[PATCH] net/mlx5: fix crash when secondary queries dev info after primary exits

[Dariusz Sosnowski]

On Mon, Jul 21, 2025 at 01:59:59PM +0200, Thomas Monjalon wrote:
> 21/07/2025 13:46, Ivan Malov:
> > On Mon, 21 Jul 2025, Dariusz Sosnowski wrote:
> > 
> > > + mlx5 maintainers
> > >
> > > Thank you for the patch.
> > >
> > > Could you please include other PMD maintainers (or other maintainers, depending on changed code)
> > > in the future patches?
> > > There is a script which automatically adds maintainers while sending a patch.
> > > It is described in: https://doc.dpdk.org/guides/contributing/patches.html#sending-patches
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jul 21, 2025 at 03:38:51AM -0400, Khadem Ullah wrote:
> > >> When the primary process exits, the shared mlx5 state becomes
> > >> unavailable to secondary processes. If a secondary process attempts
> > >> to query device information (e.g., via testpmd), a NULL dereference
> > >> may occur due to missing shared data.
> > >>
> > >> This patch adds a check for shared context availability and fails
> > >> gracefully while preventing a crash.
> > >>
> > >> Fixes: e60fbd5b24fc ("mlx5: add device configure/start/stop")
> > >> Cc: stable at dpdk.org
> > >>
> > >> Signed-off-by: Khadem Ullah <14pwcse1224 at uetpeshawar.edu.pk>
> > >> ---
> > >>  drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c | 6 ++++++
> > >>  1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)
> > >>
> > >> diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
> > >> index 68d1c1bfa7..1848f6536a 100644
> > >> --- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
> > >> +++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_ethdev.c
> > >> @@ -368,6 +368,12 @@ mlx5_dev_infos_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_dev_info *info)
> > >>  	 * Since we need one CQ per QP, the limit is the minimum number
> > >>  	 * between the two values.
> > >>  	 */
> > >> +	if (priv == NULL || priv->sh == NULL) {
> > >> +		DRV_LOG(ERR,
> > >> +		"mlx5 shared data unavailable (primary process likely exited)");
> > >> +		rte_errno = ENODEV;
> > >> +		return -rte_errno;
> > >> +	}
> > >
> > > I don't think it's an issue on PMD level, but rather on
> > > ethdev/multi-process handling level.
> > 
> > I may be very wrong here, but can't the PMD use its internal 'shared' state to
> > somehow memorise the fact that a secondary process has attached, in order to not
> > let the primary process close in the first place (before the secondary process
> > detaches)? Or is this going to violate some established convention?
> 
> It looks to be a good idea.

I agree with idea of adding these checks, but not entirely agree with
it being at driver level, since all drivers would have to duplicate this logic.

Drivers already have to go through ethdev library when port is probed
on secondary process - rte_eth_dev_attach_secondary() must be
called to retrieve port data local to the process and device data shared
between processes.
Memorizing whether a secondary process is using given port can be added
to rte_eth_dev_attach_secondary(), and relevant check for primary
process can then be added to rte_eth_dev_close(), so that all drivers
benefit.

What do you think?

> 
> > > When primary process closes the port, ethdev library zeroes and frees
> > > device data shared between processes.
> > > ethdev port data (rte_eth_dev) on secondary is not updated so it now points to
> > > invalid data. rte_eth_dev_info_get() is not the only API call affected.
> > >
> > > If the primary process closes the port before exiting
> > > (like testpmd does) and it exits before the secondary,
> > > the any driver call seems invalid because of that use-after-free behavior.
> > >
> > > @Thomas, @Andrew - Do you happen to know if doing anything on ethdev ports
> > > in secondary process after primary has gracefully exited is supported?
> 
> No there is no statement about whether it is supported or not.
> I think we should at least return an error instead of crashing.
> 
>