Automated rollback of changelist 369686285

PiperOrigin-RevId: 371015541

15 files changed, 787 insertions, 244 deletions

diff --git a/pkg/p9/client_file.go b/pkg/p9/client_file.go
index 7abc82e1b..28396b0ea 100644
--- a/pkg/p9/client_file.go
+++ b/pkg/p9/client_file.go
@@ -121,6 +121,22 @@ func (c *clientFile) WalkGetAttr(components []string) ([]QID, File, AttrMask, At
 	return rwalkgetattr.QIDs, c.client.newFile(FID(fid)), rwalkgetattr.Valid, rwalkgetattr.Attr, nil
 }
 
+func (c *clientFile) MultiGetAttr(names []string) ([]FullStat, error) {
+	if atomic.LoadUint32(&c.closed) != 0 {
+		return nil, unix.EBADF
+	}
+
+	if !versionSupportsTmultiGetAttr(c.client.version) {
+		return DefaultMultiGetAttr(c, names)
+	}
+
+	rmultigetattr := Rmultigetattr{}
+	if err := c.client.sendRecv(&Tmultigetattr{FID: c.fid, Names: names}, &rmultigetattr); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return rmultigetattr.Stats, nil
+}
+
 // StatFS implements File.StatFS.
 func (c *clientFile) StatFS() (FSStat, error) {
 	if atomic.LoadUint32(&c.closed) != 0 {
diff --git a/pkg/p9/file.go b/pkg/p9/file.go
index c59c6a65b..97e0231d6 100644
--- a/pkg/p9/file.go
+++ b/pkg/p9/file.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 package p9
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/fd"
 )
@@ -72,6 +74,15 @@ type File interface {
 	// On the server, WalkGetAttr has a read concurrency guarantee.
 	WalkGetAttr([]string) ([]QID, File, AttrMask, Attr, error)
 
+	// MultiGetAttr batches up multiple calls to GetAttr(). names is a list of
+	// path components similar to Walk(). If the first component name is empty,
+	// the current file is stat'd and included in the results. If the walk reaches
+	// a file that doesn't exist or not a directory, MultiGetAttr returns the
+	// partial result with no error.
+	//
+	// On the server, MultiGetAttr has a read concurrency guarantee.
+	MultiGetAttr(names []string) ([]FullStat, error)
+
 	// StatFS returns information about the file system associated with
 	// this file.
 	//
@@ -306,6 +317,53 @@ func (DisallowClientCalls) SetAttrClose(SetAttrMask, SetAttr) error {
 type DisallowServerCalls struct{}
 
 // Renamed implements File.Renamed.
-func (*clientFile) Renamed(File, string) {
+func (*DisallowServerCalls) Renamed(File, string) {
 	panic("Renamed should not be called on the client")
 }
+
+// DefaultMultiGetAttr implements File.MultiGetAttr() on top of File.
+func DefaultMultiGetAttr(start File, names []string) ([]FullStat, error) {
+	stats := make([]FullStat, 0, len(names))
+	parent := start
+	mask := AttrMaskAll()
+	for i, name := range names {
+		if len(name) == 0 && i == 0 {
+			qid, valid, attr, err := parent.GetAttr(mask)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			stats = append(stats, FullStat{
+				QID:   qid,
+				Valid: valid,
+				Attr:  attr,
+			})
+			continue
+		}
+		qids, child, valid, attr, err := parent.WalkGetAttr([]string{name})
+		if parent != start {
+			_ = parent.Close()
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, unix.ENOENT) {
+				return stats, nil
+			}
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		stats = append(stats, FullStat{
+			QID:   qids[0],
+			Valid: valid,
+			Attr:  attr,
+		})
+		if attr.Mode.FileType() != ModeDirectory {
+			// Doesn't need to continue if entry is not a dir. Including symlinks
+			// that cannot be followed.
+			_ = child.Close()
+			break
+		}
+		parent = child
+	}
+	if parent != start {
+		_ = parent.Close()
+	}
+	return stats, nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/p9/handlers.go b/pkg/p9/handlers.go
index 58312d0cc..758e11b13 100644
--- a/pkg/p9/handlers.go
+++ b/pkg/p9/handlers.go
@@ -1421,3 +1421,31 @@ func (t *Tchannel) handle(cs *connState) message {
 	}
 	return rchannel
 }
+
+// handle implements handler.handle.
+func (t *Tmultigetattr) handle(cs *connState) message {
+	for i, name := range t.Names {
+		if len(name) == 0 && i == 0 {
+			// Empty name is allowed on the first entry to indicate that the current
+			// FID needs to be included in the result.
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := checkSafeName(name); err != nil {
+			return newErr(err)
+		}
+	}
+	ref, ok := cs.LookupFID(t.FID)
+	if !ok {
+		return newErr(unix.EBADF)
+	}
+	defer ref.DecRef()
+
+	var stats []FullStat
+	if err := ref.safelyRead(func() (err error) {
+		stats, err = ref.file.MultiGetAttr(t.Names)
+		return err
+	}); err != nil {
+		return newErr(err)
+	}
+	return &Rmultigetattr{Stats: stats}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/p9/messages.go b/pkg/p9/messages.go
index cf13cbb69..2ff4694c0 100644
--- a/pkg/p9/messages.go
+++ b/pkg/p9/messages.go
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ func (r *Rwalk) decode(b *buffer) {
 // encode implements encoder.encode.
 func (r *Rwalk) encode(b *buffer) {
 	b.Write16(uint16(len(r.QIDs)))
-	for _, q := range r.QIDs {
-		q.encode(b)
+	for i := range r.QIDs {
+		r.QIDs[i].encode(b)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -2243,8 +2243,8 @@ func (r *Rwalkgetattr) encode(b *buffer) {
 	r.Valid.encode(b)
 	r.Attr.encode(b)
 	b.Write16(uint16(len(r.QIDs)))
-	for _, q := range r.QIDs {
-		q.encode(b)
+	for i := range r.QIDs {
+		r.QIDs[i].encode(b)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -2552,6 +2552,80 @@ func (r *Rchannel) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Rchannel{Offset: %d, Length: %d}", r.Offset, r.Length)
 }
 
