diff --git a/fs/nfsd/auth.c b/fs/nfsd/auth.c
index 5573508..36fcabbf 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/auth.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/auth.c
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
 	int flags = nfsexp_flags(rqstp, exp);
 	int ret;
 
+	validate_process_creds();
+
 	/* discard any old override before preparing the new set */
 	revert_creds(get_cred(current->real_cred));
 	new = prepare_creds();
@@ -86,8 +88,10 @@
 	else
 		new->cap_effective = cap_raise_nfsd_set(new->cap_effective,
 							new->cap_permitted);
+	validate_process_creds();
 	put_cred(override_creds(new));
 	put_cred(new);
+	validate_process_creds();
 	return 0;
 
 oom:
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
index 492c79b..24d58ad 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
@@ -496,7 +496,9 @@
 		/* Lock the export hash tables for reading. */
 		exp_readlock();
 
+		validate_process_creds();
 		svc_process(rqstp);
+		validate_process_creds();
 
 		/* Unlock export hash tables */
 		exp_readunlock();
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/vfs.c b/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
index 23341c1..8fa09bf 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
@@ -684,6 +684,8 @@
 	__be32		err;
 	int		host_err;
 
+	validate_process_creds();
+
 	/*
 	 * If we get here, then the client has already done an "open",
 	 * and (hopefully) checked permission - so allow OWNER_OVERRIDE
@@ -740,6 +742,7 @@
 out_nfserr:
 	err = nfserrno(host_err);
 out:
+	validate_process_creds();
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/open.c b/fs/open.c
index 40d1fa2..31191bf 100644
--- a/fs/open.c
+++ b/fs/open.c
@@ -959,6 +959,8 @@
 	int error;
 	struct file *f;
 
+	validate_creds(cred);
+
 	/*
 	 * We must always pass in a valid mount pointer.   Historically
 	 * callers got away with not passing it, but we must enforce this at
diff --git a/include/linux/cred.h b/include/linux/cred.h
index b3c76e8..85439ab 100644
--- a/include/linux/cred.h
+++ b/include/linux/cred.h
@@ -114,6 +114,13 @@
  */
 struct cred {
 	atomic_t	usage;
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	atomic_t	subscribers;	/* number of processes subscribed */
+	void		*put_addr;
+	unsigned	magic;
+#define CRED_MAGIC	0x43736564
+#define CRED_MAGIC_DEAD	0x44656144
+#endif
 	uid_t		uid;		/* real UID of the task */
 	gid_t		gid;		/* real GID of the task */
 	uid_t		suid;		/* saved UID of the task */
@@ -143,6 +150,7 @@
 };
 
 extern void __put_cred(struct cred *);
+extern void exit_creds(struct task_struct *);
 extern int copy_creds(struct task_struct *, unsigned long);
 extern struct cred *prepare_creds(void);
 extern struct cred *prepare_exec_creds(void);
@@ -158,6 +166,60 @@
 extern int set_create_files_as(struct cred *, struct inode *);
 extern void __init cred_init(void);
 
+/*
+ * check for validity of credentials
+ */
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+extern void __invalid_creds(const struct cred *, const char *, unsigned);
+extern void __validate_process_creds(struct task_struct *,
+				     const char *, unsigned);
+
+static inline bool creds_are_invalid(const struct cred *cred)
+{
+	if (cred->magic != CRED_MAGIC)
+		return true;
+	if (atomic_read(&cred->usage) < atomic_read(&cred->subscribers))
+		return true;
+#ifdef CONFIG_SECURITY_SELINUX
+	if ((unsigned long) cred->security < PAGE_SIZE)
+		return true;
+	if ((*(u32*)cred->security & 0xffffff00) ==
+	    (POISON_FREE << 24 | POISON_FREE << 16 | POISON_FREE << 8))
+		return true;
+#endif
+	return false;
+}
+
+static inline void __validate_creds(const struct cred *cred,
+				    const char *file, unsigned line)
+{
+	if (unlikely(creds_are_invalid(cred)))
+		__invalid_creds(cred, file, line);
+}
+
+#define validate_creds(cred)				\
+do {							\
+	__validate_creds((cred), __FILE__, __LINE__);	\
+} while(0)
+
+#define validate_process_creds()				\
+do {								\
+	__validate_process_creds(current, __FILE__, __LINE__);	\
+} while(0)
+
+extern void validate_creds_for_do_exit(struct task_struct *);
+#else
+static inline void validate_creds(const struct cred *cred)
+{
+}
+static inline void validate_creds_for_do_exit(struct task_struct *tsk)
+{
+}
+static inline void validate_process_creds(void)
+{
+}
+#endif
+
 /**
  * get_new_cred - Get a reference on a new set of credentials
  * @cred: The new credentials to reference
@@ -187,6 +249,7 @@
 static inline const struct cred *get_cred(const struct cred *cred)
 {
 	struct cred *nonconst_cred = (struct cred *) cred;
+	validate_creds(cred);
 	return get_new_cred(nonconst_cred);
 }
 
