Merge release-20200928.0-74-g8566decab (automated)

6 files changed, 77 insertions, 103 deletions

diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go
index 7df77c66e..b47a7be51 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/arp/arp.go
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ type endpoint struct {
 	enabled uint32
 
 	nic           stack.NetworkInterface
+	linkEP        stack.LinkEndpoint
 	linkAddrCache stack.LinkAddressCache
 	nud           stack.NUDHandler
 }
@@ -91,12 +92,12 @@ func (e *endpoint) DefaultTTL() uint8 {
 }
 
 func (e *endpoint) MTU() uint32 {
-	lmtu := e.nic.MTU()
+	lmtu := e.linkEP.MTU()
 	return lmtu - uint32(e.MaxHeaderLength())
 }
 
 func (e *endpoint) MaxHeaderLength() uint16 {
-	return e.nic.MaxHeaderLength() + header.ARPSize
+	return e.linkEP.MaxHeaderLength() + header.ARPSize
 }
 
 func (e *endpoint) Close() {
@@ -153,25 +154,17 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 			e.nud.HandleProbe(remoteAddr, localAddr, ProtocolNumber, remoteLinkAddr, e.protocol)
 		}
 
-		// As per RFC 826, under Packet Reception:
-		//   Swap hardware and protocol fields, putting the local hardware and
-		//   protocol addresses in the sender fields.
-		//
-		//   Send the packet to the (new) target hardware address on the same
-		//   hardware on which the request was received.
-		origSender := h.HardwareAddressSender()
-		r.RemoteLinkAddress = tcpip.LinkAddress(origSender)
-		respPkt := stack.NewPacketBuffer(stack.PacketBufferOptions{
-			ReserveHeaderBytes: int(e.nic.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ARPSize,
+		pkt := stack.NewPacketBuffer(stack.PacketBufferOptions{
+			ReserveHeaderBytes: int(e.linkEP.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ARPSize,
 		})
-		packet := header.ARP(respPkt.NetworkHeader().Push(header.ARPSize))
+		packet := header.ARP(pkt.NetworkHeader().Push(header.ARPSize))
 		packet.SetIPv4OverEthernet()
 		packet.SetOp(header.ARPReply)
 		copy(packet.HardwareAddressSender(), r.LocalLinkAddress[:])
 		copy(packet.ProtocolAddressSender(), h.ProtocolAddressTarget())
-		copy(packet.HardwareAddressTarget(), origSender)
+		copy(packet.HardwareAddressTarget(), h.HardwareAddressSender())
 		copy(packet.ProtocolAddressTarget(), h.ProtocolAddressSender())
-		_ = e.nic.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, respPkt)
+		_ = e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, pkt)
 
 	case header.ARPReply:
 		addr := tcpip.Address(h.ProtocolAddressSender())
@@ -214,6 +207,7 @@ func (p *protocol) NewEndpoint(nic stack.NetworkInterface, linkAddrCache stack.L
 	e := &endpoint{
 		protocol:      p,
 		nic:           nic,
+		linkEP:        nic.LinkEndpoint(),
 		linkAddrCache: linkAddrCache,
 		nud:           nud,
 	}
@@ -229,7 +223,6 @@ func (*protocol) LinkAddressProtocol() tcpip.NetworkProtocolNumber {
 // LinkAddressRequest implements stack.LinkAddressResolver.LinkAddressRequest.
 func (*protocol) LinkAddressRequest(addr, localAddr tcpip.Address, remoteLinkAddr tcpip.LinkAddress, linkEP stack.LinkEndpoint) *tcpip.Error {
 	r := &stack.Route{
-		NetProto:          ProtocolNumber,
 		RemoteLinkAddress: remoteLinkAddr,
 	}
 	if len(r.RemoteLinkAddress) == 0 {
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go
index 3407755ed..eab9a530c 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/icmp.go
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 
 		e.dispatcher.DeliverTransportPacket(r, header.ICMPv4ProtocolNumber, pkt)
 