+// Tmultigetattr is a multi-getattr request.
+type Tmultigetattr struct {
+	// FID is the FID to be walked.
+	FID FID
+
+	// Names are the set of names to be walked.
+	Names []string
+}
+
+// decode implements encoder.decode.
+func (t *Tmultigetattr) decode(b *buffer) {
+	t.FID = b.ReadFID()
+	n := b.Read16()
+	t.Names = t.Names[:0]
+	for i := 0; i < int(n); i++ {
+		t.Names = append(t.Names, b.ReadString())
+	}
+}
+
+// encode implements encoder.encode.
+func (t *Tmultigetattr) encode(b *buffer) {
+	b.WriteFID(t.FID)
+	b.Write16(uint16(len(t.Names)))
+	for _, name := range t.Names {
+		b.WriteString(name)
+	}
+}
+
+// Type implements message.Type.
+func (*Tmultigetattr) Type() MsgType {
+	return MsgTmultigetattr
+}
+
+// String implements fmt.Stringer.
+func (t *Tmultigetattr) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Tmultigetattr{FID: %d, Names: %v}", t.FID, t.Names)
+}
+
+// Rmultigetattr is a multi-getattr response.
+type Rmultigetattr struct {
+	// Stats are the set of FullStat returned for each of the names in the
+	// request.
+	Stats []FullStat
+}
+
+// decode implements encoder.decode.
+func (r *Rmultigetattr) decode(b *buffer) {
+	n := b.Read16()
+	r.Stats = r.Stats[:0]
+	for i := 0; i < int(n); i++ {
+		var fs FullStat
+		fs.decode(b)
+		r.Stats = append(r.Stats, fs)
+	}
+}
+
+// encode implements encoder.encode.
+func (r *Rmultigetattr) encode(b *buffer) {
+	b.Write16(uint16(len(r.Stats)))
+	for i := range r.Stats {
+		r.Stats[i].encode(b)
+	}
+}
+
+// Type implements message.Type.
+func (*Rmultigetattr) Type() MsgType {
+	return MsgRmultigetattr
+}
+
+// String implements fmt.Stringer.
+func (r *Rmultigetattr) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Rmultigetattr{Stats: %v}", r.Stats)
+}
+
 const maxCacheSize = 3
 
 // msgFactory is used to reduce allocations by caching messages for reuse.
@@ -2717,6 +2791,8 @@ func init() {
 	msgRegistry.register(MsgRallocate, func() message { return &Rallocate{} })
 	msgRegistry.register(MsgTsetattrclunk, func() message { return &Tsetattrclunk{} })
 	msgRegistry.register(MsgRsetattrclunk, func() message { return &Rsetattrclunk{} })
+	msgRegistry.register(MsgTmultigetattr, func() message { return &Tmultigetattr{} })
+	msgRegistry.register(MsgRmultigetattr, func() message { return &Rmultigetattr{} })
 	msgRegistry.register(MsgTchannel, func() message { return &Tchannel{} })
 	msgRegistry.register(MsgRchannel, func() message { return &Rchannel{} })
 }
diff --git a/pkg/p9/p9.go b/pkg/p9/p9.go
index 648cf4b49..3d452a0bd 100644
--- a/pkg/p9/p9.go
+++ b/pkg/p9/p9.go
@@ -402,6 +402,8 @@ const (
 	MsgRallocate     MsgType = 139
 	MsgTsetattrclunk MsgType = 140
 	MsgRsetattrclunk MsgType = 141
+	MsgTmultigetattr MsgType = 142
+	MsgRmultigetattr MsgType = 143
 	MsgTchannel      MsgType = 250
 	MsgRchannel      MsgType = 251
 )
@@ -1178,3 +1180,29 @@ func (a *AllocateMode) encode(b *buffer) {
 	}
 	b.Write32(mask)
 }
+
+// FullStat is used in the result of a MultiGetAttr call.
+type FullStat struct {
+	QID   QID
+	Valid AttrMask
+	Attr  Attr
+}
+
+// String implements fmt.Stringer.
+func (f *FullStat) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("FullStat{QID: %v, Valid: %v, Attr: %v}", f.QID, f.Valid, f.Attr)
+}
+
+// decode implements encoder.decode.
+func (f *FullStat) decode(b *buffer) {
+	f.QID.decode(b)
+	f.Valid.decode(b)
+	f.Attr.decode(b)
+}
+
+// encode implements encoder.encode.
+func (f *FullStat) encode(b *buffer) {
+	f.QID.encode(b)
+	f.Valid.encode(b)
+	f.Attr.encode(b)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/p9/version.go b/pkg/p9/version.go
index 8d7168ef5..950236162 100644
--- a/pkg/p9/version.go
+++ b/pkg/p9/version.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const (
 	//
 	// Clients are expected to start requesting this version number and
 	// to continuously decrement it until a Tversion request succeeds.
-	highestSupportedVersion uint32 = 12
+	highestSupportedVersion uint32 = 13
 
