* [PATCH v2 0/2] configfs: fix use-after-free races in configfs_symlink()
@ 2026-11-14 5:29 Izaac Chong
2026-11-14 5:29 ` [PATCH v2 1/2] configfs: fix use-after-free of default group " Izaac Chong
2026-11-14 5:29 ` [PATCH v2 2/2] configfs: pin symlink target against rmdir before ->allow_link() Izaac Chong
0 siblings, 2 replies; 3+ messages in thread
From: Izaac Chong @ 2026-11-14 5:29 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Breno Leitao, Andreas Hindborg, Al Viro
Cc: linux-kernel, linux-usb, syzbot+b0996ac2197dd7420c3e, linux-nvme,
Izaac Chong
configfs_symlink() drops the parent directory's lock while it resolves
the link target. Two races in that window are fixed here:
1/2 fixes a use-after-free when the parent is a default group whose
containing object is freed by a concurrent rmdir (syzbot,
nvmet_port_subsys_allow_link).
2/2 pins the target against rmdir before ->allow_link(), so drivers
that walk the target's ->ci_parent do not see it unlinked
(NULL deref in uvcg_streaming_header_allow_link). Found by Sashiko
review of v1.
Changes in v2:
- Add patch 2/2. Patch 1/2 is unchanged.
Testing (QEMU + KASAN, v7.4-rc2): the syzbot
reproducer crashes without 1/2; a UVC symlink-vs-rmdir reproducer
crashes without 2/2 (with 1/2 applied). With both patches, both
reproducers plus an nvmet target-side race run clean, normal
link/unlink/rmdir still work, and rmdir of a linked target still
returns -EBUSY. syzbot #syz test is currently disabled.
Not tested: lockdep was off; LIO (target_fabric_mappedlun_link) was not
exercised.
---
Izaac Chong (2):
configfs: fix use-after-free of default group in configfs_symlink()
configfs: pin symlink target against rmdir before ->allow_link()
fs/configfs/symlink.c | 66 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
1 file changed, 46 insertions(+), 20 deletions(-)
---
base-commit: 97d73c8251226cf27cc6656b4c542869bb8c69fa
change-id: 20261114-configfs-symlink-uaf-c5d84bb6a976
Best regards,
--
Izaac Chong <izaacchong934@gmail.com>
^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 3+ messages in thread
* [PATCH v2 1/2] configfs: fix use-after-free of default group in configfs_symlink()
2026-11-14 5:29 [PATCH v2 0/2] configfs: fix use-after-free races in configfs_symlink() Izaac Chong
@ 2026-11-14 5:29 ` Izaac Chong
2026-11-14 5:29 ` [PATCH v2 2/2] configfs: pin symlink target against rmdir before ->allow_link() Izaac Chong
1 sibling, 0 replies; 3+ messages in thread
From: Izaac Chong @ 2026-11-14 5:29 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Breno Leitao, Andreas Hindborg, Al Viro
Cc: linux-kernel, linux-usb, syzbot+b0996ac2197dd7420c3e, linux-nvme,
Izaac Chong
configfs_symlink() drops the parent directory's inode lock while it
resolves the link target, and keeps a reference to parent_item across
that window. When the parent is a default group, such as
ports/<n>/subsystems/ in the NVMe target, parent_item is embedded in
the containing object (struct nvmet_port). A reference on the embedded
item does not keep the containing object alive, so a concurrent rmdir of
the port can free it. allow_link() and the final config_item_put() then
touch freed memory:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in nvmet_port_subsys_allow_link+0x41/0x2e0
Call Trace:
nvmet_port_subsys_allow_link+0x41/0x2e0 drivers/nvme/target/configfs.c:1059
configfs_symlink+0x59a/0x1030 fs/configfs/symlink.c:196
vfs_symlink+0x18b/0x330 fs/namei.c:5794
detach_groups() marks a default group's directory S_DEAD while holding
that directory's inode lock, before the containing object can be freed.
So drop the parent_item reference before unlocking dir, and after
re-taking the lock return -ENOENT if dir is dead. Otherwise look
parent_item up again, which is safe while dir is locked and alive.
Fixes: 351e5d869e5a ("configfs: fix a deadlock in configfs_symlink()")
Reported-by: syzbot+b0996ac2197dd7420c3e@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
Closes: https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=b0996ac2197dd7420c3e
Cc: linux-nvme@lists.infradead.org
Signed-off-by: Izaac Chong <izaacchong934@gmail.com>
---
fs/configfs/symlink.c | 24 ++++++++++++++++++------
1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)
diff --git a/fs/configfs/symlink.c b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
index 89178f5d371a..1b2c9048a920 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ int configfs_symlink(const struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
parent_item = configfs_get_config_item(dentry->d_parent);
type = parent_item->ci_type;
+ config_item_put(parent_item);
- ret = -EPERM;
if (!type || !type->ct_item_ops ||
!type->ct_item_ops->allow_link)
- goto out_put;
+ return -EPERM;
/*
* This is really sick. What they wanted was a hybrid of
@@ -200,7 +200,20 @@ int configfs_symlink(const struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
ret = get_target(symname, &target_item, &target_sd, dentry->d_sb);
inode_lock(dir);
if (ret)
- goto out_put;
+ return ret;
+
+ /*
+ * parent_item may be a default group embedded in an object that a
+ * concurrent rmdir freed while dir was unlocked, so we dropped our
+ * reference above. detach_groups() marks dir S_DEAD under its inode
+ * lock before the containing object can go away, so it is safe to
+ * look parent_item up again only if dir is still alive.