+		remoteLinkAddr := r.RemoteLinkAddress
+
 		// As per RFC 1122 section 3.2.1.3, when a host sends any datagram, the IP
 		// source address MUST be one of its own IP addresses (but not a broadcast
 		// or multicast address).
@@ -117,6 +119,9 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 		}
 		defer r.Release()
 
+		// Use the remote link address from the incoming packet.
+		r.ResolveWith(remoteLinkAddr)
+
 		// TODO(gvisor.dev/issue/3810:) When adding protocol numbers into the
 		// header information, we may have to change this code to handle the
 		// ICMP header no longer being in the data buffer.
@@ -239,7 +244,13 @@ func (*icmpReasonProtoUnreachable) isICMPReason() {}
 // the problematic packet. It incorporates as much of that packet as
 // possible as well as any error metadata as is available. returnError
 // expects pkt to hold a valid IPv4 packet as per the wire format.
-func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+func returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+	sent := r.Stats().ICMP.V4PacketsSent
+	if !r.Stack().AllowICMPMessage() {
+		sent.RateLimited.Increment()
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// We check we are responding only when we are allowed to.
 	// See RFC 1812 section 4.3.2.7 (shown below).
 	//
@@ -268,25 +279,6 @@ func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.Pac
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Even if we were able to receive a packet from some remote, we may not have
-	// a route to it - the remote may be blocked via routing rules. We must always
-	// consult our routing table and find a route to the remote before sending any
-	// packet.
-	route, err := p.stack.FindRoute(r.NICID(), r.LocalAddress, r.RemoteAddress, ProtocolNumber, false /* multicastLoop */)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer route.Release()
-	// From this point on, the incoming route should no longer be used; route
-	// must be used to send the ICMP error.
-	r = nil
-
-	sent := p.stack.Stats().ICMP.V4PacketsSent
-	if !p.stack.AllowICMPMessage() {
-		sent.RateLimited.Increment()
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	networkHeader := pkt.NetworkHeader().View()
 	transportHeader := pkt.TransportHeader().View()
 
@@ -337,11 +329,11 @@ func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.Pac
 	// least 8 bytes of the payload must be included. Today linux and other
 	// systems implement the RFC 1812 definition and not the original
 	// requirement. We treat 8 bytes as the minimum but will try send more.
-	mtu := int(route.MTU())
+	mtu := int(r.MTU())
 	if mtu > header.IPv4MinimumProcessableDatagramSize {
 		mtu = header.IPv4MinimumProcessableDatagramSize
 	}
-	headerLen := int(route.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ICMPv4MinimumSize
+	headerLen := int(r.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ICMPv4MinimumSize
 	available := int(mtu) - headerLen
 
 	if available < header.IPv4MinimumSize+header.ICMPv4MinimumErrorPayloadSize {
@@ -386,11 +378,11 @@ func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.Pac
 	icmpHdr.SetChecksum(header.ICMPv4Checksum(icmpHdr, icmpPkt.Data))
 	counter := sent.DstUnreachable
 
-	if err := route.WritePacket(
+	if err := r.WritePacket(
 		nil, /* gso */
 		stack.NetworkHeaderParams{
 			Protocol: header.ICMPv4ProtocolNumber,
-			TTL:      route.DefaultTTL(),
+			TTL:      r.DefaultTTL(),
 			TOS:      stack.DefaultTOS,
 		},
 		icmpPkt,
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go
index 115fb1ab0..99274dd45 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv4/ipv4.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ var _ stack.NetworkEndpoint = (*endpoint)(nil)
 
 type endpoint struct {
 	nic        stack.NetworkInterface
+	linkEP     stack.LinkEndpoint
 	dispatcher stack.TransportDispatcher
 	protocol   *protocol
 
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@ type endpoint struct {
 func (p *protocol) NewEndpoint(nic stack.NetworkInterface, _ stack.LinkAddressCache, _ stack.NUDHandler, dispatcher stack.TransportDispatcher) stack.NetworkEndpoint {
 	e := &endpoint{
 		nic:        nic,
+		linkEP:     nic.LinkEndpoint(),
 		dispatcher: dispatcher,
 		protocol:   p,
 	}
@@ -176,18 +178,18 @@ func (e *endpoint) DefaultTTL() uint8 {
 // MTU implements stack.NetworkEndpoint.MTU. It returns the link-layer MTU minus
 // the network layer max header length.
 func (e *endpoint) MTU() uint32 {
-	return calculateMTU(e.nic.MTU())
+	return calculateMTU(e.linkEP.MTU())
 }
 