 	// lowestSupportedVersion is the lowest supported version X in a
 	// version string of the format 9P2000.L.Google.X.
@@ -179,3 +179,9 @@ func versionSupportsListRemoveXattr(v uint32) bool {
 func versionSupportsTsetattrclunk(v uint32) bool {
 	return v >= 12
 }
+
+// versionSupportsTmultiGetAttr returns true if version v supports
+// the TmultiGetAttr message.
+func versionSupportsTmultiGetAttr(v uint32) bool {
+	return v >= 13
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/BUILD b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/BUILD
index 6d5258a9b..52879f871 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/BUILD
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ go_library(
         "host_named_pipe.go",
         "p9file.go",
         "regular_file.go",
+        "revalidate.go",
         "save_restore.go",
         "socket.go",
         "special_file.go",
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go
index 4b5621043..40c9243f0 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/filesystem.go
@@ -169,156 +169,89 @@ func (fs *filesystem) renameMuUnlockAndCheckCaching(ctx context.Context, ds **[]
 // * fs.renameMu must be locked.
 // * d.dirMu must be locked.
 // * !rp.Done().
-// * If !d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative(), then d's cached metadata must be up
-//   to date.
+// * If !d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative(), then d and all children that are
+//   part of rp must have been revalidated.
 //
 // Postconditions: The returned dentry's cached metadata is up to date.
-func (fs *filesystem) stepLocked(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, d *dentry, mayFollowSymlinks bool, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, error) {
+func (fs *filesystem) stepLocked(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, d *dentry, mayFollowSymlinks bool, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, bool, error) {
 	if !d.isDir() {
-		return nil, syserror.ENOTDIR
+		return nil, false, syserror.ENOTDIR
 	}
 	if err := d.checkPermissions(rp.Credentials(), vfs.MayExec); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, false, err
 	}
+	followedSymlink := false
 afterSymlink:
 	name := rp.Component()
 	if name == "." {
 		rp.Advance()
-		return d, nil
+		return d, followedSymlink, nil
 	}
 	if name == ".." {
 		if isRoot, err := rp.CheckRoot(ctx, &d.vfsd); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, false, err
 		} else if isRoot || d.parent == nil {
 			rp.Advance()
-			return d, nil
-		}
-		// We must assume that d.parent is correct, because if d has been moved
-		// elsewhere in the remote filesystem so that its parent has changed,
-		// we have no way of determining its new parent's location in the
-		// filesystem.
-		//
-		// Call rp.CheckMount() before updating d.parent's metadata, since if
-		// we traverse to another mount then d.parent's metadata is irrelevant.
-		if err := rp.CheckMount(ctx, &d.parent.vfsd); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return d, followedSymlink, nil
 		}
-		if d != d.parent && !d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-			if err := d.parent.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
+		if err := rp.CheckMount(ctx, &d.parent.vfsd); err != nil {
+			return nil, false, err
 		}
 		rp.Advance()
-		return d.parent, nil
+		return d.parent, followedSymlink, nil
 	}
-	child, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), d, name, ds)
+	child, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, d, name, ds)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if child == nil {
-		return nil, syserror.ENOENT
+		return nil, false, err
 	}
 	if err := rp.CheckMount(ctx, &child.vfsd); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, false, err
 	}
 	if child.isSymlink() && mayFollowSymlinks && rp.ShouldFollowSymlink() {
 		target, err := child.readlink(ctx, rp.Mount())
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, false, err
 		}
 		if err := rp.HandleSymlink(target); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return nil, false, err
 		}
+		followedSymlink = true
 		goto afterSymlink // don't check the current directory again
 	}
 	rp.Advance()
-	return child, nil
+	return child, followedSymlink, nil
 }
 
 // getChildLocked returns a dentry representing the child of parent with the
-// given name. If no such child exists, getChildLocked returns (nil, nil).
+// given name. Returns ENOENT if the child doesn't exist.
 //
 // Preconditions:
 // * fs.renameMu must be locked.
 // * parent.dirMu must be locked.
 // * parent.isDir().
 // * name is not "." or "..".
-//
-// Postconditions: If getChildLocked returns a non-nil dentry, its cached
-// metadata is up to date.
-func (fs *filesystem) getChildLocked(ctx context.Context, vfsObj *vfs.VirtualFilesystem, parent *dentry, name string, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, error) {
+// * dentry at name has been revalidated
+func (fs *filesystem) getChildLocked(ctx context.Context, parent *dentry, name string, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, error) {
 	if len(name) > maxFilenameLen {
 		return nil, syserror.ENAMETOOLONG
 	}
-	child, ok := parent.children[name]
-	if (ok && fs.opts.interop != InteropModeShared) || parent.isSynthetic() {
-		// Whether child is nil or not, it is cached information that is
-		// assumed to be correct.
+	if child, ok := parent.children[name]; ok || parent.isSynthetic() {
+		if child == nil {
+			return nil, syserror.ENOENT
+		}
 		return child, nil
 	}
-	// We either don't have cached information or need to verify that it's
-	// still correct, either of which requires a remote lookup. Check if this
-	// name is valid before performing the lookup.
-	return fs.revalidateChildLocked(ctx, vfsObj, parent, name, child, ds)
-}
 
-// Preconditions: Same as getChildLocked, plus:
-// * !parent.isSynthetic().
-func (fs *filesystem) revalidateChildLocked(ctx context.Context, vfsObj *vfs.VirtualFilesystem, parent *dentry, name string, child *dentry, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, error) {
-	if child != nil {
-		// Need to lock child.metadataMu because we might be updating child
-		// metadata. We need to hold the lock *before* getting metadata from the
-		// server and release it after updating local metadata.
-		child.metadataMu.Lock()
-	}
 	qid, file, attrMask, attr, err := parent.file.walkGetAttrOne(ctx, name)
-	if err != nil && err != syserror.ENOENT {
-		if child != nil {
-			child.metadataMu.Unlock()
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == syserror.ENOENT {
+			parent.cacheNegativeLookupLocked(name)
 		}
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if child != nil {
-		if !file.isNil() && qid.Path == child.qidPath {
-			// The file at this path hasn't changed. Just update cached metadata.
-			file.close(ctx)
-			child.updateFromP9AttrsLocked(attrMask, &attr)
-			child.metadataMu.Unlock()
-			return child, nil
-		}
-		child.metadataMu.Unlock()
-		if file.isNil() && child.isSynthetic() {
-			// We have a synthetic file, and no remote file has arisen to
-			// replace it.
-			return child, nil
-		}
-		// The file at this path has changed or no longer exists. Mark the
-		// dentry invalidated, and re-evaluate its caching status (i.e. if it
-		// has 0 references, drop it). Wait to update parent.children until we
-		// know what to replace the existing dentry with (i.e. one of the
-		// returns below), to avoid a redundant map access.
-		vfsObj.InvalidateDentry(ctx, &child.vfsd)
-		if child.isSynthetic() {
-			// Normally we don't mark invalidated dentries as deleted since
-			// they may still exist (but at a different path), and also for
-			// consistency with Linux. However, synthetic files are guaranteed
-			// to become unreachable if their dentries are invalidated, so
-			// treat their invalidation as deletion.
-			child.setDeleted()
-			parent.syntheticChildren--
-			child.decRefNoCaching()
-			parent.dirents = nil
-		}
-		*ds = appendDentry(*ds, child)
-	}
-	if file.isNil() {
-		// No file exists at this path now. Cache the negative lookup if
-		// allowed.
-		parent.cacheNegativeLookupLocked(name)
-		return nil, nil
-	}
+
 	// Create a new dentry representing the file.
-	child, err = fs.newDentry(ctx, file, qid, attrMask, &attr)
+	child, err := fs.newDentry(ctx, file, qid, attrMask, &attr)
 	if err != nil {
 		file.close(ctx)
 		delete(parent.children, name)
@@ -344,14 +277,22 @@ func (fs *filesystem) revalidateChildLocked(ctx context.Context, vfsObj *vfs.Vir
 // * If !d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative(), then d's cached metadata must be up
 //   to date.
 func (fs *filesystem) walkParentDirLocked(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, d *dentry, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, error) {
+	if err := fs.revalidateParentDir(ctx, rp, d, ds); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	for !rp.Final() {
 		d.dirMu.Lock()
-		next, err := fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, d, true /* mayFollowSymlinks */, ds)
+		next, followedSymlink, err := fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, d, true /* mayFollowSymlinks */, ds)
 		d.dirMu.Unlock()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		d = next
+		if followedSymlink {
+			if err := fs.revalidateParentDir(ctx, rp, d, ds); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	if !d.isDir() {
 		return nil, syserror.ENOTDIR
@@ -364,20 +305,22 @@ func (fs *filesystem) walkParentDirLocked(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.Resolving
 // Preconditions: fs.renameMu must be locked.
 func (fs *filesystem) resolveLocked(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, ds **[]*dentry) (*dentry, error) {
 	d := rp.Start().Impl().(*dentry)
-	if !d.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-		// Get updated metadata for rp.Start() as required by fs.stepLocked().
-		if err := d.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
+	if err := fs.revalidatePath(ctx, rp, d, ds); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	for !rp.Done() {
 		d.dirMu.Lock()
-		next, err := fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, d, true /* mayFollowSymlinks */, ds)
+		next, followedSymlink, err := fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, d, true /* mayFollowSymlinks */, ds)
 		d.dirMu.Unlock()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		d = next
+		if followedSymlink {
+			if err := fs.revalidatePath(ctx, rp, d, ds); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	if rp.MustBeDir() && !d.isDir() {
 		return nil, syserror.ENOTDIR
@@ -397,13 +340,6 @@ func (fs *filesystem) doCreateAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, dir
 	fs.renameMu.RLock()
 	defer fs.renameMuRUnlockAndCheckCaching(ctx, &ds)
 	start := rp.Start().Impl().(*dentry)
-	if !start.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-		// Get updated metadata for start as required by
-		// fs.walkParentDirLocked().
-		if err := start.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
 	parent, err := fs.walkParentDirLocked(ctx, rp, start, &ds)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -421,11 +357,14 @@ func (fs *filesystem) doCreateAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, dir
 	if parent.isDeleted() {
 		return syserror.ENOENT
 	}
+	if err := fs.revalidateOne(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), parent, name, &ds); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	parent.dirMu.Lock()
 	defer parent.dirMu.Unlock()
 
