Re: [PATCH -next] ipc/sem: prevent queue.status tearing in semop

[Davidlohr Bueso]

On Wed, 18 Jul 2018, Manfred Spraul wrote:

> Hello Davidlohr,
>
> On 07/17/2018 07:26 AM, Davidlohr Bueso wrote:
> > In order for load/store tearing to work, _all_ accesses to
> > the variable in question need to be done around READ and
> > WRITE_ONCE() macros. Ensure everyone does so for q->status
> > variable for semtimedop().
> What is the background of the above rule?

The fact that it's done under the ipc lock, doesn't mean that
the compiler won't try to get smart. If we have lockless accesses
we musn't see partial stores/loads.

> sma->use_global_lock is sometimes used with smp_load_acquire(), 
> sometimes without.
> So far, I assumed that this is safe.
>
> The same applies for nf_conntrack_locks_all, in nf_conntrack_all_lock()

Oh, yeah I remember _that_ saga. I'll have a look but iirc it
seemd ok back then.

Thanks,
Davidlohr