[PATCH v3 2/7] perf: Simplify child event tear-down

From: Peter Zijlstra
Date: Fri Mar 07 2025 - 14:40:01 EST


Currently perf_event_release_kernel() will iterate the child events and attempt
tear-down. However, it removes them from the child_list using list_move(),
notably skipping the state management done by perf_child_detach().

Crucially, it fails to clear PERF_ATTACH_CHILD, which opens the door for a
concurrent perf_remove_from_context() to race.

This way child_list management stays fully serialized using child_mutex.

Signed-off-by: Peter Zijlstra (Intel) <peterz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
kernel/events/core.c | 8 ++++++--
1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -2338,7 +2338,11 @@ static void perf_child_detach(struct per
if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!parent_event))
return;

+ /*
+ * Can't check this from an IPI, the holder is likey another CPU.
+ *
lockdep_assert_held(&parent_event->child_mutex);
+ */

sync_child_event(event);
list_del_init(&event->child_list);
@@ -5611,8 +5615,8 @@ int perf_event_release_kernel(struct per
tmp = list_first_entry_or_null(&event->child_list,
struct perf_event, child_list);
if (tmp == child) {
- perf_remove_from_context(child, DETACH_GROUP);
- list_move(&child->child_list, &free_list);
+ perf_remove_from_context(child, DETACH_GROUP | DETACH_CHILD);
+ list_add(&child->child_list, &free_list);
/*
* This matches the refcount bump in inherit_event();
* this can't be the last reference.