-	child, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), parent, name, &ds)
+	child, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, parent, name, &ds)
 	switch {
 	case err != nil && err != syserror.ENOENT:
 		return err
@@ -489,13 +428,6 @@ func (fs *filesystem) unlinkAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, dir b
 	fs.renameMu.RLock()
 	defer fs.renameMuRUnlockAndCheckCaching(ctx, &ds)
 	start := rp.Start().Impl().(*dentry)
-	if !start.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-		// Get updated metadata for start as required by
-		// fs.walkParentDirLocked().
-		if err := start.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
 	parent, err := fs.walkParentDirLocked(ctx, rp, start, &ds)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -521,33 +453,32 @@ func (fs *filesystem) unlinkAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, dir b
 			return syserror.EISDIR
 		}
 	}
+
 	vfsObj := rp.VirtualFilesystem()
+	if err := fs.revalidateOne(ctx, vfsObj, parent, rp.Component(), &ds); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	mntns := vfs.MountNamespaceFromContext(ctx)
 	defer mntns.DecRef(ctx)
+
 	parent.dirMu.Lock()
 	defer parent.dirMu.Unlock()
 
-	child, ok := parent.children[name]
-	if ok && child == nil {
-		return syserror.ENOENT
-	}
-
-	sticky := atomic.LoadUint32(&parent.mode)&linux.ModeSticky != 0
-	if sticky {
-		if !ok {
-			// If the sticky bit is set, we need to retrieve the child to determine
-			// whether removing it is allowed.
-			child, err = fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, parent, false /* mayFollowSymlinks */, &ds)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		} else if child != nil && !child.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-			// Make sure the dentry representing the file at name is up to date
-			// before examining its metadata.
-			child, err = fs.revalidateChildLocked(ctx, vfsObj, parent, name, child, &ds)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
+	// Load child if sticky bit is set because we need to determine whether
+	// deletion is allowed.
+	var child *dentry
+	if atomic.LoadUint32(&parent.mode)&linux.ModeSticky == 0 {
+		var ok bool
+		child, ok = parent.children[name]
+		if ok && child == nil {
+			// Hit a negative cached entry, child doesn't exist.
+			return syserror.ENOENT
+		}
+	} else {
+		child, _, err = fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, parent, false /* mayFollowSymlinks */, &ds)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 		if err := parent.mayDelete(rp.Credentials(), child); err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -556,11 +487,7 @@ func (fs *filesystem) unlinkAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, dir b
 
 	// If a child dentry exists, prepare to delete it. This should fail if it is
 	// a mount point. We detect mount points by speculatively calling
-	// PrepareDeleteDentry, which fails if child is a mount point. However, we
-	// may need to revalidate the file in this case to make sure that it has not
-	// been deleted or replaced on the remote fs, in which case the mount point
-	// will have disappeared. If calling PrepareDeleteDentry fails again on the
-	// up-to-date dentry, we can be sure that it is a mount point.
+	// PrepareDeleteDentry, which fails if child is a mount point.
 	//
 	// Also note that if child is nil, then it can't be a mount point.
 	if child != nil {
@@ -575,23 +502,7 @@ func (fs *filesystem) unlinkAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, dir b
 		child.dirMu.Lock()
 		defer child.dirMu.Unlock()
 		if err := vfsObj.PrepareDeleteDentry(mntns, &child.vfsd); err != nil {
-			// We can skip revalidation in several cases:
-			// - We are not in InteropModeShared
-			// - The parent directory is synthetic, in which case the child must also
-			//   be synthetic
-			// - We already updated the child during the sticky bit check above
-			if parent.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() || sticky {
-				return err
-			}
-			child, err = fs.revalidateChildLocked(ctx, vfsObj, parent, name, child, &ds)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			if child != nil {
-				if err := vfsObj.PrepareDeleteDentry(mntns, &child.vfsd); err != nil {
-					return err
-				}
-			}
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 	flags := uint32(0)
@@ -723,13 +634,6 @@ func (fs *filesystem) GetParentDentryAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPa
 	fs.renameMu.RLock()
 	defer fs.renameMuRUnlockAndCheckCaching(ctx, &ds)
 	start := rp.Start().Impl().(*dentry)
-	if !start.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-		// Get updated metadata for start as required by
-		// fs.walkParentDirLocked().
-		if err := start.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
 	d, err := fs.walkParentDirLocked(ctx, rp, start, &ds)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -830,7 +734,7 @@ func (fs *filesystem) MknodAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, opts v
 		// to creating a synthetic one, i.e. one that is kept entirely in memory.
 
