[PATCH 2/6] rcu: Make Tiny call_rcu() safe to call from any context

From: Puranjay Mohan

Date: Wed Jul 29 2026 - 12:32:34 EST


Make Tiny call_rcu() safe to call from unknown context: when interrupts
are disabled and the scheduler is up, stage the callback on a lockless
list that an irq_work re-issues later. One global list and irq_work are
enough since Tiny RCU is uniprocessor, and there is no CPU-offline
drain. Gated by CONFIG_RCU_DEFER, like Tree RCU.

Suggested-by: Paul E. McKenney <paulmck@xxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Puranjay Mohan <puranjay@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
kernel/rcu/tiny.c | 101 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------
1 file changed, 82 insertions(+), 19 deletions(-)

diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tiny.c b/kernel/rcu/tiny.c
index dccccd6be9411..71249eac61021 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tiny.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tiny.c
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
*/
#include <linux/completion.h>
#include <linux/interrupt.h>
+#include <linux/irq_work.h>
+#include <linux/llist.h>
#include <linux/notifier.h>
#include <linux/rcupdate_wait.h>
#include <linux/kernel.h>
@@ -42,8 +44,83 @@ static struct rcu_ctrlblk rcu_ctrlblk = {
.gp_seq = 0 - 300UL,
};

+/*
+ * The callback list is only ever accessed with interrupts disabled (this
+ * enqueue, callback invocation, grace-period work), so enqueuing while a list
+ * operation is in flight would corrupt it. Defer whenever interrupts are
+ * disabled: the callback goes on a lockless list that an irq_work re-issues
+ * later. One global list and irq_work suffice, as Tiny RCU is uniprocessor.
+ * Only kernels where that can happen (CONFIG_RCU_DEFER) need this.
+ */
+static void rcu_defer_drain(struct irq_work *iw);
+static LLIST_HEAD(rcu_defer_list);
+static DEFINE_IRQ_WORK(rcu_defer_iw, rcu_defer_drain);
+
+/*
+ * Enqueue @head on the callback list. Also called by rcu_defer_drain() to
+ * re-issue a deferred callback, so it must not re-check the deferral condition.
+ */
+static void rcu_do_enqueue(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func)
+{
+ static atomic_t doublefrees;
+ unsigned long flags;
+
+ if (debug_rcu_head_queue(head)) {
+ if (atomic_inc_return(&doublefrees) < 4) {
+ pr_err("%s(): Double-freed CB %p->%pS()!!! ", __func__, head, head->func);
+ mem_dump_obj(head);
+ }
+ return;
+ }
+
+ head->func = func;
+ head->next = NULL;
+
+ local_irq_save(flags);
+ *rcu_ctrlblk.curtail = head;
+ rcu_ctrlblk.curtail = &head->next;
+ local_irq_restore(flags);
+
+ if (unlikely(is_idle_task(current))) {
+ /* force scheduling for rcu_qs() */
+ resched_cpu(0);
+ }
+}
+
+static void rcu_defer_drain(struct irq_work *iw)
+{
+ struct llist_node *node, *next;
+
+ /*
+ * Callbacks have no mutual ordering guarantee and rcu_barrier() has
+ * already flushed us, so drain in llist order without reversing.
+ */
+ llist_for_each_safe(node, next, llist_del_all(&rcu_defer_list)) {
+ struct rcu_head *head = (struct rcu_head *)node;
+
+ rcu_do_enqueue(head, head->func);
+ }
+}
+
+static void call_rcu_defer(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func)
+{
+ head->func = func;
+ if (llist_add((struct llist_node *)head, &rcu_defer_list))
+ irq_work_queue(&rcu_defer_iw);
+}
+
+/* Register any deferred callbacks so a following rcu_barrier() waits for them. */
+static void rcu_defer_flush(void)
+{
+ if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_DEFER))
+ return;
+ irq_work_sync(&rcu_defer_iw);
+}
+
void rcu_barrier(void)
{
+ /* Register any deferred callbacks first. */
+ rcu_defer_flush();
wait_rcu_gp(call_rcu_hurry);
}
EXPORT_SYMBOL(rcu_barrier);
@@ -157,29 +234,15 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(synchronize_rcu);
*/
void call_rcu(struct rcu_head *head, rcu_callback_t func)
{
- static atomic_t doublefrees;
- unsigned long flags;
-
- if (debug_rcu_head_queue(head)) {
- if (atomic_inc_return(&doublefrees) < 4) {
- pr_err("%s(): Double-freed CB %p->%pS()!!! ", __func__, head, head->func);
- mem_dump_obj(head);
- }
+ if (should_rcu_defer()) {
+ call_rcu_defer(head, func);
return;
}

- head->func = func;
- head->next = NULL;
-
- local_irq_save(flags);
- *rcu_ctrlblk.curtail = head;
- rcu_ctrlblk.curtail = &head->next;
- local_irq_restore(flags);
+ /* An NMI reaching here entered with irqs enabled, so the enqueue can race. */
+ WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_PROVE_RCU) && in_nmi());

- if (unlikely(is_idle_task(current))) {
- /* force scheduling for rcu_qs() */
- resched_cpu(0);
- }
+ rcu_do_enqueue(head, func);
}
EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(call_rcu);

--
2.53.0-Meta