d.readFile or d.writeFile, which represent 9P fids that have been
+	// opened, in preference to d.file, which represents a 9P fid that has not.
+	// This may be significantly more efficient in some implementations. Prefer
+	// d.writeFile over d.readFile since some filesystem implementations may
+	// update a writable handle's metadata after writes to that handle, without
+	// making metadata updates immediately visible to read-only handles
+	// representing the same file.
 	var (
 		file            p9file
 		handleMuRLocked bool
@@ -847,8 +852,11 @@ func (d *dentry) updateFromGetattr(ctx context.Context) error {
 	d.metadataMu.Lock()
 	defer d.metadataMu.Unlock()
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
-	if !d.handle.file.isNil() {
-		file = d.handle.file
+	if !d.writeFile.isNil() {
+		file = d.writeFile
+		handleMuRLocked = true
+	} else if !d.readFile.isNil() {
+		file = d.readFile
 		handleMuRLocked = true
 	} else {
 		file = d.file
@@ -973,8 +981,9 @@ func (d *dentry) setStat(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentials, opts *vfs
 				return err
 			}
 			if stat.Mask&linux.STATX_SIZE != 0 {
-				// Privatized copy-on-write mappings of truncated pages need to
-				// be invalidated even if InteropModeShared is in effect.
+				// d.size should be kept up to date, and privatized
+				// copy-on-write mappings of truncated pages need to be
+				// invalidated, even if InteropModeShared is in effect.
 				d.updateFileSizeLocked(stat.Size)
 			}
 		}
@@ -1245,22 +1254,31 @@ func (d *dentry) destroyLocked(ctx context.Context) {
 		panic("dentry.destroyLocked() called with references on the dentry")
 	}
 
+	mf := d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile()
 	d.handleMu.Lock()
-	if !d.handle.file.isNil() {
-		mf := d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile()
-		d.dataMu.Lock()
+	d.dataMu.Lock()
+	if h := d.writeHandleLocked(); h.isOpen() {
 		// Write dirty pages back to the remote filesystem.
-		if d.handleWritable {
-			if err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, mf, d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
-				log.Warningf("gofer.dentry.destroyLocked: failed to write dirty data back: %v", err)
-			}
+		if err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, mf, h.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
+			log.Warningf("gofer.dentry.destroyLocked: failed to write dirty data back: %v", err)
 		}
-		// Discard cached data.
-		d.cache.DropAll(mf)
-		d.dirty.RemoveAll()
-		d.dataMu.Unlock()
-		// Clunk open fids and close open host FDs.
-		d.handle.close(ctx)
+	}
+	// Discard cached data.
+	d.cache.DropAll(mf)
+	d.dirty.RemoveAll()
+	d.dataMu.Unlock()
+	// Clunk open fids and close open host FDs.
+	if !d.readFile.isNil() {
+		d.readFile.close(ctx)
+	}
+	if !d.writeFile.isNil() && d.readFile != d.writeFile {
+		d.writeFile.close(ctx)
+	}
+	d.readFile = p9file{}
+	d.writeFile = p9file{}
+	if d.hostFD >= 0 {
+		syscall.Close(int(d.hostFD))
+		d.hostFD = -1
 	}
 	d.handleMu.Unlock()
 
@@ -1393,80 +1411,120 @@ func (d *dentry) ensureSharedHandle(ctx context.Context, read, write, trunc bool
 	// O_TRUNC).
 	if !trunc {
 		d.handleMu.RLock()
-		if (!read || d.handleReadable) && (!write || d.handleWritable) {
-			// The current handle is sufficient.
+		if (!read || !d.readFile.isNil()) && (!write || !d.writeFile.isNil()) {
+			// Current handles are sufficient.
 			d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 			return nil
 		}
 		d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 	}
 