 		// Check that we're not overriding an existing file with a synthetic one.
-		_, err = fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, parent, true, ds)
+		_, _, err = fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, parent, true, ds)
 		switch {
 		case err == nil:
 			// Step succeeded, another file exists.
@@ -891,12 +795,6 @@ func (fs *filesystem) OpenAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, opts vf
 	defer unlock()
 
 	start := rp.Start().Impl().(*dentry)
-	if !start.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
-		// Get updated metadata for start as required by fs.stepLocked().
-		if err := start.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
 	if rp.Done() {
 		// Reject attempts to open mount root directory with O_CREAT.
 		if mayCreate && rp.MustBeDir() {
@@ -905,6 +803,12 @@ func (fs *filesystem) OpenAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, opts vf
 		if mustCreate {
 			return nil, syserror.EEXIST
 		}
+		if !start.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
+			// Refresh dentry's attributes before opening.
+			if err := start.updateFromGetattr(ctx); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
 		start.IncRef()
 		defer start.DecRef(ctx)
 		unlock()
@@ -926,9 +830,12 @@ afterTrailingSymlink:
 	if mayCreate && rp.MustBeDir() {
 		return nil, syserror.EISDIR
 	}
+	if err := fs.revalidateOne(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), parent, rp.Component(), &ds); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	// Determine whether or not we need to create a file.
 	parent.dirMu.Lock()
-	child, err := fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, parent, false /* mayFollowSymlinks */, &ds)
+	child, _, err := fs.stepLocked(ctx, rp, parent, false /* mayFollowSymlinks */, &ds)
 	if err == syserror.ENOENT && mayCreate {
 		if parent.isSynthetic() {
 			parent.dirMu.Unlock()
@@ -1297,18 +1204,23 @@ func (fs *filesystem) RenameAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, oldPa
 	if err := oldParent.checkPermissions(creds, vfs.MayWrite|vfs.MayExec); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	vfsObj := rp.VirtualFilesystem()
+	if err := fs.revalidateOne(ctx, vfsObj, newParent, newName, &ds); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := fs.revalidateOne(ctx, vfsObj, oldParent, oldName, &ds); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// We need a dentry representing the renamed file since, if it's a
 	// directory, we need to check for write permission on it.
 	oldParent.dirMu.Lock()
 	defer oldParent.dirMu.Unlock()
-	renamed, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, vfsObj, oldParent, oldName, &ds)
+	renamed, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, oldParent, oldName, &ds)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if renamed == nil {
-		return syserror.ENOENT
-	}
 	if err := oldParent.mayDelete(creds, renamed); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1337,8 +1249,8 @@ func (fs *filesystem) RenameAt(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, oldPa
 	if newParent.isDeleted() {
 		return syserror.ENOENT
 	}
-	replaced, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), newParent, newName, &ds)
-	if err != nil {
+	replaced, err := fs.getChildLocked(ctx, newParent, newName, &ds)
+	if err != nil && err != syserror.ENOENT {
 		return err
 	}
 	var replacedVFSD *vfs.Dentry
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go
index fb42c5f62..21692d2ac 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/gofer.go
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@
 //   specialFileFD.mu
 //     specialFileFD.bufMu
 //
-// Locking dentry.dirMu in multiple dentries requires that either ancestor
-// dentries are locked before descendant dentries, or that filesystem.renameMu
-// is locked for writing.
+// Locking dentry.dirMu and dentry.metadataMu in multiple dentries requires that
+// either ancestor dentries are locked before descendant dentries, or that
+// filesystem.renameMu is locked for writing.
 package gofer
 
