Re: races in ipathfs

From: Al Viro
Date: Sun Mar 18 2012 - 14:45:47 EST


On Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 08:20:04PM +0000, Al Viro wrote:
> Use of qib_super is seriously racy. qibfs_add() (and worse,
> qibfs_remove()) can happen during qibfs_mount() and qibfs_kill_super().

[snip]

FWIW, I've put a completely untested patchset into
git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/viro/vfs.git qibfs

It tries to avoid that kind of crap by getting rid of "populate at mount
time" logics - we keep (internal) mount of that sucker for as long as
there are any devices owned by ib_qib, adding them on add_device() and
removing on remove_device(). The only complication is with module
use counts - that fs has to be a separate module, or we'll have ib_qib
impossible to rmmod, because fs keeps its module pinned and any devices
held by ib_qib PCI driver will keep the fs pinned, so we never get
to unregistering said PCI driver. With skeleton of qibfs (static parts
only) taken to ib_qib_fs.c we avoid that problem - it is what ends up
being pinned down for as long as ib_qib owns any devices, but then it's
pinned down by ib_qib using exports from ib_qib_fs anyway. And once
ib_qib is removed, all internal references to that vfsmount and superblock
disappear as well...

This stuff is completely untested; I don't have the hardware in question.
It does compile and survive modpost, but that's it. Please, review and
comment...
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/