-	haveOldFD := false
+	fdToClose := int32(-1)
+	invalidateTranslations := false
 	d.handleMu.Lock()
-	if (read && !d.handleReadable) || (write && !d.handleWritable) || trunc {
-		// Get a new handle.
-		wantReadable := d.handleReadable || read
-		wantWritable := d.handleWritable || write
-		h, err := openHandle(ctx, d.file, wantReadable, wantWritable, trunc)
+	if (read && d.readFile.isNil()) || (write && d.writeFile.isNil()) || trunc {
+		// Get a new handle. If this file has been opened for both reading and
+		// writing, try to get a single handle that is usable for both:
+		//
+		// - Writable memory mappings of a host FD require that the host FD is
+		// opened for both reading and writing.
+		//
+		// - NOTE(b/141991141): Some filesystems may not ensure coherence
+		// between multiple handles for the same file.
+		openReadable := !d.readFile.isNil() || read
+		openWritable := !d.writeFile.isNil() || write
+		h, err := openHandle(ctx, d.file, openReadable, openWritable, trunc)
+		if err == syserror.EACCES && (openReadable != read || openWritable != write) {
+			// It may not be possible to use a single handle for both
+			// reading and writing, since permissions on the file may have
+			// changed to e.g. disallow reading after previously being
+			// opened for reading. In this case, we have no choice but to
+			// use separate handles for reading and writing.
+			ctx.Debugf("gofer.dentry.ensureSharedHandle: bifurcating read/write handles for dentry %p", d)
+			openReadable = read
+			openWritable = write
+			h, err = openHandle(ctx, d.file, openReadable, openWritable, trunc)
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			d.handleMu.Unlock()
 			return err
 		}
-		if !d.handle.file.isNil() {
-			// Check that old and new handles are compatible: If the old handle
-			// includes a host file descriptor but the new one does not, or
-			// vice versa, old and new memory mappings may be incoherent.
-			haveOldFD = d.handle.fd >= 0
-			haveNewFD := h.fd >= 0
-			if haveOldFD != haveNewFD {
-				d.handleMu.Unlock()
-				ctx.Warningf("gofer.dentry.ensureSharedHandle: can't change host FD availability from %v to %v across dentry handle upgrade", haveOldFD, haveNewFD)
-				h.close(ctx)
-				return syserror.EIO
-			}
-			if haveOldFD {
-				// We may have raced with callers of d.pf.FD() that are now
-				// using the old file descriptor, preventing us from safely
-				// closing it. We could handle this by invalidating existing
-				// memmap.Translations, but this is expensive. Instead, use
-				// dup3 to make the old file descriptor refer to the new file
-				// description, then close the new file descriptor (which is no
-				// longer needed). Racing callers may use the old or new file
-				// description, but this doesn't matter since they refer to the
-				// same file (unless d.fs.opts.overlayfsStaleRead is true,
-				// which we handle separately).
-				if err := syscall.Dup3(int(h.fd), int(d.handle.fd), syscall.O_CLOEXEC); err != nil {
+
+		if d.hostFD < 0 && openReadable && h.fd >= 0 {
+			// We have no existing FD; use the new FD for at least reading.
+			d.hostFD = h.fd
+		} else if d.hostFD >= 0 && d.writeFile.isNil() && openWritable {
+			// We have an existing read-only FD, but the file has just been
+			// opened for writing, so we need to start supporting writable memory