 import (
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/p9file.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/p9file.go
index 21b4a96fe..b0a429d42 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/p9file.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/p9file.go
@@ -238,3 +238,10 @@ func (f p9file) connect(ctx context.Context, flags p9.ConnectFlags) (*fd.FD, err
 	ctx.UninterruptibleSleepFinish(false)
 	return fdobj, err
 }
+
+func (f p9file) multiGetAttr(ctx context.Context, names []string) ([]p9.FullStat, error) {
+	ctx.UninterruptibleSleepStart(false)
+	stats, err := f.file.MultiGetAttr(names)
+	ctx.UninterruptibleSleepFinish(false)
+	return stats, err
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/revalidate.go b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/revalidate.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8f81f0822
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/sentry/fsimpl/gofer/revalidate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,386 @@
+// Copyright 2021 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package gofer
+
+import (
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/context"
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/sentry/vfs"
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/sync"
+)
+
+type errPartialRevalidation struct{}
+
+// Error implements error.Error.
+func (errPartialRevalidation) Error() string {
+	return "partial revalidation"
+}
+
+type errRevalidationStepDone struct{}
+
+// Error implements error.Error.
+func (errRevalidationStepDone) Error() string {
+	return "stop revalidation"
+}
+
+// revalidatePath checks cached dentries for external modification. File
+// attributes are refreshed and cache is invalidated in case the dentry has been
+// deleted, or a new file/directory created in its place.
+//
+// Revalidation stops at symlinks and mount points. The caller is responsible
+// for revalidating again after symlinks are resolved and after changing to
+// different mounts.
+//
+// Preconditions:
+// * fs.renameMu must be locked.
+func (fs *filesystem) revalidatePath(ctx context.Context, rpOrig *vfs.ResolvingPath, start *dentry, ds **[]*dentry) error {
+	// Revalidation is done even if start is synthetic in case the path is
+	// something like: ../non_synthetic_file.
+	if fs.opts.interop != InteropModeShared {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Copy resolving path to walk the path for revalidation.
+	rp := rpOrig.Copy()
+	err := fs.revalidate(ctx, rp, start, rp.Done, ds)
+	rp.Release(ctx)
+	return err
+}
+
+// revalidateParentDir does the same as revalidatePath, but stops at the parent.
+//
+// Preconditions:
+// * fs.renameMu must be locked.
+func (fs *filesystem) revalidateParentDir(ctx context.Context, rpOrig *vfs.ResolvingPath, start *dentry, ds **[]*dentry) error {
+	// Revalidation is done even if start is synthetic in case the path is
+	// something like: ../non_synthetic_file and parent is non synthetic.
+	if fs.opts.interop != InteropModeShared {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Copy resolving path to walk the path for revalidation.
+	rp := rpOrig.Copy()
+	err := fs.revalidate(ctx, rp, start, rp.Final, ds)
+	rp.Release(ctx)
+	return err
+}
+
+// revalidateOne does the same as revalidatePath, but checks a single dentry.
+//
+// Preconditions:
+// * fs.renameMu must be locked.
+func (fs *filesystem) revalidateOne(ctx context.Context, vfsObj *vfs.VirtualFilesystem, parent *dentry, name string, ds **[]*dentry) error {
+	// Skip revalidation for interop mode different than InteropModeShared or
+	// if the parent is synthetic (child must be synthetic too, but it cannot be
+	// replaced without first replacing the parent).
+	if parent.cachedMetadataAuthoritative() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	parent.dirMu.Lock()
+	child, ok := parent.children[name]
+	parent.dirMu.Unlock()
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	state := makeRevalidateState(parent)
+	defer state.release()
+
+	state.add(name, child)
+	return fs.revalidateHelper(ctx, vfsObj, state, ds)
+}
+
+// revalidate revalidates path components in rp until done returns true, or
+// until a mount point or symlink is reached. It may send multiple MultiGetAttr
+// calls to the gofer to handle ".." in the path.
+//
+// Preconditions:
+// * fs.renameMu must be locked.
+// * InteropModeShared is in effect.
+func (fs *filesystem) revalidate(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, start *dentry, done func() bool, ds **[]*dentry) error {
+	state := makeRevalidateState(start)
+	defer state.release()
+
+	// Skip synthetic dentries because the start dentry cannot be replaced in case
+	// it has been created in the remote file system.
+	if !start.isSynthetic() {
+		state.add("", start)
+	}
+
+done:
+	for cur := start; !done(); {
+		var err error
+		cur, err = fs.revalidateStep(ctx, rp, cur, state)
+		if err != nil {
+			switch err.(type) {
+			case errPartialRevalidation:
+				if err := fs.revalidateHelper(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), state, ds); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+
+				// Reset state to release any remaining locks and restart from where
+				// stepping stopped.
+				state.reset()
+				state.start = cur
+
+				// Skip synthetic dentries because the start dentry cannot be replaced in
+				// case it has been created in the remote file system.
+				if !cur.isSynthetic() {
+					state.add("", cur)
+				}
+
+			case errRevalidationStepDone:
+				break done
+
+			default:
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return fs.revalidateHelper(ctx, rp.VirtualFilesystem(), state, ds)
+}
+
+// revalidateStep walks one element of the path and updates revalidationState
+// with the dentry if needed. It may also stop the stepping or ask for a
+// partial revalidation. Partial revalidation requires the caller to revalidate
+// the current revalidationState, release all locks, and resume stepping.
+// In case a symlink is hit, revalidation stops and the caller is responsible
+// for calling revalidate again after the symlink is resolved. Revalidation may
+// also stop for other reasons, like hitting a child not in the cache.
+//
+// Returns:
+// * (dentry, nil): step worked, continue stepping.`
+// * (dentry, errPartialRevalidation): revalidation should be done with the
+//     state gathered so far. Then continue stepping with the remainder of the
+//     path, starting at `dentry`.
+// * (nil, errRevalidationStepDone): revalidation doesn't need to step any
+//     further. It hit a symlink, a mount point, or an uncached dentry.
+//
+// Preconditions:
+// * fs.renameMu must be locked.
+// * !rp.Done().
+// * InteropModeShared is in effect (assumes no negative dentries).
+func (fs *filesystem) revalidateStep(ctx context.Context, rp *vfs.ResolvingPath, d *dentry, state *revalidateState) (*dentry, error) {
+	switch name := rp.Component(); name {
+	case ".":
+		// Do nothing.
+
+	case "..":
+		// Partial revalidation is required when ".." is hit because metadata locks
+		// can only be acquired from parent to child to avoid deadlocks.
+		if isRoot, err := rp.CheckRoot(ctx, &d.vfsd); err != nil {
+			return nil, errRevalidationStepDone{}
+		} else if isRoot || d.parent == nil {
+			rp.Advance()
+			return d, errPartialRevalidation{}
+		}
+		// We must assume that d.parent is correct, because if d has been moved
+		// elsewhere in the remote filesystem so that its parent has changed,
+		// we have no way of determining its new parent's location in the
+		// filesystem.
+		//
+		// Call rp.CheckMount() before updating d.parent's metadata, since if
+		// we traverse to another mount then d.parent's metadata is irrelevant.
+		if err := rp.CheckMount(ctx, &d.parent.vfsd); err != nil {
+			return nil, errRevalidationStepDone{}
+		}
+		rp.Advance()
+		return d.parent, errPartialRevalidation{}
+
+	default:
+		d.dirMu.Lock()
+		child, ok := d.children[name]
+		d.dirMu.Unlock()
+		if !ok {
+			// child is not cached, no need to validate any further.
+			return nil, errRevalidationStepDone{}
+		}
+
+		state.add(name, child)
+
+		// Symlink must be resolved before continuing with revalidation.
+		if child.isSymlink() {
+			return nil, errRevalidationStepDone{}
+		}
+
+		d = child
+	}
+
+	rp.Advance()
+	return d, nil