@@ -205,7 +268,7 @@
 {
 	struct cred *cred = (struct cred *) _cred;
 
-	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&(cred)->usage) <= 0);
+	validate_creds(cred);
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&(cred)->usage))
 		__put_cred(cred);
 }
diff --git a/kernel/cred.c b/kernel/cred.c
index 1bb4d7e..24dd2f5 100644
--- a/kernel/cred.c
+++ b/kernel/cred.c
@@ -18,6 +18,18 @@
 #include <linux/cn_proc.h>
 #include "cred-internals.h"
 
+#if 0
+#define kdebug(FMT, ...) \
+	printk("[%-5.5s%5u] "FMT"\n", current->comm, current->pid ,##__VA_ARGS__)
+#else
+static inline __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)))
+void no_printk(const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+}
+#define kdebug(FMT, ...) \
+	no_printk("[%-5.5s%5u] "FMT"\n", current->comm, current->pid ,##__VA_ARGS__)
+#endif
+
 static struct kmem_cache *cred_jar;
 
 /*
@@ -36,6 +48,10 @@
  */
 struct cred init_cred = {
 	.usage			= ATOMIC_INIT(4),
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	.subscribers		= ATOMIC_INIT(2),
+	.magic			= CRED_MAGIC,
+#endif
 	.securebits		= SECUREBITS_DEFAULT,
 	.cap_inheritable	= CAP_INIT_INH_SET,
 	.cap_permitted		= CAP_FULL_SET,
@@ -48,6 +64,31 @@
 #endif
 };
 
+static inline void set_cred_subscribers(struct cred *cred, int n)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	atomic_set(&cred->subscribers, n);
+#endif
+}
+
+static inline int read_cred_subscribers(const struct cred *cred)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	return atomic_read(&cred->subscribers);
+#else
+	return 0;
+#endif
+}
+
+static inline void alter_cred_subscribers(const struct cred *_cred, int n)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	struct cred *cred = (struct cred *) _cred;
+
+	atomic_add(n, &cred->subscribers);
+#endif
+}
+
 /*
  * Dispose of the shared task group credentials
  */
@@ -85,9 +126,22 @@
 {
 	struct cred *cred = container_of(rcu, struct cred, rcu);
 
+	kdebug("put_cred_rcu(%p)", cred);
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	if (cred->magic != CRED_MAGIC_DEAD ||
+	    atomic_read(&cred->usage) != 0 ||
+	    read_cred_subscribers(cred) != 0)
+		panic("CRED: put_cred_rcu() sees %p with"
+		      " mag %x, put %p, usage %d, subscr %d\n",
+		      cred, cred->magic, cred->put_addr,
+		      atomic_read(&cred->usage),
+		      read_cred_subscribers(cred));
+#else
 	if (atomic_read(&cred->usage) != 0)
 		panic("CRED: put_cred_rcu() sees %p with usage %d\n",
 		      cred, atomic_read(&cred->usage));
+#endif
 
 	security_cred_free(cred);
 	key_put(cred->thread_keyring);
@@ -106,12 +160,47 @@
  */
 void __put_cred(struct cred *cred)
 {
+	kdebug("__put_cred(%p{%d,%d})", cred,
+	       atomic_read(&cred->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(cred));
+
 	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&cred->usage) != 0);
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	BUG_ON(read_cred_subscribers(cred) != 0);
+	cred->magic = CRED_MAGIC_DEAD;
+	cred->put_addr = __builtin_return_address(0);
+#endif
+	BUG_ON(cred == current->cred);
+	BUG_ON(cred == current->real_cred);
 
 	call_rcu(&cred->rcu, put_cred_rcu);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(__put_cred);
 
