Re: [PATCH] hfs: fix a memleak in hfs_find_init

[alexious@zju.edu.cn]

> > On 29 Jan 2024, at 15:54, alexious@zju.edu.cn wrote:
> > 
> >>> On 22 Jan 2024, at 20:27, Zhipeng Lu <alexious@zju.edu.cn> wrote:
> >>> 
> >>> When the switch statment goes to default and return an error, ptr should
> >>> be freed since it is allocated in hfs_find_init.
> >>> 
> >> 
> >> Do you have any memory leaks report? Could you share it in the comments?
> >> Which use-case reproduces the issue? It will be easier to review the fix
> >> If you can share the path of reproduction.
> >> 
> >> Thanks,
> >> Slava.
> > 
> > Well, we found this potential memory leak by static analysis.
> > 
> > We found that all of hfs_find_init's callers won't release `ptr` when 
> > hfs_find_init fails, while they will do release `ptr` when functions 
> > that after hfs_find_init fails. This tactic observation suggests that
> > hfs_find_init proberly should release `ptr` when it fails, i.e. in the
> > default branch of switch in this patch.
> > 
> > Besides, we noticed another implementation of hfs_find_init in 
> > fs/hfsplus/bfind.c, which is essentially identical to the one in 
> > this patch (in fs/hfs/bfind.c) but calling `BUG();` in default branch
> > to trigger an error-handling.
> > 
> 
> I see. I believe it makes sense to add all of this explanation
> into comment section. Modification looks good. Mostly, hfs_find_exit()
> does freeing resources and if hfs_find_init() fails, then hfs_find_exit()
> is never called. Maybe, it makes sense to set fd->tree = NULL too but
> it is not critical, as far as I can see.
> 
> Could you please rework the comment section of the patch? 

Sure, I'll including such idea in this patch and send a v2 version of 
this patch.

Thanks,
Zhipeng.

> Thanks,
> Slava.