[PATCH] configfs: Fix failing symlink() making rmdir() fail

On a similar pattern as mkdir() vs rmdir(), a failing symlink() may make rmdir()
fail for the symlink's parent and the symlink's target as well.

failing symlink() making target's rmdir() fail:

	process 1:				process 2:
	symlink("A/S" -> "B")
	  allow_link()
	  create_link()
	    attach to "B" links list
						rmdir("B")
						  detach_prep("B")
						    error because of new link
	    configfs_create_link("A", "S")
	      error (eg -ENOMEM)

failing symlink() making parent's rmdir() fail:

	process 1:				process 2:
	symlink("A/D/S" -> "B")
	  allow_link()
	  create_link()
	    attach to "B" links list
	    configfs_create_link("A/D", "S")
	      make_dirent("A/D", "S")
						rmdir("A")
						  detach_prep("A")
						    detach_prep("A/D")
						      error because of "S"
	      create("S")
	        error (eg -ENOMEM)

We cannot use the same solution as for mkdir() vs rmdir(), since rmdir() on the
target cannot wait on the i_mutex of the new symlink's parent without risking a
deadlock (with other symlink() or sys_rename()). Instead we define a global
mutex protecting all configfs symlinks attachment, so that rmdir() can avoid the
races above.

Signed-off-by: Louis Rilling <louis.rilling@kerlabs.com>
Signed-off-by: Joel Becker <joel.becker@oracle.com>
Signed-off-by: Mark Fasheh <mfasheh@suse.com>

1 files changed, 5 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/fs/configfs/symlink.c b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
index c12801a12c3..61a886dbd60 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@
 #include <linux/configfs.h>
 #include "configfs_internal.h"
 
+/* Protects attachments of new symlinks */
+DEFINE_MUTEX(configfs_symlink_mutex);
+
 static int item_depth(struct config_item * item)
 {
         struct config_item * p = item;
@@ -147,7 +150,9 @@ int configfs_symlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry, const char *symna
 
         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, dentry);
+                mutex_unlock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
                 if (ret && type->ct_item_ops->drop_link)
                         type->ct_item_ops->drop_link(parent_item,
                                                      target_item);