+/*
+ * Clean up a task's credentials when it exits
+ */
+void exit_creds(struct task_struct *tsk)
+{
+	struct cred *cred;
+
+	kdebug("exit_creds(%u,%p,%p,{%d,%d})", tsk->pid, tsk->real_cred, tsk->cred,
+	       atomic_read(&tsk->cred->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(tsk->cred));
+
+	cred = (struct cred *) tsk->real_cred;
+	tsk->real_cred = NULL;
+	validate_creds(cred);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(cred, -1);
+	put_cred(cred);
+
+	cred = (struct cred *) tsk->cred;
+	tsk->cred = NULL;
+	validate_creds(cred);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(cred, -1);
+	put_cred(cred);
+}
+
 /**
  * prepare_creds - Prepare a new set of credentials for modification
  *
@@ -132,16 +221,19 @@
 	const struct cred *old;
 	struct cred *new;
 
-	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&task->real_cred->usage) < 1);
+	validate_process_creds();
 
 	new = kmem_cache_alloc(cred_jar, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!new)
 		return NULL;
 
+	kdebug("prepare_creds() alloc %p", new);
+
 	old = task->cred;
 	memcpy(new, old, sizeof(struct cred));
 
 	atomic_set(&new->usage, 1);
+	set_cred_subscribers(new, 0);
 	get_group_info(new->group_info);
 	get_uid(new->user);
 
@@ -157,6 +249,7 @@
 
 	if (security_prepare_creds(new, old, GFP_KERNEL) < 0)
 		goto error;
+	validate_creds(new);
 	return new;
 
 error:
@@ -229,9 +322,12 @@
 	if (!new)
 		return NULL;
 
+	kdebug("prepare_usermodehelper_creds() alloc %p", new);
+
 	memcpy(new, &init_cred, sizeof(struct cred));
 
 	atomic_set(&new->usage, 1);
+	set_cred_subscribers(new, 0);
 	get_group_info(new->group_info);
 	get_uid(new->user);
 
@@ -250,6 +346,7 @@
 #endif
 	if (security_prepare_creds(new, &init_cred, GFP_ATOMIC) < 0)
 		goto error;
+	validate_creds(new);
 
 	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&new->usage) != 1);
 	return new;
@@ -286,6 +383,10 @@
 	    ) {
 		p->real_cred = get_cred(p->cred);
 		get_cred(p->cred);
+		alter_cred_subscribers(p->cred, 2);
+		kdebug("share_creds(%p{%d,%d})",
+		       p->cred, atomic_read(&p->cred->usage),
+		       read_cred_subscribers(p->cred));
 		atomic_inc(&p->cred->user->processes);
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -331,6 +432,8 @@
 
 	atomic_inc(&new->user->processes);
 	p->cred = p->real_cred = get_cred(new);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(new, 2);
+	validate_creds(new);
 	return 0;
 
 error_put:
@@ -355,13 +458,20 @@
 int commit_creds(struct cred *new)
 {
 	struct task_struct *task = current;
-	const struct cred *old;
+	const struct cred *old = task->real_cred;
 
-	BUG_ON(task->cred != task->real_cred);
-	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&task->real_cred->usage) < 2);
+	kdebug("commit_creds(%p{%d,%d})", new,
+	       atomic_read(&new->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(new));
+
+	BUG_ON(task->cred != old);
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	BUG_ON(read_cred_subscribers(old) < 2);
+	validate_creds(old);
+	validate_creds(new);
+#endif
 	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&new->usage) < 1);
 
-	old = task->real_cred;
 	security_commit_creds(new, old);
 
 	get_cred(new); /* we will require a ref for the subj creds too */
@@ -390,12 +500,14 @@
 	 *   cheaply with the new uid cache, so if it matters
 	 *   we should be checking for it.  -DaveM
 	 */
+	alter_cred_subscribers(new, 2);
 	if (new->user != old->user)
 		atomic_inc(&new->user->processes);
 	rcu_assign_pointer(task->real_cred, new);
 	rcu_assign_pointer(task->cred, new);
 	if (new->user != old->user)
 		atomic_dec(&old->user->processes);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(old, -2);
 
 	sched_switch_user(task);
 
@@ -428,6 +540,13 @@
  */
 void abort_creds(struct cred *new)
 {
+	kdebug("abort_creds(%p{%d,%d})", new,
+	       atomic_read(&new->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(new));
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	BUG_ON(read_cred_subscribers(new) != 0);
+#endif
 	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&new->usage) < 1);
 	put_cred(new);
 }
@@ -444,7 +563,20 @@
 {
 	const struct cred *old = current->cred;
 