+			// mappings. This may race with callers of d.pf.FD() using the existing
+			// FD, so in most cases we need to delay closing the old FD until after
+			// invalidating memmap.Translations that might have observed it.
+			if !openReadable || h.fd < 0 {
+				// We don't have a read/write FD, so we have no FD that can be
+				// used to create writable memory mappings. Switch to using the
+				// internal page cache.
+				invalidateTranslations = true
+				fdToClose = d.hostFD
+				d.hostFD = -1
+			} else if d.fs.opts.overlayfsStaleRead {
+				// We do have a read/write FD, but it may not be coherent with
+				// the existing read-only FD, so we must switch to mappings of
+				// the new FD in both the application and sentry.
+				if err := d.pf.hostFileMapper.RegenerateMappings(int(h.fd)); err != nil {
 					d.handleMu.Unlock()
-					ctx.Warningf("gofer.dentry.ensureSharedHandle: failed to dup fd %d to fd %d: %v", h.fd, d.handle.fd, err)
+					ctx.Warningf("gofer.dentry.ensureSharedHandle: failed to replace sentry mappings of old FD with mappings of new FD: %v", err)
 					h.close(ctx)
 					return err
 				}
-				syscall.Close(int(h.fd))
-				h.fd = d.handle.fd
-				if d.fs.opts.overlayfsStaleRead {
-					// Replace sentry mappings of the old FD with mappings of
-					// the new FD, since the two are not necessarily coherent.
-					if err := d.pf.hostFileMapper.RegenerateMappings(int(h.fd)); err != nil {
-						d.handleMu.Unlock()
-						ctx.Warningf("gofer.dentry.ensureSharedHandle: failed to replace sentry mappings of old FD with mappings of new FD: %v", err)
-						h.close(ctx)
-						return err
-					}
+				invalidateTranslations = true
+				fdToClose = d.hostFD
+				d.hostFD = h.fd
+			} else {
+				// We do have a read/write FD. To avoid invalidating existing
+				// memmap.Translations (which is expensive), use dup3 to make
+				// the old file descriptor refer to the new file description,
+				// then close the new file descriptor (which is no longer
+				// needed). Racing callers of d.pf.FD() may use the old or new
+				// file description, but this doesn't matter since they refer
+				// to the same file, and any racing mappings must be read-only.
+				if err := syscall.Dup3(int(h.fd), int(d.hostFD), syscall.O_CLOEXEC); err != nil {
+					oldHostFD := d.hostFD
+					d.handleMu.Unlock()
+					ctx.Warningf("gofer.dentry.ensureSharedHandle: failed to dup fd %d to fd %d: %v", h.fd, oldHostFD, err)
+					h.close(ctx)
+					return err
 				}
-				// Clunk the old fid before making the new handle visible (by
-				// unlocking d.handleMu).
-				d.handle.file.close(ctx)
+				fdToClose = h.fd
 			}
+		} else {
+			// h.fd is not useful.
+			fdToClose = h.fd
+		}
+
+		// Switch to new fids.
+		var oldReadFile p9file
+		if openReadable {
+			oldReadFile = d.readFile
+			d.readFile = h.file
+		}
+		var oldWriteFile p9file
+		if openWritable {
+			oldWriteFile = d.writeFile
+			d.writeFile = h.file
+		}
+		// NOTE(b/141991141): Clunk old fids before making new fids visible (by
+		// unlocking d.handleMu).
+		if !oldReadFile.isNil() {
+			oldReadFile.close(ctx)
+		}
+		if !oldWriteFile.isNil() && oldReadFile != oldWriteFile {
+			oldWriteFile.close(ctx)
 		}
-		// Switch to the new handle.
-		d.handle = h
-		d.handleReadable = wantReadable
-		d.handleWritable = wantWritable
 	}
 	d.handleMu.Unlock()
 
