[PATCH v2] printk: annotate the intentional data race on the data block id

From: Nguyen Ngoc Thang

Date: Mon Oct 12 2026 - 08:15:11 EST


data_alloc() stores the descriptor ID into a newly reserved data block
while data_make_reusable(), running from data_push_tail() on another CPU,
may still be loading the ID from the same area. The ringbuffer allows
this race: a stale or garbage ID simply fails the descriptor lookup or
the blk_lpos check. KCSAN nevertheless reports it.

Annotate the accesses with data_race() instead of READ_ONCE()/WRITE_ONCE(),
which would needlessly restrict compiler optimizations for a race that is
allowed by design. No functional change.

Reported-by: syzbot+8324b8fd984b86905a66@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Closes: https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=8324b8fd984b86905a66
Fixes: 896fbe20b4e2 ("printk: use the lockless ringbuffer")
Signed-off-by: Nguyen Ngoc Thang <ngocthang2710.1999@xxxxxxxxx>
---
v2: use data_race() instead of READ_ONCE()/WRITE_ONCE(), as suggested by
John Ogness. v1: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20261011091755.303723-1-ngocthang2710.1999@xxxxxxxxx/

kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c | 8 ++++----
1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c b/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c
index 85c0c854b3ce..ff25c55971e8 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c
+++ b/kernel/printk/printk_ringbuffer.c
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ static bool data_make_reusable(struct printk_ringbuffer *rb,
* sure it points back to this data block. If the check fails,
* the data area has been recycled by another writer.
*/
- id = blk->id; /* LMM(data_make_reusable:A) */
+ id = data_race(blk->id); /* LMM(data_make_reusable:A) */

d_state = desc_read(desc_ring, id, &desc,
NULL, NULL); /* LMM(data_make_reusable:B) */
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ static char *data_alloc(struct printk_ringbuffer *rb, unsigned int size,
next_lpos)); /* LMM(data_alloc:A) */

blk = to_block(data_ring, begin_lpos);
- blk->id = id; /* LMM(data_alloc:B) */
+ data_race(blk->id = id); /* LMM(data_alloc:B) */

if (is_blk_wrapped(data_ring, begin_lpos, next_lpos)) {
/* Wrapping data blocks store their data at the beginning. */
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ static char *data_alloc(struct printk_ringbuffer *rb, unsigned int size,
* Store the ID on the wrapped block for consistency.
* The printk_ringbuffer does not actually use it.
*/
- blk->id = id;
+ data_race(blk->id = id); /* see data_make_reusable:A */
}

blk_lpos->begin = begin_lpos;
@@ -1212,7 +1212,7 @@ static char *data_realloc(struct printk_ringbuffer *rb, unsigned int size,
* Store the ID on the wrapped block for consistency.
* The printk_ringbuffer does not actually use it.
*/
- blk->id = id;
+ data_race(blk->id = id); /* see data_make_reusable:A */

if (!wrapped) {
/*
--
2.43.0