 // MaxHeaderLength returns the maximum length needed by ipv4 headers (and
 // underlying protocols).
 func (e *endpoint) MaxHeaderLength() uint16 {
-	return e.nic.MaxHeaderLength() + header.IPv4MaximumHeaderSize
+	return e.linkEP.MaxHeaderLength() + header.IPv4MaximumHeaderSize
 }
 
 // GSOMaxSize returns the maximum GSO packet size.
 func (e *endpoint) GSOMaxSize() uint32 {
-	if gso, ok := e.nic.(stack.GSOEndpoint); ok {
+	if gso, ok := e.linkEP.(stack.GSOEndpoint); ok {
 		return gso.GSOMaxSize()
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) writePacketFragments(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, mtu uint
 
 	for {
 		fragPkt, more := buildNextFragment(&pf, networkHeader)
-		if err := e.nic.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, fragPkt); err != nil {
+		if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, fragPkt); err != nil {
 			r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.IncrementBy(uint64(pf.RemainingFragmentCount() + 1))
 			return err
 		}
@@ -281,10 +283,10 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, params stack.Netw
 	if r.Loop&stack.PacketOut == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	if pkt.Size() > int(e.nic.MTU()) && (gso == nil || gso.Type == stack.GSONone) {
-		return e.writePacketFragments(r, gso, e.nic.MTU(), pkt)
+	if pkt.Size() > int(e.linkEP.MTU()) && (gso == nil || gso.Type == stack.GSONone) {
+		return e.writePacketFragments(r, gso, e.linkEP.MTU(), pkt)
 	}
-	if err := e.nic.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
+	if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
 		r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.Increment()
 		return err
 	}
@@ -314,7 +316,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, pkts stack.Packe
 	if len(dropped) == 0 && len(natPkts) == 0 {
 		// Fast path: If no packets are to be dropped then we can just invoke the
 		// faster WritePackets API directly.
-		n, err := e.nic.WritePackets(r, gso, pkts, ProtocolNumber)
+		n, err := e.linkEP.WritePackets(r, gso, pkts, ProtocolNumber)
 		r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.IncrementBy(uint64(n))
 		if err != nil {
 			r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.IncrementBy(uint64(pkts.Len() - n))
@@ -341,7 +343,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, pkts stack.Packe
 				continue
 			}
 		}
-		if err := e.nic.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
+		if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
 			r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.IncrementBy(uint64(n))
 			r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.IncrementBy(uint64(pkts.Len() - n - len(dropped)))
 			// Dropped packets aren't errors, so include them in
@@ -402,7 +404,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WriteHeaderIncludedPacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBu
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if err := e.nic.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
+	if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, nil /* gso */, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
 		r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.Increment()
 		return err
 	}
@@ -510,13 +512,13 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 		//     3 (Port Unreachable), when the designated transport protocol
 		//     (e.g., UDP) is unable to demultiplex the datagram but has no
 		//     protocol mechanism to inform the sender.
-		_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonPortUnreachable{}, pkt)
+		_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonPortUnreachable{}, pkt)
 	case stack.TransportPacketProtocolUnreachable:
 		// As per RFC: 1122 Section 3.2.2.1
 		//   A host SHOULD generate Destination Unreachable messages with code:
 		//     2 (Protocol Unreachable), when the designated transport protocol
 		//     is not supported
-		_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonProtoUnreachable{}, pkt)
+		_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonProtoUnreachable{}, pkt)
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unrecognized result from DeliverTransportPacket = %d", res))
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go
index 7be35c78b..37c169a5d 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/icmp.go
@@ -440,6 +440,8 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer, hasFragme
 			return
 		}
 