-	if d.fs.opts.overlayfsStaleRead && haveOldFD {
-		// Invalidate application mappings that may be using the old FD; they
+	if invalidateTranslations {
+		// Invalidate application mappings that may be using an old FD; they
 		// will be replaced with mappings using the new FD after future calls
 		// to d.Translate(). This requires holding d.mapsMu, which precedes
 		// d.handleMu in the lock order.
@@ -1474,7 +1532,51 @@ func (d *dentry) ensureSharedHandle(ctx context.Context, read, write, trunc bool
 		d.mappings.InvalidateAll(memmap.InvalidateOpts{})
 		d.mapsMu.Unlock()
 	}
+	if fdToClose >= 0 {
+		syscall.Close(int(fdToClose))
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
 
+// Preconditions: d.handleMu must be locked.
+func (d *dentry) readHandleLocked() handle {
+	return handle{
+		file: d.readFile,
+		fd:   d.hostFD,
+	}
+}
+
+// Preconditions: d.handleMu must be locked.
+func (d *dentry) writeHandleLocked() handle {
+	return handle{
+		file: d.writeFile,
+		fd:   d.hostFD,
+	}
+}
+
+func (d *dentry) syncRemoteFile(ctx context.Context) error {
+	d.handleMu.RLock()
+	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
+	return d.syncRemoteFileLocked(ctx)
+}
+
+// Preconditions: d.handleMu must be locked.
+func (d *dentry) syncRemoteFileLocked(ctx context.Context) error {
+	// If we have a host FD, fsyncing it is likely to be faster than an fsync
+	// RPC.
+	if d.hostFD >= 0 {
+		ctx.UninterruptibleSleepStart(false)
+		err := syscall.Fsync(int(d.hostFD))
+		ctx.UninterruptibleSleepFinish(false)
+		return err
+	}
+	if !d.writeFile.isNil() {
+		return d.writeFile.fsync(ctx)
+	}
+	if !d.readFile.isNil() {
+		return d.readFile.fsync(ctx)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/handle.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/handle.go
index 8792ca4f2..104157512 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/handle.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/handle.go
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ func openHandle(ctx context.Context, file p9file, read, write, trunc bool) (hand
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func (h *handle) isOpen() bool {
+	return !h.file.isNil()
+}
+
 func (h *handle) close(ctx context.Context) {
 	h.file.close(ctx)
 	h.file = p9file{}
@@ -124,18 +128,3 @@ func (h *handle) writeFromBlocksAt(ctx context.Context, srcs safemem.BlockSeq, o
 	}
 	return cp, cperr
 }
-
-func (h *handle) sync(ctx context.Context) error {
-	// Handle most common case first.
-	if h.fd >= 0 {
-		ctx.UninterruptibleSleepStart(false)
-		err := syscall.Fsync(int(h.fd))
-		ctx.UninterruptibleSleepFinish(false)
-		return err
-	}
-	if h.file.isNil() {
-		// File hasn't been touched, there is nothing to sync.
-		return nil
-	}
-	return h.file.fsync(ctx)
-}
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/regular_file.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/regular_file.go
index db6bed4f6..7e1cbf065 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/regular_file.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/regular_file.go
@@ -64,34 +64,34 @@ func (fd *regularFileFD) OnClose(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
 	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
-	return d.handle.file.flush(ctx)
+	if d.writeFile.isNil() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return d.writeFile.flush(ctx)
 }
 
 // Allocate implements vfs.FileDescriptionImpl.Allocate.
 func (fd *regularFileFD) Allocate(ctx context.Context, mode, offset, length uint64) error {
-
 	d := fd.dentry()
 	d.metadataMu.Lock()
 	defer d.metadataMu.Unlock()
 
-	size := offset + length
-
 	// Allocating a smaller size is a noop.
-	if size <= d.size {
+	size := offset + length
+	if d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() && size <= d.size {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	d.handleMu.Lock()
-	defer d.handleMu.Unlock()
-
-	err := d.handle.file.allocate(ctx, p9.ToAllocateMode(mode), offset, length)
+	d.handleMu.RLock()
+	err := d.writeFile.allocate(ctx, p9.ToAllocateMode(mode), offset, length)
+	d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	d.dataMu.Lock()
 	atomic.StoreUint64(&d.size, size)
 	d.dataMu.Unlock()
-	if !d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
+	if d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
 		d.touchCMtimeLocked()
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (fd *regularFileFD) PRead(ctx context.Context, dst usermem.IOSequence, offs
 	// Check for reading at EOF before calling into MM (but not under
 	// InteropModeShared, which makes d.size unreliable).
 	d := fd.dentry()
-	if d.fs.opts.interop != InteropModeShared && uint64(offset) >= atomic.LoadUint64(&d.size) {
+	if d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() && uint64(offset) >= atomic.LoadUint64(&d.size) {
 		return 0, io.EOF
 	}
 
