Re: [PATCH v2 12/14] NTB: ntb_transport: Clear QP pointers when freeing an MW
From: Dave Jiang
Date: Thu Sep 24 2026 - 12:17:24 EST
On 9/9/26 9:08 PM, Koichiro Den wrote:
> ntb_transport_link_cleanup() frees MW buffers but leaves rx_buff and
> remote_rx_info pointing into them. With a QP still allocated, another
> link-down notification or transport unbind before MW setup runs again
> can make ntb_qp_link_down_reset() write to freed memory through
> remote_rx_info.
>
> Clear both pointers in ntb_free_mw() for all QPs using that MW,
> including those without a client. This also covers link-setup failures.
>
> How to reproduce:
>
> 1. Load ntb_transport and ntb_netdev on both sides and establish the
> transport/QP links once. Stop traffic, but leave ntb_netdev loaded
> on VHOST so its QPs remain allocated throughout the test.
>
> 2. On HOST, unload ntb_netdev and ntb_transport, leaving ntb_hw_epf
> bound:
>
> modprobe -r ntb_netdev ntb_transport
>
> Transport removal sends COMMAND_LINK_DOWN to VHOST. Wait for
> ntb_transport_link_cleanup_work() to return on VHOST, using a
> function-graph trace. The "Link Cleanup" message is printed before
> MW release and is not sufficient to establish completion. Do not
> bring the link back up before the next step.
>
> 3-(A). UAF via repeated link-down notification
>
> Use ntb_tool on HOST to send another link-down request:
>
> HOST# modprobe ntb_tool
> HOST# echo N > "/sys/kernel/debug/ntb_tool/$ntb_host_dev/link"
>
> ==================================================================
> BUG: KASAN: vmalloc-out-of-bounds in ntb_qp_link_down_reset+0x2c0..
> ...
> Call trace:
> ...
> __asan_report_store4_noabort+0x1c/0x28
> ntb_qp_link_down_reset+0x2c0/0x2e0 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_qp_link_cleanup+0xc4/0x148 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_transport_link_cleanup+0x314/0x350 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_transport_link_cleanup_work+0x2c/0x50 [ntb_transport]
> process_one_work+0x5b8/0x12f0
> ...
>
> 3-(B). UAF via transport removal after link-down
>
> VHOST# echo "$ntb_vhost_dev" > \
> /sys/bus/ntb/drivers/ntb_transport/unbind
>
> ==================================================================
> BUG: KASAN: vmalloc-out-of-bounds in ntb_qp_link_down_reset+0x2c0..
> ...
> Call trace:
> ...
> __asan_report_store4_noabort+0x1c/0x28
> ntb_qp_link_down_reset+0x2c0/0x2e0 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_qp_link_cleanup+0xc4/0x148 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_transport_link_cleanup+0x314/0x350 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_transport_free+0x68/0x588 [ntb_transport]
> ntb_remove+0x5c/0xa0 [ntb]
>
> Verified that neither test triggers a KASAN report with this patch.
>
> Fixes: cc79bd2738c2 ("ntb: Clean up tx tail index on link down")
> Cc: stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Signed-off-by: Koichiro Den <den@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reviewed-by: Dave Jiang <dave.jiang@xxxxxxxxx>
I would move the full reproduce details under ---
> ---
> Changes in v2:
> - No changes.
>
> drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c | 7 +++++++
> 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c b/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c
> index b949f36a4f2d..096be87e5ede 100644
> --- a/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c
> +++ b/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c
> @@ -781,10 +781,17 @@ static void ntb_free_mw(struct ntb_transport_ctx *nt, int num_mw)
> {
> struct ntb_transport_mw *mw = &nt->mw_vec[num_mw];
> struct device *dma_dev = ntb_get_dma_dev(nt->ndev);
> + unsigned int i;
>
> if (!mw->virt_addr)
> return;
>
> + /* Drop references from every QP using this MW. */
> + for (i = num_mw; i < nt->qp_count; i += nt->mw_count) {
> + nt->qp_vec[i].rx_buff = NULL;
> + WRITE_ONCE(nt->qp_vec[i].remote_rx_info, NULL);
> + }
> +
> ntb_mw_clear_trans(nt->ndev, PIDX, num_mw);
> dma_free_attrs(dma_dev, mw->alloc_size, mw->alloc_addr,
> mw->original_dma_addr, DMA_ATTR_FORCE_CONTIGUOUS);