Re: [PATCH v2 5/6] cpufreq: Avoid using inconsistent policy->min and policy->max

From: Christian Loehle
Date: Wed Apr 16 2025 - 08:39:33 EST


On 4/15/25 11:04, Rafael J. Wysocki wrote:
> From: Rafael J. Wysocki <rafael.j.wysocki@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> Since cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq() can run in parallel with
> cpufreq_set_policy() and there is no synchronization between them,
> the former may access policy->min and policy->max while the latter
> is updating them and it may see intermediate values of them due
> to the way the update is carried out. Also the compiler is free
> to apply any optimizations it wants both to the stores in
> cpufreq_set_policy() and to the loads in cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq()
> which may result in additional inconsistencies.
>
> To address this, use WRITE_ONCE() when updating policy->min and
> policy->max in cpufreq_set_policy() and use READ_ONCE() for reading
> them in cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq(). Moreover, rearrange the update
> in cpufreq_set_policy() to avoid storing intermediate values in
> policy->min and policy->max with the help of the observation that
> their new values are expected to be properly ordered upfront.
>
> Also modify cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq() to take the possible reverse
> ordering of policy->min and policy->max, which may happen depending on
> the ordering of operations when this function and cpufreq_set_policy()
> run concurrently, into account by always honoring the max when it
> turns out to be less than the min (in case it comes from thermal
> throttling or similar).
>
> Fixes: 151717690694 ("cpufreq: Make policy min/max hard requirements")
> Cc: 5.16+ <stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> # 5.16+
> Signed-off-by: Rafael J. Wysocki <rafael.j.wysocki@xxxxxxxxx>

Just so I understand, the reason you don't squish 4-6 into one is
because this is the only fix? I do get that, but doesn't the fact
that it could easily be picked for backports make up for the additional
refactor?
Actual changes from patches 4-6 look good to me.

> ---
>
> v1 -> v2: Minor edit in the subject
>
> ---
> drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c | 46 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
> 1 file changed, 36 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)
>
> --- a/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c
> +++ b/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c
> @@ -490,14 +490,12 @@
> }
> EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(cpufreq_disable_fast_switch);
>
> -static unsigned int clamp_and_resolve_freq(struct cpufreq_policy *policy,
> - unsigned int target_freq,
> - unsigned int relation)
> +static unsigned int __resolve_freq(struct cpufreq_policy *policy,
> + unsigned int target_freq,
> + unsigned int relation)
> {
> unsigned int idx;
>
> - target_freq = clamp_val(target_freq, policy->min, policy->max);
> -
> if (!policy->freq_table)
> return target_freq;
>
> @@ -507,6 +505,15 @@
> return policy->freq_table[idx].frequency;
> }
>
> +static unsigned int clamp_and_resolve_freq(struct cpufreq_policy *policy,
> + unsigned int target_freq,
> + unsigned int relation)
> +{
> + target_freq = clamp_val(target_freq, policy->min, policy->max);
> +
> + return __resolve_freq(policy, target_freq, relation);
> +}
> +
> /**
> * cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq - Map a target frequency to a driver-supported
> * one.
> @@ -521,7 +528,22 @@
> unsigned int cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq(struct cpufreq_policy *policy,
> unsigned int target_freq)
> {
> - return clamp_and_resolve_freq(policy, target_freq, CPUFREQ_RELATION_LE);
> + unsigned int min = READ_ONCE(policy->min);
> + unsigned int max = READ_ONCE(policy->max);
> +
> + /*
> + * If this function runs in parallel with cpufreq_set_policy(), it may
> + * read policy->min before the update and policy->max after the update
> + * or the other way around, so there is no ordering guarantee.
> + *
> + * Resolve this by always honoring the max (in case it comes from
> + * thermal throttling or similar).
> + */
> + if (unlikely(min > max))
> + min = max;
> +
> + return __resolve_freq(policy, clamp_val(target_freq, min, max),
> + CPUFREQ_RELATION_LE);
> }
> EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq);
>
> @@ -2632,11 +2654,15 @@
> * Resolve policy min/max to available frequencies. It ensures
> * no frequency resolution will neither overshoot the requested maximum
> * nor undershoot the requested minimum.
> + *
> + * Avoid storing intermediate values in policy->max or policy->min and
> + * compiler optimizations around them because them may be accessed

s/them/they/

> + * concurrently by cpufreq_driver_resolve_freq() during the update.
> */
> - policy->min = new_data.min;
> - policy->max = new_data.max;
> - policy->min = clamp_and_resolve_freq(policy, policy->min, CPUFREQ_RELATION_L);
> - policy->max = clamp_and_resolve_freq(policy, policy->max, CPUFREQ_RELATION_H);
> + WRITE_ONCE(policy->max, __resolve_freq(policy, new_data.max, CPUFREQ_RELATION_H));
> + new_data.min = __resolve_freq(policy, new_data.min, CPUFREQ_RELATION_L);
> + WRITE_ONCE(policy->min, new_data.min > policy->max ? policy->max : new_data.min);
> +
> trace_cpu_frequency_limits(policy);
>
> cpufreq_update_pressure(policy);
>
>
>