[PATCH] USB: core: document purpose of interface parent reference
From: Johan Hovold
Date: Thu Oct 15 2026 - 03:52:06 EST
USB interfaces hold a reference to their parent USB device to make sure
they do not outlive the parent.
Add a comment explaining that this reference is specifically needed for
asynchronous device resets and the device type need_parent_lock feature
(to allow driver core to lock the parent when only holding a reference
to the interface).
See commits:
524134d42231 ("USB: don't cancel queued resets when unbinding drivers")
af61396a992b ("driver core: fix parent lock use-after-free on USB disconnect")
for further details.
Signed-off-by: Johan Hovold <johan@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
drivers/usb/core/message.c | 5 +++++
1 file changed, 5 insertions(+)
diff --git a/drivers/usb/core/message.c b/drivers/usb/core/message.c
index 276768f47558..a738d03c23ea 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/core/message.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/core/message.c
@@ -2209,6 +2209,11 @@ int usb_set_configuration(struct usb_device *dev, int configuration)
pm_runtime_no_callbacks(&intf->dev);
dev_set_name(&intf->dev, "%d-%s:%d.%d", dev->bus->busnum,
dev->devpath, configuration, ifnum);
+ /*
+ * Make sure the interface does not outlive its parent (e.g.
+ * as needed for usb_queue_reset_device() and
+ * usb_if_device_type->need_parent_lock).
+ */
usb_get_dev(dev);
}
kfree(new_interfaces);
--
2.55.0