possible deadlock in ovl_create_object (2)

Status: upstream: reported on 2026/09/09 15:19
Subsystems: fs
Labels: prio:low
[Documentation on labels]
Reported-by: syzbot+7cab6a19619f1b8efc00@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
First crash: 4d03h, last: 4d03h
✨ AI Jobs (1)
ID Workflow Result Correct Bug Created Started Finished Revision
55034c11 assessment-security DenialOfService: ❌ Exploitable: ❌ FilesystemTrigger: ❌ NetworkTrigger: ❌ PeripheralTrigger: ❌ RemoteTrigger: ❌ Unprivileged: ❌ UserNamespace: ❌ VMGuestTrigger: ❌ VMHostTrigger: ❌ possible deadlock in ovl_create_object (2) 2026/09/07 00:04 2026/09/07 00:04 2026/09/07 00:42 4f7b22a0
Discussions (1)
Title Replies (including bot) Last reply
[syzbot] [fs?] possible deadlock in ovl_create_object (2) 0 (1) 2026/09/09 15:19
Similar bugs (1)
Kernel Title Rank 🛈 Repro Cause bisect Fix bisect Count Last Reported Patched Status
upstream possible deadlock in ovl_create_object overlayfs 4 1 589d 585d 0/29 auto-obsoleted due to no activity on 2025/05/08 16:07

Sample crash report:
======================================================
WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected
syzkaller #0 Tainted: G             L     
------------------------------------------------------
syz.6.857/9678 is trying to acquire lock:
ffff88803cd16460 (sb_writers#6){.+.+}-{0:0}, at: ovl_create_object+0x130/0x3b0 fs/overlayfs/dir.c:705

but task is already holding lock:
ffff888058c6e948 (&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]){++++}-{4:4}, at: inode_lock include/linux/fs.h:1024 [inline]
ffff888058c6e948 (&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]){++++}-{4:4}, at: lookup_open+0xb13/0x1990 fs/namei.c:4458

which lock already depends on the new lock.


the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:

-> #4 (&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]){++++}-{4:4}:
       lock_acquire kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5908 [inline]
       lock_acquire+0x1d1/0x380 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5865
       down_read+0x99/0x4c0 kernel/locking/rwsem.c:1574
       inode_lock_shared include/linux/fs.h:1039 [inline]
       lookup_slow+0x42/0x70 fs/namei.c:1935
       walk_component fs/namei.c:2282 [inline]
       lookup_last fs/namei.c:2789 [inline]
       path_lookupat+0x5e8/0xc40 fs/namei.c:2813
       filename_lookup+0x202/0x590 fs/namei.c:2842
       kern_path+0x37/0x50 fs/namei.c:3036
       lookup_bdev+0xd8/0x2a0 block/bdev.c:1268
       bdev_file_open_by_path+0x82/0x330 block/bdev.c:1123
       add_device drivers/mtd/devices/block2mtd.c:279 [inline]
       block2mtd_setup2.isra.0+0x2ee/0xbd0 drivers/mtd/devices/block2mtd.c:459
       block2mtd_setup+0xbd/0xd0 drivers/mtd/devices/block2mtd.c:476
       param_attr_store+0x199/0x300 kernel/params.c:591
       module_attr_store+0x58/0x80 kernel/params.c:906
       sysfs_kf_write+0xf2/0x150 fs/sysfs/file.c:145
       kernfs_fop_write_iter+0x3e0/0x5f0 fs/kernfs/file.c:345
       new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:595 [inline]
       vfs_write+0x6af/0x1050 fs/read_write.c:687
       ksys_write+0x12a/0x250 fs/read_write.c:739
       do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline]
       do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84
       entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

