[PATCH] rust: dma: update safety comments for volatile memory access
From: Andreas Hindborg
Date: Fri Jan 30 2026 - 09:59:59 EST
At the time `CoherentAllocation::read_field` and
`CoherentAllocation::write_field` was merged, `ptr::{read,write}_volatile`
was under specified. The documentation for these functions have been
updated and we can now formulate a proper safety comment for the calls.
Update safety comments in `CoherentAllocation::{read,write}_field`.
Link: https://doc.rust-lang.org/stable/core/ptr/fn.read_volatile.html
Link: https://doc.rust-lang.org/stable/core/ptr/fn.write_volatile.html
Signed-off-by: Andreas Hindborg <a.hindborg@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
rust/kernel/dma.rs | 25 +++++++++----------------
1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-)
diff --git a/rust/kernel/dma.rs b/rust/kernel/dma.rs
index acc65b1e0f245..0b55671a94faf 100644
--- a/rust/kernel/dma.rs
+++ b/rust/kernel/dma.rs
@@ -593,14 +593,12 @@ pub fn item_from_index(&self, offset: usize) -> Result<*mut T> {
pub unsafe fn field_read<F: FromBytes>(&self, field: *const F) -> F {
// SAFETY:
// - By the safety requirements field is valid.
- // - Using read_volatile() here is not sound as per the usual rules, the usage here is
- // a special exception with the following notes in place. When dealing with a potential
- // race from a hardware or code outside kernel (e.g. user-space program), we need that
- // read on a valid memory is not UB. Currently read_volatile() is used for this, and the
- // rationale behind is that it should generate the same code as READ_ONCE() which the
- // kernel already relies on to avoid UB on data races. Note that the usage of
- // read_volatile() is limited to this particular case, it cannot be used to prevent
- // the UB caused by racing between two kernel functions nor do they provide atomicity.
+ // - `field` points to memory outside any Rust allocation.
+ // - As `field` points to readable memory:
+ // - Reading `field` will not trap.
+ // - Reading `field` will not change any memory inside a Rust allocation.
+ // - As `F: FromBytes` any bit pattern is valid for `F` and the read
+ // will produce a properly initialized F.
unsafe { field.read_volatile() }
}
@@ -616,14 +614,9 @@ pub unsafe fn field_read<F: FromBytes>(&self, field: *const F) -> F {
pub unsafe fn field_write<F: AsBytes>(&self, field: *mut F, val: F) {
// SAFETY:
// - By the safety requirements field is valid.
- // - Using write_volatile() here is not sound as per the usual rules, the usage here is
- // a special exception with the following notes in place. When dealing with a potential
- // race from a hardware or code outside kernel (e.g. user-space program), we need that
- // write on a valid memory is not UB. Currently write_volatile() is used for this, and the
- // rationale behind is that it should generate the same code as WRITE_ONCE() which the
- // kernel already relies on to avoid UB on data races. Note that the usage of
- // write_volatile() is limited to this particular case, it cannot be used to prevent
- // the UB caused by racing between two kernel functions nor do they provide atomicity.
+ // - As `field` points to readable memory:
+ // - Reading `field` will not trap.
+ // - Reading `field` will not change any memory inside a Rust allocation.
unsafe { field.write_volatile(val) }
}
}
---
base-commit: 63804fed149a6750ffd28610c5c1c98cce6bd377
change-id: 20260130-dma-doc-update-a8a0548045e2
Best regards,
--
Andreas Hindborg <a.hindborg@xxxxxxxxxx>