@@ -217,16 +217,23 @@ func (fd *regularFileFD) pwrite(ctx context.Context, src usermem.IOSequence, off
 
 	n, err := src.CopyInTo(ctx, rw)
 	if err != nil {
-		return n, offset, err
+		return n, offset + n, err
 	}
 	if n > 0 && fd.vfsfd.StatusFlags()&(linux.O_DSYNC|linux.O_SYNC) != 0 {
-		// Write dirty cached pages touched by the write back to the remote file.
+		// Note that if any of the following fail, then we can't guarantee that
+		// any data was actually written with the semantics of O_DSYNC or
+		// O_SYNC, so we return zero bytes written. Compare Linux's
+		// mm/filemap.c:generic_file_write_iter() =>
+		// include/linux/fs.h:generic_write_sync().
+		//
+		// Write dirty cached pages touched by the write back to the remote
+		// file.
 		if err := d.writeback(ctx, offset, src.NumBytes()); err != nil {
-			return n, offset, err
+			return 0, offset, err
 		}
 		// Request the remote filesystem to sync the remote file.
-		if err := d.handle.sync(ctx); err != nil {
-			return n, offset, err
+		if err := d.syncRemoteFile(ctx); err != nil {
+			return 0, offset, err
 		}
 	}
 	return n, offset + n, nil
@@ -317,10 +324,11 @@ func (rw *dentryReadWriter) ReadToBlocks(dsts safemem.BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
 	// coherence with memory-mapped I/O), or if InteropModeShared is in effect
 	// (which prevents us from caching file contents and makes dentry.size
 	// unreliable), or if the file was opened O_DIRECT, read directly from
-	// dentry.handle without locking dentry.dataMu.
+	// dentry.readHandleLocked() without locking dentry.dataMu.
 	rw.d.handleMu.RLock()
-	if (rw.d.handle.fd >= 0 && !rw.d.fs.opts.forcePageCache) || rw.d.fs.opts.interop == InteropModeShared || rw.direct {
-		n, err := rw.d.handle.readToBlocksAt(rw.ctx, dsts, rw.off)
+	h := rw.d.readHandleLocked()
+	if (rw.d.hostFD >= 0 && !rw.d.fs.opts.forcePageCache) || rw.d.fs.opts.interop == InteropModeShared || rw.direct {
+		n, err := h.readToBlocksAt(rw.ctx, dsts, rw.off)
 		rw.d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 		rw.off += n
 		return n, err
@@ -388,7 +396,7 @@ func (rw *dentryReadWriter) ReadToBlocks(dsts safemem.BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
 					End:   gapEnd,
 				}
 				optMR := gap.Range()
-				err := rw.d.cache.Fill(rw.ctx, reqMR, maxFillRange(reqMR, optMR), mf, usage.PageCache, rw.d.handle.readToBlocksAt)
+				err := rw.d.cache.Fill(rw.ctx, reqMR, maxFillRange(reqMR, optMR), mf, usage.PageCache, h.readToBlocksAt)
 				mf.MarkEvictable(rw.d, pgalloc.EvictableRange{optMR.Start, optMR.End})
 				seg, gap = rw.d.cache.Find(rw.off)
 				if !seg.Ok() {
@@ -403,7 +411,7 @@ func (rw *dentryReadWriter) ReadToBlocks(dsts safemem.BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
 			} else {
 				// Read directly from the file.
 				gapDsts := dsts.TakeFirst64(gapMR.Length())