+}
+
+// revalidateHelper calls the gofer to stat all dentries in `state`. It will
+// update or invalidate dentries in the cache based on the result.
+//
+// Preconditions:
+// * fs.renameMu must be locked.
+// * InteropModeShared is in effect.
+func (fs *filesystem) revalidateHelper(ctx context.Context, vfsObj *vfs.VirtualFilesystem, state *revalidateState, ds **[]*dentry) error {
+	if len(state.names) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Lock metadata on all dentries *before* getting attributes for them.
+	state.lockAllMetadata()
+	stats, err := state.start.file.multiGetAttr(ctx, state.names)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	i := -1
+	for d := state.popFront(); d != nil; d = state.popFront() {
+		i++
+		found := i < len(stats)
+		if i == 0 && len(state.names[0]) == 0 {
+			if found && !d.isSynthetic() {
+				// First dentry is where the search is starting, just update attributes
+				// since it cannot be replaced.
+				d.updateFromP9AttrsLocked(stats[i].Valid, &stats[i].Attr)
+			}
+			d.metadataMu.Unlock()
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Note that synthetic dentries will always fails the comparison check
+		// below.
+		if !found || d.qidPath != stats[i].QID.Path {
+			d.metadataMu.Unlock()
+			if !found && d.isSynthetic() {
+				// We have a synthetic file, and no remote file has arisen to replace
+				// it.
+				return nil
+			}
+			// The file at this path has changed or no longer exists. Mark the
+			// dentry invalidated, and re-evaluate its caching status (i.e. if it
+			// has 0 references, drop it). The dentry will be reloaded next time it's
+			// accessed.
+			vfsObj.InvalidateDentry(ctx, &d.vfsd)
+
+			name := state.names[i]
+			d.parent.dirMu.Lock()
+
+			if d.isSynthetic() {
+				// Normally we don't mark invalidated dentries as deleted since
+				// they may still exist (but at a different path), and also for
+				// consistency with Linux. However, synthetic files are guaranteed
+				// to become unreachable if their dentries are invalidated, so
+				// treat their invalidation as deletion.
+				d.setDeleted()
+				d.decRefNoCaching()
+				*ds = appendDentry(*ds, d)
+
+				d.parent.syntheticChildren--
+				d.parent.dirents = nil
+			}
+
+			// Since the dirMu was released and reacquired, re-check that the
+			// parent's child with this name is still the same. Do not touch it if
+			// it has been replaced with a different one.
+			if child := d.parent.children[name]; child == d {
+				// Invalidate dentry so it gets reloaded next time it's accessed.
+				delete(d.parent.children, name)
+			}
+			d.parent.dirMu.Unlock()
+
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// The file at this path hasn't changed. Just update cached metadata.
+		d.updateFromP9AttrsLocked(stats[i].Valid, &stats[i].Attr)
+		d.metadataMu.Unlock()
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// revalidateStatePool caches revalidateState instances to save array
+// allocations for dentries and names.
+var revalidateStatePool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() interface{} {
+		return &revalidateState{}
+	},
+}
+
+// revalidateState keeps state related to a revalidation request. It keeps track
+// of {name, dentry} list being revalidated, as well as metadata locks on the
+// dentries. The list must be in ancestry order, in other words `n` must be
+// `n-1` child.
+type revalidateState struct {
+	// start is the dentry where to start the attributes search.
+	start *dentry
+
+	// List of names of entries to refresh attributes. Names length must be the
+	// same as detries length. They are kept in separate slices because names is
+	// used to call File.MultiGetAttr().
+	names []string
+
+	// dentries is the list of dentries that correspond to the names above.
+	// dentry.metadataMu is acquired as each dentry is added to this list.
+	dentries []*dentry
+
+	// locked indicates if metadata lock has been acquired on dentries.
+	locked bool
+}
+
+func makeRevalidateState(start *dentry) *revalidateState {
+	r := revalidateStatePool.Get().(*revalidateState)
+	r.start = start
+	return r
+}
+
+// release must be called after the caller is done with this object. It releases
+// all metadata locks and resources.
+func (r *revalidateState) release() {
+	r.reset()
+	revalidateStatePool.Put(r)
+}
+
+// Preconditions:
+// * d is a descendant of all dentries in r.dentries.
+func (r *revalidateState) add(name string, d *dentry) {
+	r.names = append(r.names, name)
+	r.dentries = append(r.dentries, d)
+}
+
+func (r *revalidateState) lockAllMetadata() {
+	for _, d := range r.dentries {
+		d.metadataMu.Lock()
+	}
+	r.locked = true
+}
+
+func (r *revalidateState) popFront() *dentry {
+	if len(r.dentries) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	d := r.dentries[0]
+	r.dentries = r.dentries[1:]
+	return d
+}
+
+// reset releases all metadata locks and resets all fields to allow this
+// instance to be reused.
+func (r *revalidateState) reset() {
+	if r.locked {
+		// Unlock any remaining dentries.
+		for _, d := range r.dentries {
+			d.metadataMu.Unlock()
+		}
+		r.locked = false
+	}
+	r.start = nil
+	r.names = r.names[:0]
+	r.dentries = r.dentries[:0]
+}
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go b/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go
index f612a71b2..176bcc242 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/vfs/file_description.go
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) Stat(ctx context.Context, opts StatOptions) (linux.St
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		stat, err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.StatAt(ctx, rp, opts)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return stat, err
 	}
 	return fd.impl.Stat(ctx, opts)
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) SetStat(ctx context.Context, opts SetStatOptions) err
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.SetStatAt(ctx, rp, opts)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return err
 	}
 	return fd.impl.SetStat(ctx, opts)
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) StatFS(ctx context.Context) (linux.Statfs, error) {
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		statfs, err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.StatFSAt(ctx, rp)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return statfs, err
 	}
 	return fd.impl.StatFS(ctx)
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) ListXattr(ctx context.Context, size uint64) ([]string
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		names, err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.ListXattrAt(ctx, rp, size)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return names, err
 	}
 	names, err := fd.impl.ListXattr(ctx, size)
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) GetXattr(ctx context.Context, opts *GetXattrOptions)
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		val, err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.GetXattrAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return val, err
 	}
 	return fd.impl.GetXattr(ctx, *opts)
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) SetXattr(ctx context.Context, opts *SetXattrOptions)
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.SetXattrAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return err
 	}
 	return fd.impl.SetXattr(ctx, *opts)
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ func (fd *FileDescription) RemoveXattr(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
 			Start: fd.vd,
 		})
 		err := fd.vd.mount.fs.impl.RemoveXattrAt(ctx, rp, name)
-		vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+		rp.Release(ctx)
 		return err
 	}
 	return fd.impl.RemoveXattr(ctx, name)
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/vfs/opath.go b/pkg/sentry/vfs/opath.go
index 39fbac987..47848c76b 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/vfs/opath.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/vfs/opath.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (fd *opathFD) Stat(ctx context.Context, opts StatOptions) (linux.Statx, err
 		Start: fd.vfsfd.vd,
 	})
 	stat, err := fd.vfsfd.vd.mount.fs.impl.StatAt(ctx, rp, opts)
-	vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+	rp.Release(ctx)
 	return stat, err
 }
 
