linux-kernel - Possible UDF locking error?

lists.openwall.net		lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC
Open Source and information security mailing list archives

Hash Suite: Windows password security audit tool. GUI, reports in PDF.

[<prev] [next>] [thread-next>] [day] [month] [year] [list]

Date:   Sat, 23 Mar 2019 15:14:05 -0500
From:   Steve Magnani <steve.magnani@...idescorp.com>
To:     Jan Kara <jack@...e.cz>,
        "linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        linux-fsdevel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Possible UDF locking error?

Hi,

I have been hunting a UDF bug that occasionally results in generation
of an Allocation Extent Descriptor with an incorrect tagLocation. So
far I haven't been able to see a path through the code that could
cause that. But, I noticed some inconsistency in locking during
AED generation and wonder if it could result in random corruption.

The function udf_update_inode() has this general pattern:

   bh = udf_tgetblk(...);   // calls sb_getblk()
   lock_buffer(bh);
   memset(bh->b_data, 0, inode->i_sb->s_blocksize);

   // <snip>other code to populate FE/EFE data in the block</snip>

   set_buffer_uptodate(bh);
   unlock_buffer(bh);
   mark_buffer_dirty(bh);

This I can understand - the lock is held for as long as the buffer
contents are being assembled.

In contrast, udf_setup_indirect_aext(), which constructs an AED,
has this sequence:

   bh = udf_tgetblk(...);   // calls sb_getblk()
   lock_buffer(bh);
   memset(bh->b_data, 0, inode->i_sb->s_blocksize);

   set_buffer_uptodate(bh);
   unlock_buffer(bh);
   mark_buffer_dirty_inode(bh);

   // <snip>other code to populate AED data in the block</snip>

In this case the population of the block occurs without
the protection of the lock.

Because the block has been marked dirty, does this mean that
writeback could occur at any point during population?

There is one path through udf_setup_indirect_aext() where
mark_buffer_dirty_inode() gets called again after population is
complete, which I suppose could heal a partial writeout, but there is
also another path in which the buffer does not get marked dirty again.

Regards,
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Steven J. Magnani               "I claim this network for MARS!
  www.digidescorp.com              Earthling, return my space modulator!"

  #include <standard.disclaimer>