-				n, err := rw.d.handle.readToBlocksAt(rw.ctx, gapDsts, gapMR.Start)
+				n, err := h.readToBlocksAt(rw.ctx, gapDsts, gapMR.Start)
 				done += n
 				rw.off += n
 				dsts = dsts.DropFirst64(n)
@@ -435,11 +443,12 @@ func (rw *dentryReadWriter) WriteFromBlocks(srcs safemem.BlockSeq) (uint64, erro
 	// If we have a mmappable host FD (which must be used here to ensure
 	// coherence with memory-mapped I/O), or if InteropModeShared is in effect
 	// (which prevents us from caching file contents), or if the file was
-	// opened with O_DIRECT, write directly to dentry.handle without locking
-	// dentry.dataMu.
+	// opened with O_DIRECT, write directly to dentry.writeHandleLocked()
+	// without locking dentry.dataMu.
 	rw.d.handleMu.RLock()
-	if (rw.d.handle.fd >= 0 && !rw.d.fs.opts.forcePageCache) || rw.d.fs.opts.interop == InteropModeShared || rw.direct {
-		n, err := rw.d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt(rw.ctx, srcs, rw.off)
+	h := rw.d.writeHandleLocked()
+	if (rw.d.hostFD >= 0 && !rw.d.fs.opts.forcePageCache) || rw.d.fs.opts.interop == InteropModeShared || rw.direct {
+		n, err := h.writeFromBlocksAt(rw.ctx, srcs, rw.off)
 		rw.off += n
 		rw.d.dataMu.Lock()
 		if rw.off > rw.d.size {
@@ -501,7 +510,7 @@ func (rw *dentryReadWriter) WriteFromBlocks(srcs safemem.BlockSeq) (uint64, erro
 			// for detecting or avoiding this.
 			gapMR := gap.Range().Intersect(mr)
 			gapSrcs := srcs.TakeFirst64(gapMR.Length())
-			n, err := rw.d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt(rw.ctx, gapSrcs, gapMR.Start)
+			n, err := h.writeFromBlocksAt(rw.ctx, gapSrcs, gapMR.Start)
 			done += n
 			rw.off += n
 			srcs = srcs.DropFirst64(n)
@@ -527,7 +536,7 @@ exitLoop:
 		if err := fsutil.SyncDirty(rw.ctx, memmap.MappableRange{
 			Start: start,
 			End:   rw.off,
-		}, &rw.d.cache, &rw.d.dirty, rw.d.size, mf, rw.d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
+		}, &rw.d.cache, &rw.d.dirty, rw.d.size, mf, h.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
 			// We have no idea how many bytes were actually flushed.
 			rw.off = start
 			done = 0
@@ -545,6 +554,7 @@ func (d *dentry) writeback(ctx context.Context, offset, size int64) error {
 	}
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
 	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
+	h := d.writeHandleLocked()
 	d.dataMu.Lock()
 	defer d.dataMu.Unlock()
 	// Compute the range of valid bytes (overflow-checked).
@@ -558,7 +568,7 @@ func (d *dentry) writeback(ctx context.Context, offset, size int64) error {
 	return fsutil.SyncDirty(ctx, memmap.MappableRange{
 		Start: uint64(offset),
 		End:   uint64(end),
-	}, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile(), d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt)
+	}, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile(), h.writeFromBlocksAt)
 }
 