-> #3 (param_lock){+.+.}-{4:4}:
       lock_acquire kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5908 [inline]
       lock_acquire+0x1d1/0x380 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5865
       __mutex_lock_common kernel/locking/mutex.c:646 [inline]
       __mutex_lock+0x1a4/0x1bd0 kernel/locking/mutex.c:821
       ieee80211_rate_control_ops_get net/mac80211/rate.c:221 [inline]
       rate_control_alloc net/mac80211/rate.c:267 [inline]
       ieee80211_init_rate_ctrl_alg+0x1df/0x3b0 net/mac80211/rate.c:1008
       ieee80211_register_hw+0x2c1e/0x4580 net/mac80211/main.c:1561
       mac80211_hwsim_new_radio+0x2b08/0x6510 drivers/net/wireless/virtual/mac80211_hwsim_main.c:6138
       init_mac80211_hwsim+0x5e2/0x6f0 drivers/net/wireless/virtual/mac80211_hwsim_main.c:7624
       do_one_initcall+0x11c/0x6f0 init/main.c:1357
       do_initcall_level init/main.c:1419 [inline]
       do_initcalls init/main.c:1435 [inline]
       do_basic_setup init/main.c:1455 [inline]
       kernel_init_freeable+0x6ea/0x7b0 init/main.c:1670
       kernel_init+0x21/0x1e0 init/main.c:1560
       ret_from_fork+0x730/0xd60 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:158
       ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:245

-> #2 (rtnl_mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}:
       lock_acquire kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5908 [inline]
       lock_acquire+0x1d1/0x380 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5865
       __mutex_lock_common kernel/locking/mutex.c:646 [inline]
       __mutex_lock+0x1a4/0x1bd0 kernel/locking/mutex.c:821
       rtnl_lock net/core/rtnetlink.c:80 [inline]
       rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x371/0xe90 net/core/rtnetlink.c:7138
       netlink_rcv_skb+0x159/0x420 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2556
       netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1319 [inline]
       netlink_unicast+0x585/0x850 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1345
       netlink_sendmsg+0x8b0/0xda0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1900
       sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:800 [inline]
       __sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:815 [inline]
       sock_sendmsg+0x394/0x410 net/socket.c:838
       splice_to_socket+0xb3c/0x11a0 fs/splice.c:884
       do_splice_from fs/splice.c:936 [inline]
       do_splice+0x109c/0x1fa0 fs/splice.c:1349
       __do_splice+0x33b/0x370 fs/splice.c:1431
       __do_sys_splice fs/splice.c:1634 [inline]
       __se_sys_splice fs/splice.c:1616 [inline]
       __x64_sys_splice+0x187/0x250 fs/splice.c:1616
       do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline]
       do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84
       entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

-> #1 (&pipe->mutex){+.+.}-{4:4}:
       lock_acquire kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5908 [inline]
       lock_acquire+0x1d1/0x380 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5865
       __mutex_lock_common kernel/locking/mutex.c:646 [inline]
       __mutex_lock+0x1a4/0x1bd0 kernel/locking/mutex.c:821
       pipe_lock fs/pipe.c:91 [inline]
       pipe_lock+0x69/0x80 fs/pipe.c:88
       iter_file_splice_write+0x1fd/0x10b0 fs/splice.c:682
       do_splice_from fs/splice.c:936 [inline]
       do_splice+0x109c/0x1fa0 fs/splice.c:1349
       __do_splice+0x33b/0x370 fs/splice.c:1431
       __do_sys_splice fs/splice.c:1634 [inline]
       __se_sys_splice fs/splice.c:1616 [inline]
       __x64_sys_splice+0x187/0x250 fs/splice.c:1616
       do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline]
       do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84
       entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

-> #0 (sb_writers#6){.+.+}-{0:0}:
       check_prev_add+0xeb/0xe60 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3181
       check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3300 [inline]
       validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3924 [inline]
       __lock_acquire+0x1492/0x1ec0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5254
       lock_acquire kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5908 [inline]
       lock_acquire+0x1d1/0x380 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5865
       percpu_down_read_internal include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:53 [inline]
       percpu_down_read_freezable include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:83 [inline]
       __sb_start_write include/linux/fs/super.h:19 [inline]
       sb_start_write include/linux/fs/super.h:125 [inline]
       mnt_want_write+0x6f/0x420 fs/namespace.c:494
       ovl_create_object+0x130/0x3b0 fs/overlayfs/dir.c:705
       lookup_open+0x1255/0x1990 fs/namei.c:4567
       open_last_lookups fs/namei.c:4767 [inline]
       path_openat+0xa2c/0x2440 fs/namei.c:4997
       do_file_open+0x20e/0x430 fs/namei.c:5029
       do_sys_openat2+0x10f/0x1e0 fs/open.c:1417
       do_sys_open fs/open.c:1423 [inline]
       __do_sys_openat fs/open.c:1439 [inline]
       __se_sys_openat fs/open.c:1434 [inline]
       __x64_sys_openat+0x12d/0x210 fs/open.c:1434
       do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline]
       do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84
       entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