@@ -134,6 +134,6 @@ func (fd *opathFD) StatFS(ctx context.Context) (linux.Statfs, error) {
 		Start: fd.vfsfd.vd,
 	})
 	statfs, err := fd.vfsfd.vd.mount.fs.impl.StatFSAt(ctx, rp)
-	vfsObj.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+	rp.Release(ctx)
 	return statfs, err
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/vfs/resolving_path.go b/pkg/sentry/vfs/resolving_path.go
index e4fd55012..634c8b097 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/vfs/resolving_path.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/vfs/resolving_path.go
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ var resolvingPathPool = sync.Pool{
 	},
 }
 
+// getResolvingPath gets a new ResolvingPath from the pool. Caller must call
+// ResolvingPath.Release() when done.
 func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) getResolvingPath(creds *auth.Credentials, pop *PathOperation) *ResolvingPath {
 	rp := resolvingPathPool.Get().(*ResolvingPath)
 	rp.vfs = vfs
@@ -142,7 +144,30 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) getResolvingPath(creds *auth.Credentials, pop *Pat
 	return rp
 }
 
-func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) putResolvingPath(ctx context.Context, rp *ResolvingPath) {
+// Copy creates another ResolvingPath with the same state as the original.
+// Copies are independent, using the copy does not change the original and
+// vice-versa.
+//
+// Caller must call Resease() when done.
+func (rp *ResolvingPath) Copy() *ResolvingPath {
+	copy := resolvingPathPool.Get().(*ResolvingPath)
+	*copy = *rp // All fields all shallow copiable.
+
+	// Take extra reference for the copy if the original had them.
+	if copy.flags&rpflagsHaveStartRef != 0 {
+		copy.start.IncRef()
+	}
+	if copy.flags&rpflagsHaveMountRef != 0 {
+		copy.mount.IncRef()
+	}
+	// Reset error state.
+	copy.nextStart = nil
+	copy.nextMount = nil
+	return copy
+}
+
+// Release decrements references if needed and returns the object to the pool.
+func (rp *ResolvingPath) Release(ctx context.Context) {
 	rp.root = VirtualDentry{}
 	rp.decRefStartAndMount(ctx)
 	rp.mount = nil
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/vfs/vfs.go b/pkg/sentry/vfs/vfs.go
index 00f1847d8..8b392232a 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/vfs/vfs.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/vfs/vfs.go
@@ -208,11 +208,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) AccessAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credenti
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.AccessAt(ctx, rp, creds, ats)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -230,11 +230,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) GetDentryAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Crede
 				dentry: d,
 			}
 			rp.mount.IncRef()
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return vd, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return VirtualDentry{}, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) getParentDirAndName(ctx context.Context, creds *au
 			}
 			rp.mount.IncRef()
 			name := rp.Component()
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return parentVD, name, nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) getParentDirAndName(ctx context.Context, creds *au
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return VirtualDentry{}, "", err
 		}
 	}
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) LinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credential
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.LinkAt(ctx, rp, oldVD)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			oldVD.DecRef(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) LinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credential
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			oldVD.DecRef(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) MkdirAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentia
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.MkdirAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) MkdirAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentia
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) MknodAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentia
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.MknodAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) MknodAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentia
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) OpenAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credential
 	for {
 		fd, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.OpenAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 
 			if opts.FileExec {
 				if fd.Mount().Flags.NoExec {
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) OpenAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credential
 			return fd, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -480,11 +480,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) ReadlinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Creden
 	for {
 		target, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.ReadlinkAt(ctx, rp)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return target, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return "", err
 		}
 	}
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) RenameAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credenti
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.RenameAt(ctx, rp, oldParentVD, oldName, renameOpts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			oldParentVD.DecRef(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) RenameAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credenti
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			oldParentVD.DecRef(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) RmdirAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentia
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.RmdirAt(ctx, rp)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) RmdirAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credentia
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -590,11 +590,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) SetStatAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credent
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.SetStatAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -606,11 +606,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) StatAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credential
 	for {
 		stat, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.StatAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return stat, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return linux.Statx{}, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -623,11 +623,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) StatFSAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credenti
 	for {
 		statfs, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.StatFSAt(ctx, rp)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return statfs, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return linux.Statfs{}, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) SymlinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credent
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.SymlinkAt(ctx, rp, target)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) SymlinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credent
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) UnlinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credenti
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.UnlinkAt(ctx, rp)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) UnlinkAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Credenti
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) BoundEndpointAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.C
 	for {
 		bep, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.BoundEndpointAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return bep, nil
 		}
 		if checkInvariants {
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) BoundEndpointAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.C
 			}
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) ListXattrAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Crede
 	for {
 		names, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.ListXattrAt(ctx, rp, size)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return names, nil
 		}
 		if err == syserror.ENOTSUP {
@@ -737,11 +737,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) ListXattrAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Crede
 			// fs/xattr.c:vfs_listxattr() falls back to allowing the security
 			// subsystem to return security extended attributes, which by
 			// default don't exist.
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
@@ -754,11 +754,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) GetXattrAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Creden
 	for {
 		val, err := rp.mount.fs.impl.GetXattrAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return val, nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return "", err
 		}
 	}
@@ -771,11 +771,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) SetXattrAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Creden
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.SetXattrAt(ctx, rp, *opts)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -787,11 +787,11 @@ func (vfs *VirtualFilesystem) RemoveXattrAt(ctx context.Context, creds *auth.Cre
 	for {
 		err := rp.mount.fs.impl.RemoveXattrAt(ctx, rp, name)
 		if err == nil {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return nil
 		}
 		if !rp.handleError(ctx, err) {
-			vfs.putResolvingPath(ctx, rp)
+			rp.Release(ctx)
 			return err
 		}
 	}