Re: [PATCH net v2] net: pktgen: use a consistent flow count

[Simon Horman <horms@kernel.org>]

On Wed, Aug 12, 2026 at 01:21:30PM +0800, Qi Zhang wrote:
> pktgen_if_write() can update cflows while the packet generator thread is
> inside mod_cur_headers(). The latter first tests cflows, but f_pick() then
> reloads it when selecting a random flow.
> 
> This allows the following interleaving:
> 
>   CPU 0 (kpktgend)                 CPU 1 (proc write)
>   if (pkt_dev->cflows) // 10
>                                    pkt_dev->cflows = 0
>   get_random_u32_below(pkt_dev->cflows)
> 
> get_random_u32_below(0) returns a full-width random value. Using that
> value as an index into the fixed-size flows array causes an out-of-bounds
> access. The kernel reported:
> 
>   BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffffc8fe2d2674bc
>   #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
>   Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI
>   CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 65 Comm: kpktgend_0
>   RIP: 0010:mod_cur_headers+0x16f8/0x2840
>   Call Trace:
>    <TASK>
>    pktgen_thread_worker+0x305a/0x6bc0
>    kthread+0x2c6/0x3b0
>    ret_from_fork+0x36e/0x5a0
>    ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
>    </TASK>
> 
> Read cflows once at the start of mod_cur_headers(), pass the snapshot to
> f_pick(), and use it for later flow-state decisions in the same packet.
> Publish proc updates with WRITE_ONCE(). Flow selection then always uses a
> nonzero count bounded by MAX_CFLOWS, while a concurrent update takes
> effect on a later packet.
> 
> Fixes: 007a531b0a0c ("[PKTGEN]: Introduce sequential flows")
> Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
> Signed-off-by: Chengfeng Ye <nicoyip.dev@gmail.com>
> Signed-off-by: Qi Zhang <marsy12010123@gmail.com>
> ---
> v2:
>   - Use the written value when reporting the new flow count.
>   - Add READ_ONCE() to the remaining lockless cflows reads, including
>     pktgen_if_show(), as suggested by Paolo Abeni.
> v1: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20260802152309.821584-1-marsy12010123@gmail.com

Reviewed-by: Simon Horman <horms@kernel.org>