 // Seek implements vfs.FileDescriptionImpl.Seek.
@@ -615,24 +625,23 @@ func regularFileSeekLocked(ctx context.Context, d *dentry, fdOffset, offset int6
 
 // Sync implements vfs.FileDescriptionImpl.Sync.
 func (fd *regularFileFD) Sync(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return fd.dentry().syncSharedHandle(ctx)
+	return fd.dentry().syncCachedFile(ctx)
 }
 
-func (d *dentry) syncSharedHandle(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (d *dentry) syncCachedFile(ctx context.Context) error {
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
 	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 
-	if d.handleWritable {
+	if h := d.writeHandleLocked(); h.isOpen() {
 		d.dataMu.Lock()
 		// Write dirty cached data to the remote file.
-		err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile(), d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt)
+		err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile(), h.writeFromBlocksAt)
 		d.dataMu.Unlock()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
-	// Sync the remote file.
-	return d.handle.sync(ctx)
+	return d.syncRemoteFileLocked(ctx)
 }
 
 // ConfigureMMap implements vfs.FileDescriptionImpl.ConfigureMMap.
@@ -656,7 +665,7 @@ func (fd *regularFileFD) ConfigureMMap(ctx context.Context, opts *memmap.MMapOpt
 			return syserror.ENODEV
 		}
 		d.handleMu.RLock()
-		haveFD := d.handle.fd >= 0
+		haveFD := d.hostFD >= 0
 		d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 		if !haveFD {
 			return syserror.ENODEV
@@ -677,7 +686,7 @@ func (d *dentry) mayCachePages() bool {
 		return true
 	}
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
-	haveFD := d.handle.fd >= 0
+	haveFD := d.hostFD >= 0
 	d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 	return haveFD
 }
@@ -735,7 +744,7 @@ func (d *dentry) CopyMapping(ctx context.Context, ms memmap.MappingSpace, srcAR,
 // Translate implements memmap.Mappable.Translate.
 func (d *dentry) Translate(ctx context.Context, required, optional memmap.MappableRange, at usermem.AccessType) ([]memmap.Translation, error) {
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
-	if d.handle.fd >= 0 && !d.fs.opts.forcePageCache {
+	if d.hostFD >= 0 && !d.fs.opts.forcePageCache {
 		d.handleMu.RUnlock()
 		mr := optional
 		if d.fs.opts.limitHostFDTranslation {
@@ -771,7 +780,8 @@ func (d *dentry) Translate(ctx context.Context, required, optional memmap.Mappab
 	}
 
 	mf := d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile()
-	cerr := d.cache.Fill(ctx, required, maxFillRange(required, optional), mf, usage.PageCache, d.handle.readToBlocksAt)
+	h := d.readHandleLocked()
+	cerr := d.cache.Fill(ctx, required, maxFillRange(required, optional), mf, usage.PageCache, h.readToBlocksAt)
 
 	var ts []memmap.Translation
 	var translatedEnd uint64
@@ -840,9 +850,12 @@ func (d *dentry) InvalidateUnsavable(ctx context.Context) error {
 	// Write the cache's contents back to the remote file so that if we have a
 	// host fd after restore, the remote file's contents are coherent.
 	mf := d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile()
+	d.handleMu.RLock()
+	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
+	h := d.writeHandleLocked()
 	d.dataMu.Lock()
 	defer d.dataMu.Unlock()
-	if err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, mf, d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
+	if err := fsutil.SyncDirtyAll(ctx, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, mf, h.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -857,20 +870,23 @@ func (d *dentry) InvalidateUnsavable(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 // Evict implements pgalloc.EvictableMemoryUser.Evict.
 func (d *dentry) Evict(ctx context.Context, er pgalloc.EvictableRange) {
+	mr := memmap.MappableRange{er.Start, er.End}
+	mf := d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile()
 	d.mapsMu.Lock()
 	defer d.mapsMu.Unlock()
+	d.handleMu.RLock()
+	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
+	h := d.writeHandleLocked()
 	d.dataMu.Lock()
 	defer d.dataMu.Unlock()
 
-	mr := memmap.MappableRange{er.Start, er.End}
-	mf := d.fs.mfp.MemoryFile()
 	// Only allow pages that are no longer memory-mapped to be evicted.
 	for mgap := d.mappings.LowerBoundGap(mr.Start); mgap.Ok() && mgap.Start() < mr.End; mgap = mgap.NextGap() {
 		mgapMR := mgap.Range().Intersect(mr)
 		if mgapMR.Length() == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := fsutil.SyncDirty(ctx, mgapMR, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, mf, d.handle.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
+		if err := fsutil.SyncDirty(ctx, mgapMR, &d.cache, &d.dirty, d.size, mf, h.writeFromBlocksAt); err != nil {
 			log.Warningf("Failed to writeback cached data %v: %v", mgapMR, err)
 		}
 		d.cache.Drop(mgapMR, mf)
@@ -882,8 +898,8 @@ func (d *dentry) Evict(ctx context.Context, er pgalloc.EvictableRange) {
 // cannot implement both vfs.DentryImpl.IncRef and memmap.File.IncRef.
 //
 // dentryPlatformFile is only used when a host FD representing the remote file
-// is available (i.e. dentry.handle.fd >= 0), and that FD is used for
-// application memory mappings (i.e. !filesystem.opts.forcePageCache).
+// is available (i.e. dentry.hostFD >= 0), and that FD is used for application
+// memory mappings (i.e. !filesystem.opts.forcePageCache).
 type dentryPlatformFile struct {
 	*dentry
 