+		remoteLinkAddr := r.RemoteLinkAddress
+
 		// As per RFC 4291 section 2.7, multicast addresses must not be used as
 		// source addresses in IPv6 packets.
 		localAddr := r.LocalAddress
@@ -454,6 +456,9 @@ func (e *endpoint) handleICMP(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer, hasFragme
 		}
 		defer r.Release()
 
+		// Use the link address from the source of the original packet.
+		r.ResolveWith(remoteLinkAddr)
+
 		replyPkt := stack.NewPacketBuffer(stack.PacketBufferOptions{
 			ReserveHeaderBytes: int(r.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ICMPv6EchoMinimumSize,
 			Data:               pkt.Data,
@@ -737,7 +742,14 @@ func (*icmpReasonPortUnreachable) isICMPReason() {}
 
 // returnError takes an error descriptor and generates the appropriate ICMP
 // error packet for IPv6 and sends it.
-func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+func returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+	stats := r.Stats().ICMP
+	sent := stats.V6PacketsSent
+	if !r.Stack().AllowICMPMessage() {
+		sent.RateLimited.Increment()
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Only send ICMP error if the address is not a multicast v6
 	// address and the source is not the unspecified address.
 	//
@@ -768,26 +780,6 @@ func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.Pac
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Even if we were able to receive a packet from some remote, we may not have
-	// a route to it - the remote may be blocked via routing rules. We must always
-	// consult our routing table and find a route to the remote before sending any
-	// packet.
-	route, err := p.stack.FindRoute(r.NICID(), r.LocalAddress, r.RemoteAddress, ProtocolNumber, false /* multicastLoop */)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer route.Release()
-	// From this point on, the incoming route should no longer be used; route
-	// must be used to send the ICMP error.
-	r = nil
-
-	stats := p.stack.Stats().ICMP
-	sent := stats.V6PacketsSent
-	if !p.stack.AllowICMPMessage() {
-		sent.RateLimited.Increment()
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	network, transport := pkt.NetworkHeader().View(), pkt.TransportHeader().View()
 
 	if pkt.TransportProtocolNumber == header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber {
@@ -814,11 +806,11 @@ func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.Pac
 	//    packet that caused the error) as possible without making
 	//    the error message packet exceed the minimum IPv6 MTU
 	//    [IPv6].
-	mtu := int(route.MTU())
+	mtu := int(r.MTU())
 	if mtu > header.IPv6MinimumMTU {
 		mtu = header.IPv6MinimumMTU
 	}
-	headerLen := int(route.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ICMPv6ErrorHeaderSize
+	headerLen := int(r.MaxHeaderLength()) + header.ICMPv6ErrorHeaderSize
 	available := int(mtu) - headerLen
 	if available < header.IPv6MinimumSize {
 		return nil
@@ -851,16 +843,9 @@ func (p *protocol) returnError(r *stack.Route, reason icmpReason, pkt *stack.Pac
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unsupported ICMP type %T", reason))
 	}
-	icmpHdr.SetChecksum(header.ICMPv6Checksum(icmpHdr, route.LocalAddress, route.RemoteAddress, newPkt.Data))
-	if err := route.WritePacket(
-		nil, /* gso */
-		stack.NetworkHeaderParams{
-			Protocol: header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber,
-			TTL:      route.DefaultTTL(),
-			TOS:      stack.DefaultTOS,
-		},
-		newPkt,
-	); err != nil {
+	icmpHdr.SetChecksum(header.ICMPv6Checksum(icmpHdr, r.LocalAddress, r.RemoteAddress, newPkt.Data))
+	err := r.WritePacket(nil /* gso */, stack.NetworkHeaderParams{Protocol: header.ICMPv6ProtocolNumber, TTL: r.DefaultTTL(), TOS: stack.DefaultTOS}, newPkt)
+	if err != nil {
 		sent.Dropped.Increment()
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go
index 4f360df2c..826342c4f 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ipv6.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ var _ NDPEndpoint = (*endpoint)(nil)
 
 type endpoint struct {
 	nic           stack.NetworkInterface
+	linkEP        stack.LinkEndpoint
 	linkAddrCache stack.LinkAddressCache
 	nud           stack.NUDHandler
 	dispatcher    stack.TransportDispatcher
@@ -363,18 +364,18 @@ func (e *endpoint) DefaultTTL() uint8 {
 // MTU implements stack.NetworkEndpoint.MTU. It returns the link-layer MTU minus
 // the network layer max header length.
 func (e *endpoint) MTU() uint32 {
-	return calculateMTU(e.nic.MTU())
+	return calculateMTU(e.linkEP.MTU())
 }
 