-	rcu_assign_pointer(current->cred, get_cred(new));
+	kdebug("override_creds(%p{%d,%d})", new,
+	       atomic_read(&new->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(new));
+
+	validate_creds(old);
+	validate_creds(new);
+	get_cred(new);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(new, 1);
+	rcu_assign_pointer(current->cred, new);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(old, -1);
+
+	kdebug("override_creds() = %p{%d,%d}", old,
+	       atomic_read(&old->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(old));
 	return old;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(override_creds);
@@ -460,7 +592,15 @@
 {
 	const struct cred *override = current->cred;
 
+	kdebug("revert_creds(%p{%d,%d})", old,
+	       atomic_read(&old->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(old));
+
+	validate_creds(old);
+	validate_creds(override);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(old, 1);
 	rcu_assign_pointer(current->cred, old);
+	alter_cred_subscribers(override, -1);
 	put_cred(override);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(revert_creds);
@@ -502,11 +642,15 @@
 	if (!new)
 		return NULL;
 
+	kdebug("prepare_kernel_cred() alloc %p", new);
+
 	if (daemon)
 		old = get_task_cred(daemon);
 	else
 		old = get_cred(&init_cred);
 
+	validate_creds(old);
+
 	*new = *old;
 	get_uid(new->user);
 	get_group_info(new->group_info);
@@ -526,7 +670,9 @@
 		goto error;
 
 	atomic_set(&new->usage, 1);
+	set_cred_subscribers(new, 0);
 	put_cred(old);
+	validate_creds(new);
 	return new;
 
 error:
@@ -589,3 +735,95 @@
 	return security_kernel_create_files_as(new, inode);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(set_create_files_as);
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+
+/*
+ * dump invalid credentials
+ */
+static void dump_invalid_creds(const struct cred *cred, const char *label,
+			       const struct task_struct *tsk)
+{
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: %s credentials: %p %s%s%s\n",
+	       label, cred,
+	       cred == &init_cred ? "[init]" : "",
+	       cred == tsk->real_cred ? "[real]" : "",
+	       cred == tsk->cred ? "[eff]" : "");
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: ->magic=%x, put_addr=%p\n",
+	       cred->magic, cred->put_addr);
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: ->usage=%d, subscr=%d\n",
+	       atomic_read(&cred->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(cred));
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: ->*uid = { %d,%d,%d,%d }\n",
+	       cred->uid, cred->euid, cred->suid, cred->fsuid);
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: ->*gid = { %d,%d,%d,%d }\n",
+	       cred->gid, cred->egid, cred->sgid, cred->fsgid);
+#ifdef CONFIG_SECURITY
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: ->security is %p\n", cred->security);
+	if ((unsigned long) cred->security >= PAGE_SIZE &&
+	    (((unsigned long) cred->security & 0xffffff00) !=
+	     (POISON_FREE << 24 | POISON_FREE << 16 | POISON_FREE << 8)))
+		printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: ->security {%x, %x}\n",
+		       ((u32*)cred->security)[0],
+		       ((u32*)cred->security)[1]);
+#endif
+}
+
+/*
+ * report use of invalid credentials
+ */
+void __invalid_creds(const struct cred *cred, const char *file, unsigned line)
+{
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: Invalid credentials\n");
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: At %s:%u\n", file, line);
+	dump_invalid_creds(cred, "Specified", current);
+	BUG();
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(__invalid_creds);
+
+/*
+ * check the credentials on a process
+ */
+void __validate_process_creds(struct task_struct *tsk,
+			      const char *file, unsigned line)
+{
+	if (tsk->cred == tsk->real_cred) {
+		if (unlikely(read_cred_subscribers(tsk->cred) < 2 ||
+			     creds_are_invalid(tsk->cred)))
+			goto invalid_creds;
+	} else {
+		if (unlikely(read_cred_subscribers(tsk->real_cred) < 1 ||
+			     read_cred_subscribers(tsk->cred) < 1 ||
+			     creds_are_invalid(tsk->real_cred) ||
+			     creds_are_invalid(tsk->cred)))
+			goto invalid_creds;
+	}
+	return;
+
+invalid_creds:
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: Invalid process credentials\n");
+	printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: At %s:%u\n", file, line);
+
+	dump_invalid_creds(tsk->real_cred, "Real", tsk);
+	if (tsk->cred != tsk->real_cred)
+		dump_invalid_creds(tsk->cred, "Effective", tsk);
+	else
+		printk(KERN_ERR "CRED: Effective creds == Real creds\n");
+	BUG();
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(__validate_process_creds);
+
+/*
+ * check creds for do_exit()
+ */
+void validate_creds_for_do_exit(struct task_struct *tsk)
+{
+	kdebug("validate_creds_for_do_exit(%p,%p{%d,%d})",
+	       tsk->real_cred, tsk->cred,
+	       atomic_read(&tsk->cred->usage),
+	       read_cred_subscribers(tsk->cred));
+
+	__validate_process_creds(tsk, __FILE__, __LINE__);
+}
+
+#endif /* CONFIG_DEBUG_CREDENTIALS */
diff --git a/kernel/exit.c b/kernel/exit.c
index 869dc22..c98ff7a 100644
--- a/kernel/exit.c
+++ b/kernel/exit.c
@@ -901,6 +901,8 @@
 