@@ -891,8 +907,8 @@ type dentryPlatformFile struct {
 	// by dentry.dataMu.
 	fdRefs fsutil.FrameRefSet
 
-	// If this dentry represents a regular file, and handle.fd >= 0,
-	// hostFileMapper caches mappings of handle.fd.
+	// If this dentry represents a regular file, and dentry.hostFD >= 0,
+	// hostFileMapper caches mappings of dentry.hostFD.
 	hostFileMapper fsutil.HostFileMapper
 
 	// hostFileMapperInitOnce is used to lazily initialize hostFileMapper.
@@ -916,15 +932,13 @@ func (d *dentryPlatformFile) DecRef(fr memmap.FileRange) {
 // MapInternal implements memmap.File.MapInternal.
 func (d *dentryPlatformFile) MapInternal(fr memmap.FileRange, at usermem.AccessType) (safemem.BlockSeq, error) {
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
-	bs, err := d.hostFileMapper.MapInternal(fr, int(d.handle.fd), at.Write)
-	d.handleMu.RUnlock()
-	return bs, err
+	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
+	return d.hostFileMapper.MapInternal(fr, int(d.hostFD), at.Write)
 }
 
 // FD implements memmap.File.FD.
 func (d *dentryPlatformFile) FD() int {
 	d.handleMu.RLock()
-	fd := d.handle.fd
-	d.handleMu.RUnlock()
-	return int(fd)
+	defer d.handleMu.RUnlock()
+	return int(d.hostFD)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/special_file.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/special_file.go
index fc269ef2b..a6368fdd0 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/special_file.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/special_file.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package gofer
 import (
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
+	"syscall"
 
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/abi/linux"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/context"
@@ -279,5 +280,13 @@ func (fd *specialFileFD) Seek(ctx context.Context, offset int64, whence int32) (
 
 // Sync implements vfs.FileDescriptionImpl.Sync.
 func (fd *specialFileFD) Sync(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return fd.dentry().syncSharedHandle(ctx)
+	// If we have a host FD, fsyncing it is likely to be faster than an fsync
+	// RPC.
+	if fd.handle.fd >= 0 {
+		ctx.UninterruptibleSleepStart(false)
+		err := syscall.Fsync(int(fd.handle.fd))
+		ctx.UninterruptibleSleepFinish(false)
+		return err
+	}
+	return fd.handle.file.fsync(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go b/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go
index 576ab3920..d3c1197e3 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go
@@ -356,6 +356,8 @@ type FileDescriptionImpl interface {
 
 	// Allocate grows the file to offset + length bytes.
 	// Only mode == 0 is supported currently.
+	//
+	// Preconditions: The FileDescription was opened for writing.
 	Allocate(ctx context.Context, mode, offset, length uint64) error
 
 	// waiter.Waitable methods may be used to poll for I/O events.
@@ -565,6 +567,9 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) StatFS(ctx context.Context) (linux.Statfs, error) {
 
 // Allocate grows file represented by FileDescription to offset + length bytes.
 func (fd *FileDescription) Allocate(ctx context.Context, mode, offset, length uint64) error {
+	if !fd.IsWritable() {
+		return syserror.EBADF
+	}
 	return fd.impl.Allocate(ctx, mode, offset, length)
 }