+ */
+ if (IS_DEADDIR(dir)) {
+ ret = -ENOENT;
+ goto out_put_target;
+ }
+ parent_item = configfs_get_config_item(dentry->d_parent);
if (dentry->d_inode || d_unhashed(dentry))
ret = -EEXIST;
@@ -218,11 +231,10 @@ int configfs_symlink(const struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
target_item);
}
+ config_item_put(parent_item);
+out_put_target:
configfs_put(target_sd);
config_item_put(target_item);
-
-out_put:
- config_item_put(parent_item);
return ret;
}
--
Git-143)
^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 3+ messages in thread
* [PATCH v2 2/2] configfs: pin symlink target against rmdir before ->allow_link()
2026-11-14 5:29 [PATCH v2 0/2] configfs: fix use-after-free races in configfs_symlink() Izaac Chong
2026-11-14 5:29 ` [PATCH v2 1/2] configfs: fix use-after-free of default group " Izaac Chong
@ 2026-11-14 5:29 ` Izaac Chong
1 sibling, 0 replies; 3+ messages in thread
From: Izaac Chong @ 2026-11-14 5:29 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: Breno Leitao, Andreas Hindborg, Al Viro
Cc: linux-kernel, linux-usb, Izaac Chong
configfs_symlink() looks up the link target with get_target(), which
takes references on the target item and dirent but does not stop the
target from being removed. The target is only pinned (target_sd->s_links
incremented, refusing CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING) later, in create_link(),
after ->allow_link() has run.
A concurrent rmdir of the target can therefore complete in between.
unlink_obj() then clears target->ci_parent and ->ci_group, and
->allow_link() implementations that walk the target's parents
dereference NULL. With the USB gadget UVC function:
BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in uvcg_streaming_header_allow_link+0xc3/0x270
Read of size 8 at addr 0000000000000030
Call Trace:
uvcg_streaming_header_allow_link
configfs_symlink
vfs_symlink
filename_symlinkat
__x64_sys_symlink
target_fabric_mappedlun_link() also walks the target's ->ci_parent.
Take the s_links pin before calling ->allow_link() instead, under
configfs_dirent_lock and only if the target is not being dropped, as
create_link() did. configfs_detach_prep() sets CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING
before checking s_links under the same lock, so the target either fails
to pin (-ENOENT) or rmdir sees the pin and returns -EBUSY. On success the
link keeps the count and configfs_unlink() drops it as before; on failure
it is dropped again.
Fixes: 4768e9b18dc6 ("[PATCH] configfs: Fix symlink() to a removing item")
Link: https://sashiko.dev/#/bug/linux-df6ae898-b1a6-4091-be3b-fbe4c177763f
Signed-off-by: Izaac Chong <izaacchong934@gmail.com>
---
fs/configfs/symlink.c | 42 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------
1 file changed, 28 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)
diff --git a/fs/configfs/symlink.c b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
index 1b2c9048a920..52f0f3a6cd7e 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
@@ -90,23 +90,11 @@ static int create_link(struct config_item *parent_item,
return -ENOMEM;
configfs_get(target_sd);
- spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
- if (target_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING) {
- spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
- configfs_put(target_sd);
- kfree(body);
- return -ENOENT;
- }
- target_sd->s_links++;
- spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
ret = configfs_get_target_path(parent_item, item, body);
if (!ret)
ret = configfs_create_link(target_sd, parent_item->ci_dentry,
dentry, body);
if (ret) {
- spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
- target_sd->s_links--;
- spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
configfs_put(target_sd);
kfree(body);
}
@@ -220,8 +208,28 @@ int configfs_symlink(const struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
else
ret = inode_permission(&nop_mnt_idmap, dir,
MAY_WRITE | MAY_EXEC);
- if (!ret)
- ret = type->ct_item_ops->allow_link(parent_item, target_item);
+ if (ret)
+ goto out_put_parent;
+
+ /*
+ * Pin the target against rmdir before calling ->allow_link().
+ * configfs_detach_prep() refuses to remove a dirent with s_links
+ * set, and sets CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING (under configfs_dirent_lock)
+ * before it checks s_links. Without the pin, a concurrent rmdir can
+ * unlink the target (clearing ->ci_parent and ->ci_group) while
+ * ->allow_link() looks at it. On success the link owns the count,
+ * which configfs_unlink() drops.
+ */
+ spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+ if (target_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING)
+ ret = -ENOENT;
+ else
+ target_sd->s_links++;
+ spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+ if (ret)
+ goto out_put_parent;
+
+ ret = type->ct_item_ops->allow_link(parent_item, target_item);
if (!ret) {
mutex_lock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
ret = create_link(parent_item, target_item, target_sd, dentry);
@@ -230,7 +238,13 @@ int configfs_symlink(const struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
type->ct_item_ops->drop_link(parent_item,
target_item);
}
+ if (ret) {
+ spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+ target_sd->s_links--;
+ spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+ }
+out_put_parent:
config_item_put(parent_item);
out_put_target:
configfs_put(target_sd);
--
Git-143)
^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 3+ messages in thread
end of thread, other threads:[~2026-11-14 5:30 UTC | newest]
Thread overview: 3+ messages (download: mbox.gz / follow: Atom feed)
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2026-11-14 5:29 [PATCH v2 0/2] configfs: fix use-after-free races in configfs_symlink() Izaac Chong
2026-11-14 5:29 ` [PATCH v2 1/2] configfs: fix use-after-free of default group " Izaac Chong
2026-11-14 5:29 ` [PATCH v2 2/2] configfs: pin symlink target against rmdir before ->allow_link() Izaac Chong
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