 	tracehook_report_exit(&code);
 
+	validate_creds_for_do_exit(tsk);
+
 	/*
 	 * We're taking recursive faults here in do_exit. Safest is to just
 	 * leave this task alone and wait for reboot.
@@ -1009,6 +1011,8 @@
 	if (tsk->splice_pipe)
 		__free_pipe_info(tsk->splice_pipe);
 
+	validate_creds_for_do_exit(tsk);
+
 	preempt_disable();
 	/* causes final put_task_struct in finish_task_switch(). */
 	tsk->state = TASK_DEAD;
diff --git a/kernel/fork.c b/kernel/fork.c
index 144326b..043b5d8 100644
--- a/kernel/fork.c
+++ b/kernel/fork.c
@@ -152,8 +152,7 @@
 	WARN_ON(atomic_read(&tsk->usage));
 	WARN_ON(tsk == current);
 
-	put_cred(tsk->real_cred);
-	put_cred(tsk->cred);
+	exit_creds(tsk);
 	delayacct_tsk_free(tsk);
 
 	if (!profile_handoff_task(tsk))
@@ -1307,8 +1306,7 @@
 	module_put(task_thread_info(p)->exec_domain->module);
 bad_fork_cleanup_count:
 	atomic_dec(&p->cred->user->processes);
-	put_cred(p->real_cred);
-	put_cred(p->cred);
+	exit_creds(p);
 bad_fork_free:
 	free_task(p);
 fork_out:
diff --git a/kernel/kmod.c b/kernel/kmod.c
index 5a7ae57..4e8cae2 100644
--- a/kernel/kmod.c
+++ b/kernel/kmod.c
@@ -466,6 +466,7 @@
 	int retval = 0;
 
 	BUG_ON(atomic_read(&sub_info->cred->usage) != 1);
+	validate_creds(sub_info->cred);
 
 	helper_lock();
 	if (sub_info->path[0] == '\0')
diff --git a/lib/Kconfig.debug b/lib/Kconfig.debug
index 12327b2..fbb87cf 100644
--- a/lib/Kconfig.debug
+++ b/lib/Kconfig.debug
@@ -653,6 +653,21 @@
 	  This is a relatively cheap check but if you care about maximum
 	  performance, say N.
 
+config DEBUG_CREDENTIALS
+	bool "Debug credential management"
+	depends on DEBUG_KERNEL
+	help
+	  Enable this to turn on some debug checking for credential
+	  management.  The additional code keeps track of the number of
+	  pointers from task_structs to any given cred struct, and checks to
+	  see that this number never exceeds the usage count of the cred
+	  struct.
+
+	  Furthermore, if SELinux is enabled, this also checks that the
+	  security pointer in the cred struct is never seen to be invalid.
+
+	  If unsure, say N.
+
 #
 # Select this config option from the architecture Kconfig, if it
 # it is preferred to always offer frame pointers as a config
diff --git a/security/selinux/hooks.c b/security/selinux/hooks.c
index 27b4c55..c3bb31e 100644
--- a/security/selinux/hooks.c
+++ b/security/selinux/hooks.c
@@ -1531,6 +1531,8 @@
 	struct common_audit_data ad;
 	u32 sid;
 
+	validate_creds(cred);
+
 	if (unlikely(IS_PRIVATE(inode)))
 		return 0;
 
@@ -3236,7 +3238,9 @@
 static void selinux_cred_free(struct cred *cred)
 {
 	struct task_security_struct *tsec = cred->security;
-	cred->security = NULL;
+
+	BUG_ON((unsigned long) cred->security < PAGE_SIZE);
+	cred->security = (void *) 0x7UL;
 	kfree(tsec);
 }