Re: [PATCH 7/7] slimbus: qcom-ngd-ctrl: Avoid ABBA on tx_lock/ctrl->lock

From: Bjorn Andersson

Date: Tue Mar 31 2026 - 18:46:04 EST


On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 03:37:10AM +0200, Dmitry Baryshkov wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 09, 2026 at 11:09:08PM -0500, Bjorn Andersson wrote:
> > During the SSR/PDR down notification the tx_lock is taken with the
> > intent to provide synchronization with active DMA transfers.
> >
> > But during this period qcom_slim_ngd_down() is invoked, which ends up in
> > slim_report_absent(), which takes the slim_controller lock. In multiple
> > other codepaths these two locks are taken in the opposite order (i.e.
> > slim_controller then tx_lock).
> >
> > The result is a lockdep splat, and a possible deadlock:
> >
> > rprocctl/449 is trying to acquire lock:
> > ffff00009793e620 (&ctrl->lock){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: slim_report_absent (drivers/slimbus/core.c:322) slimbus
> >
> > but task is already holding lock:
> > ffff00009793fb50 (&ctrl->tx_lock){+.+.}-{4:4}, at: qcom_slim_ngd_ssr_pdr_notify (drivers/slimbus/qcom-ngd-ctrl.c:1475) slim_qcom_ngd_ctrl
> >
> > which lock already depends on the new lock.
> >
> > Possible unsafe locking scenario:
> >
> > CPU0 CPU1
> > ---- ----
> > lock(&ctrl->tx_lock);
> > lock(&ctrl->lock);
> > lock(&ctrl->tx_lock);
> > lock(&ctrl->lock);
> >
> > The assumption is that the comment refers to the desire to not call
> > qcom_slim_ngd_exit_dma() while we have an ongoing DMA TX transaction.
> > But any such transaction is initiated and completed within a single
> > qcom_slim_ngd_xfer_msg().
> >
> > Prior to calling qcom_slim_ngd_exit_dma() the slim_controller is torn
> > down, all child devices are notified that the slimbus is gone and the
> > child devices are removed.
> >
> > Stop taking the tx_lock in qcom_slim_ngd_ssr_pdr_notify() to avoid the
> > deadlock.
> >
> > Fixes: a899d324863a ("slimbus: qcom-ngd-ctrl: add Sub System Restart support")
> > Cc: stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Signed-off-by: Bjorn Andersson <bjorn.andersson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > ---
> > drivers/slimbus/qcom-ngd-ctrl.c | 3 ---
> > 1 file changed, 3 deletions(-)
> >
> > diff --git a/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ngd-ctrl.c b/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ngd-ctrl.c
> > index 54a4c6ee1e71fe55794f09575979826d9aa5be9f..75d70de0909a8d17e2410d30f7811f32d5eebea3 100644
> > --- a/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ngd-ctrl.c
> > +++ b/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ngd-ctrl.c
> > @@ -1471,15 +1471,12 @@ static int qcom_slim_ngd_ssr_pdr_notify(struct qcom_slim_ngd_ctrl *ctrl,
> > switch (action) {
> > case QCOM_SSR_BEFORE_SHUTDOWN:
> > case SERVREG_SERVICE_STATE_DOWN:
> > - /* Make sure the last dma xfer is finished */
> > - mutex_lock(&ctrl->tx_lock);
> > if (ctrl->state != QCOM_SLIM_NGD_CTRL_DOWN) {
> > pm_runtime_get_noresume(ctrl->ctrl.dev);
> > ctrl->state = QCOM_SLIM_NGD_CTRL_DOWN;
>
> What will protect ctrl->state from the possible concurrent modification?
>

Nothing. qcom_slim_ngd_ssr_pdr_notify() might (at least) race with
qcom_slim_ngd_runtime_idle() and qcom_slim_ngd_runtime_suspend().

I think it would make sense to bring the ssr_lock out of
qcom_slim_ngd_up_worker() to ensure that qcom_slim_ngd_ssr_pdr_notify()
can't race with "itself" - but I believe that's still an incomplete fix
in relation to the PM runtime state.

More work will be needed here, beyond this series.

Regards,
Bjorn

> > qcom_slim_ngd_down(ctrl);
> > qcom_slim_ngd_exit_dma(ctrl);
> > }
> > - mutex_unlock(&ctrl->tx_lock);
> > break;
> > case QCOM_SSR_AFTER_POWERUP:
> > case SERVREG_SERVICE_STATE_UP:
> >
> > --
> > 2.51.0
> >
>
> --
> With best wishes
> Dmitry