[PATCH] ntfs3: fix circular locking dependency in run_unpack_ex

[PATCH] ntfs3: fix circular locking dependency in run_unpack_ex

[Szymon Wilczek]

Syzbot reported a circular locking dependency between wnd->rw_lock
(sbi->used.bitmap) and ni->file.run_lock.

The deadlock scenario:
1. ntfs_extend_mft() takes ni->file.run_lock then wnd->rw_lock.
2. run_unpack_ex() takes wnd->rw_lock then tries to acquire
   ni->file.run_lock inside ntfs_refresh_zone().

This creates an AB-BA deadlock.

Fix this by using down_read_trylock() instead of down_read() when
acquiring run_lock in run_unpack_ex(). If the lock is contended,
skip ntfs_refresh_zone() - the MFT zone will be refreshed on the
next MFT operation. This breaks the circular dependency since we
never block waiting for run_lock while holding wnd->rw_lock.

Reported-by: syzbot+d27edf9f96ae85939222@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
Tested-by: syzbot+d27edf9f96ae85939222@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
Closes: https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=d27edf9f96ae85939222
Signed-off-by: Szymon Wilczek <swilczek.lx@gmail.com>
---
 fs/ntfs3/run.c | 13 ++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/fs/ntfs3/run.c b/fs/ntfs3/run.c
index 395b20492525..dc59cad4fa37 100644
--- a/fs/ntfs3/run.c
+++ b/fs/ntfs3/run.c
@@ -1131,11 +1131,14 @@ int run_unpack_ex(struct runs_tree *run, struct ntfs_sb_info *sbi, CLST ino,
 			struct rw_semaphore *lock =
 				is_mounted(sbi) ? &sbi->mft.ni->file.run_lock :
 						  NULL;
-			if (lock)
-				down_read(lock);
-			ntfs_refresh_zone(sbi);
-			if (lock)
-				up_read(lock);
+			if (lock) {
+				if (down_read_trylock(lock)) {
+					ntfs_refresh_zone(sbi);
+					up_read(lock);
+				}
+			} else {
+				ntfs_refresh_zone(sbi);
+			}
 		}
 		up_write(&wnd->rw_lock);
 		if (err)
-- 
2.52.0

Re: [PATCH] ntfs3: fix circular locking dependency in run_unpack_ex

[Konstantin Komarov]

On 12/27/25 15:43, Szymon Wilczek wrote:

> Syzbot reported a circular locking dependency between wnd->rw_lock
> (sbi->used.bitmap) and ni->file.run_lock.
>
> The deadlock scenario:
> 1. ntfs_extend_mft() takes ni->file.run_lock then wnd->rw_lock.
> 2. run_unpack_ex() takes wnd->rw_lock then tries to acquire
>     ni->file.run_lock inside ntfs_refresh_zone().
>
> This creates an AB-BA deadlock.
>
> Fix this by using down_read_trylock() instead of down_read() when
> acquiring run_lock in run_unpack_ex(). If the lock is contended,
> skip ntfs_refresh_zone() - the MFT zone will be refreshed on the
> next MFT operation. This breaks the circular dependency since we
> never block waiting for run_lock while holding wnd->rw_lock.
>
> Reported-by: syzbot+d27edf9f96ae85939222@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
> Tested-by: syzbot+d27edf9f96ae85939222@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
> Closes: https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=d27edf9f96ae85939222
> Signed-off-by: Szymon Wilczek <swilczek.lx@gmail.com>
> ---
>   fs/ntfs3/run.c | 13 ++++++++-----
>   1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/fs/ntfs3/run.c b/fs/ntfs3/run.c
> index 395b20492525..dc59cad4fa37 100644
> --- a/fs/ntfs3/run.c
> +++ b/fs/ntfs3/run.c
> @@ -1131,11 +1131,14 @@ int run_unpack_ex(struct runs_tree *run, struct ntfs_sb_info *sbi, CLST ino,
>   			struct rw_semaphore *lock =
>   				is_mounted(sbi) ? &sbi->mft.ni->file.run_lock :
>   						  NULL;
> -			if (lock)
> -				down_read(lock);
> -			ntfs_refresh_zone(sbi);
> -			if (lock)
> -				up_read(lock);
> +			if (lock) {
> +				if (down_read_trylock(lock)) {
> +					ntfs_refresh_zone(sbi);
> +					up_read(lock);
> +				}
> +			} else {
> +				ntfs_refresh_zone(sbi);
> +			}
>   		}
>   		up_write(&wnd->rw_lock);
>   		if (err)

Thanks for the patch. It is applied.

Regards,
Konstantin