Re: [PATCH 3/4] xen/manage: Guard against user-space initiated poweroff and XenBus.

From: Konrad Rzeszutek Wilk
Date: Mon Mar 31 2014 - 15:09:32 EST


On Mon, Dec 02, 2013 at 11:27:40AM +0000, David Vrabel wrote:
> On 26/11/13 16:45, Konrad Rzeszutek Wilk wrote:
> > On Thu, Nov 21, 2013 at 11:09:52AM +0000, David Vrabel wrote:
> >> On 08/11/13 17:38, Konrad Rzeszutek Wilk wrote:
> >>> There is a race case where the user does 'poweroff'
> >>> and at the same time the system admin does 'xl shutdown'.
> >>
> >> This isn't a Xen-specific problem is it? Wouldn't it be better to fix
> >> this in generic code?
> >
> > Possibly. I believe the reason for the reboot_notifier to exist is
> > to provide a means to fix the race.
> >
> >>
> >> Especially since I don't think this patch actually fixes the race
> >> completely.
> >>
> >>> --- a/drivers/xen/manage.c
> >>> +++ b/drivers/xen/manage.c
> >> [...]
> >>> @@ -222,7 +230,7 @@ static void shutdown_handler(struct xenbus_watch *watch,
> >>> };
> >>> static struct shutdown_handler *handler;
> >>>
> >>> - if (shutting_down != SHUTDOWN_INVALID)
> >>> + if (atomic_read(&shutting_down) != SHUTDOWN_INVALID)
> >>> return;
> >>
> >> In guest initiated poweroff at this time will still race with this
> >> toolstack initiated poweroff.
> >
> > No, b/c the reboot notifier would have set 'shutting_down' already.
>
> If the guest initiated power off is started here, the reboot notifier
> won't have run yet.

This is what I think you are saying:

CPU0 CPU1

'poweroff' 'shutdown_handler'
->SYSCALL_DEFINE4(reboot) -> atomic_read(&shutting_down) == SHUTDOWN_INVALID
mutex_lock(&reboot_mutex) -> do_poweroff
kernel_power_off()
-> kernel_shutdown_prepare

-> blocking_notifier_call_chain()
\- xen_system_reboot
\- atomic_set(&shutting_down, SHUTDOWN_POWEROFF);

-> atomic_set(&shutting_down, SHUTDOWN_POWEROFF);
-> orderly_poweroff(false)
-> 'poweroff' called
->SYSCALL_DEFINE4(reboot)
-> mutex_lock(&reboot_mutex)
-> system_state = SYSTEM_HALT
-> machine_halt().

What you are describing was outlined in the commit description:

"
'poweroff' and 'xl shutdown'..

Depending on the race, the system_state will be SYSTEM_RUNNING or
SYSTEM_POWER_OFF. If SYSTEM_RUNNING we just end up making
a duplicate call to 'poweroff' (while it is running).

That will fail or execute (And if executed then it will be
stuck in the reboot_mutex mutex). But nobody will care b/c the
machine is in poweroff sequence.
"

which means that this code does guard.. but not that well :-(

>
> David
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