 // MaxHeaderLength returns the maximum length needed by ipv6 headers (and
 // underlying protocols).
 func (e *endpoint) MaxHeaderLength() uint16 {
-	return e.nic.MaxHeaderLength() + header.IPv6MinimumSize
+	return e.linkEP.MaxHeaderLength() + header.IPv6MinimumSize
 }
 
 // GSOMaxSize returns the maximum GSO packet size.
 func (e *endpoint) GSOMaxSize() uint32 {
-	if gso, ok := e.nic.(stack.GSOEndpoint); ok {
+	if gso, ok := e.linkEP.(stack.GSOEndpoint); ok {
 		return gso.GSOMaxSize()
 	}
 	return 0
@@ -395,7 +396,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) addIPHeader(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer, params s
 }
 
 func (e *endpoint) packetMustBeFragmented(pkt *stack.PacketBuffer, gso *stack.GSO) bool {
-	return pkt.Size() > int(e.nic.MTU()) && (gso == nil || gso.Type == stack.GSONone)
+	return pkt.Size() > int(e.linkEP.MTU()) && (gso == nil || gso.Type == stack.GSONone)
 }
 
 // handleFragments fragments pkt and calls the handler function on each
@@ -476,19 +477,19 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePacket(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, params stack.Netw
 	}
 
 	if e.packetMustBeFragmented(pkt, gso) {
-		sent, remain, err := e.handleFragments(r, gso, e.nic.MTU(), pkt, params.Protocol, func(fragPkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+		sent, remain, err := e.handleFragments(r, gso, e.linkEP.MTU(), pkt, params.Protocol, func(fragPkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 			// TODO(gvisor.dev/issue/3884): Evaluate whether we want to send each
 			// fragment one by one using WritePacket() (current strategy) or if we
 			// want to create a PacketBufferList from the fragments and feed it to
 			// WritePackets(). It'll be faster but cost more memory.
-			return e.nic.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, fragPkt)
+			return e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, fragPkt)
 		})
 		r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.IncrementBy(uint64(sent))
 		r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.IncrementBy(uint64(remain))
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := e.nic.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
+	if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
 		r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.Increment()
 		return err
 	}
@@ -510,7 +511,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, pkts stack.Packe
 		e.addIPHeader(r, pb, params)
 		if e.packetMustBeFragmented(pb, gso) {
 			current := pb
-			_, _, err := e.handleFragments(r, gso, e.nic.MTU(), pb, params.Protocol, func(fragPkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
+			_, _, err := e.handleFragments(r, gso, e.linkEP.MTU(), pb, params.Protocol, func(fragPkt *stack.PacketBuffer) *tcpip.Error {
 				// Modify the packet list in place with the new fragments.
 				pkts.InsertAfter(current, fragPkt)
 				current = current.Next()
@@ -535,7 +536,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, pkts stack.Packe
 	if len(dropped) == 0 && len(natPkts) == 0 {
 		// Fast path: If no packets are to be dropped then we can just invoke the
 		// faster WritePackets API directly.
-		n, err := e.nic.WritePackets(r, gso, pkts, ProtocolNumber)
+		n, err := e.linkEP.WritePackets(r, gso, pkts, ProtocolNumber)
 		r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.IncrementBy(uint64(n))
 		if err != nil {
 			r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.IncrementBy(uint64(pkts.Len() - n))
@@ -562,7 +563,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) WritePackets(r *stack.Route, gso *stack.GSO, pkts stack.Packe
 				continue
 			}
 		}
-		if err := e.nic.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
+		if err := e.linkEP.WritePacket(r, gso, ProtocolNumber, pkt); err != nil {
 			r.Stats().IP.PacketsSent.IncrementBy(uint64(n))
 			r.Stats().IP.OutgoingPacketErrors.IncrementBy(uint64(pkts.Len() - n + len(dropped)))
 			// Dropped packets aren't errors, so include them in
@@ -642,7 +643,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 			// As per RFC 8200 section 4.1, the Hop By Hop extension header is
 			// restricted to appear immediately after an IPv6 fixed header.
 			if previousHeaderStart != 0 {
-				_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
+				_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
 					code:    header.ICMPv6UnknownHeader,
 					pointer: previousHeaderStart,
 				}, pkt)
@@ -681,7 +682,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 					//    ICMP Parameter Problem, Code 2, message to the packet's
 					//    Source Address, pointing to the unrecognized Option Type.
 					//
-					_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
+					_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
 						code:               header.ICMPv6UnknownOption,
 						pointer:            it.ParseOffset() + optsIt.OptionOffset(),
 						respondToMulticast: true,
@@ -706,7 +707,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 			// header, so we just make sure Segments Left is zero before processing
 			// the next extension header.
 			if extHdr.SegmentsLeft() != 0 {
-				_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
+				_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
 					code:    header.ICMPv6ErroneousHeader,
 					pointer: it.ParseOffset(),
 				}, pkt)
@@ -858,7 +859,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 					//    ICMP Parameter Problem, Code 2, message to the packet's
 					//    Source Address, pointing to the unrecognized Option Type.
 					//
-					_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
+					_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
 						code:               header.ICMPv6UnknownOption,
 						pointer:            it.ParseOffset() + optsIt.OptionOffset(),
 						respondToMulticast: true,
@@ -895,7 +896,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 					//   message with Code 4 in response to a packet for which the
 					//   transport protocol (e.g., UDP) has no listener, if that transport
 					//   protocol has no alternative means to inform the sender.
-					_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonPortUnreachable{}, pkt)
+					_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonPortUnreachable{}, pkt)
 				case stack.TransportPacketProtocolUnreachable:
 					// As per RFC 8200 section 4. (page 7):
 					//   Extension headers are numbered from IANA IP Protocol Numbers
@@ -916,7 +917,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 					//
 					// Which when taken together indicate that an unknown protocol should
 					// be treated as an unrecognized next header value.
-					_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
+					_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
 						code:    header.ICMPv6UnknownHeader,
 						pointer: it.ParseOffset(),
 					}, pkt)
@@ -926,7 +927,7 @@ func (e *endpoint) HandlePacket(r *stack.Route, pkt *stack.PacketBuffer) {
 			}
 
 		default:
-			_ = e.protocol.returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
+			_ = returnError(r, &icmpReasonParameterProblem{
 				code:    header.ICMPv6UnknownHeader,
 				pointer: it.ParseOffset(),
 			}, pkt)
@@ -1301,6 +1302,7 @@ func (*protocol) ParseAddresses(v buffer.View) (src, dst tcpip.Address) {
 func (p *protocol) NewEndpoint(nic stack.NetworkInterface, linkAddrCache stack.LinkAddressCache, nud stack.NUDHandler, dispatcher stack.TransportDispatcher) stack.NetworkEndpoint {
 	e := &endpoint{
 		nic:           nic,
+		linkEP:        nic.LinkEndpoint(),
 		linkAddrCache: linkAddrCache,
 		nud:           nud,
 		dispatcher:    dispatcher,
diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ndp.go b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ndp.go
index 40da011f8..48a4c65e3 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ndp.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/network/ipv6/ndp.go
@@ -1289,7 +1289,7 @@ func (ndp *ndpState) generateSLAACAddr(prefix tcpip.Subnet, state *slaacPrefixSt
 			//
 			// TODO(b/141011931): Validate a LinkEndpoint's link address (provided by
 			// LinkEndpoint.LinkAddress) before reaching this point.
-			linkAddr := ndp.ep.nic.LinkAddress()
+			linkAddr := ndp.ep.linkEP.LinkAddress()
 			if !header.IsValidUnicastEthernetAddress(linkAddr) {
 				return false
 			}