other info that might help us debug this:

Chain exists of:
  sb_writers#6 --> param_lock --> &ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]

 Possible unsafe locking scenario:

       CPU0                    CPU1
       ----                    ----
  lock(&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]);
                               lock(param_lock);
                               lock(&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]);
  rlock(sb_writers#6);

 *** DEADLOCK ***

locks held by syz.6.857/9678: 2, last CPU#1:
 #0: ffff88802ba66460 (sb_writers#13){.+.+}-{0:0}, at: lookup_open+0x150/0x1990 fs/namei.c:4451
 #1: ffff888058c6e948 (&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]){++++}-{4:4}, at: inode_lock include/linux/fs.h:1024 [inline]
 #1: ffff888058c6e948 (&ovl_i_mutex_dir_key[depth]){++++}-{4:4}, at: lookup_open+0xb13/0x1990 fs/namei.c:4458

stack backtrace:
CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 9678 Comm: syz.6.857 Tainted: G             L      syzkaller #0 PREEMPT(full) 
Tainted: [L]=SOFTLOCKUP
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 08/05/2026
Call Trace:
 <TASK>
 __dump_stack lib/dump_stack.c:94 [inline]
 dump_stack_lvl+0x100/0x190 lib/dump_stack.c:120
 print_circular_bug.cold+0x178/0x1be kernel/locking/lockdep.c:2059
 check_noncircular+0x146/0x160 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:2191
 check_prev_add+0xeb/0xe60 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3181
 check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3300 [inline]
 validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3924 [inline]
 __lock_acquire+0x1492/0x1ec0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5254
 lock_acquire kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5908 [inline]
 lock_acquire+0x1d1/0x380 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5865
 percpu_down_read_internal include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:53 [inline]
 percpu_down_read_freezable include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:83 [inline]
 __sb_start_write include/linux/fs/super.h:19 [inline]
 sb_start_write include/linux/fs/super.h:125 [inline]
 mnt_want_write+0x6f/0x420 fs/namespace.c:494
 ovl_create_object+0x130/0x3b0 fs/overlayfs/dir.c:705
 lookup_open+0x1255/0x1990 fs/namei.c:4567
 open_last_lookups fs/namei.c:4767 [inline]
 path_openat+0xa2c/0x2440 fs/namei.c:4997
 do_file_open+0x20e/0x430 fs/namei.c:5029
 do_sys_openat2+0x10f/0x1e0 fs/open.c:1417
 do_sys_open fs/open.c:1423 [inline]
 __do_sys_openat fs/open.c:1439 [inline]
 __se_sys_openat fs/open.c:1434 [inline]
 __x64_sys_openat+0x12d/0x210 fs/open.c:1434
 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline]
 do_syscall_64+0x123/0x790 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84
 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
RIP: 0033:0x7f2d2539e159
Code: ff c3 66 2e 0f 1f 84 00 00 00 00 00 0f 1f 44 00 00 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 c7 c1 e8 ff ff ff f7 d8 64 89 01 48
RSP: 002b:00007f2d261d2028 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000101
RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007f2d25625fa0 RCX: 00007f2d2539e159
RDX: 0000000000000040 RSI: 0000200000000180 RDI: ffffffffffffff9c
RBP: 00007f2d25435024 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000000
R10: 0000000000000023 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 0000000000000000
R13: 00007f2d25626038 R14: 00007f2d25625fa0 R15: 00007ffeef1e4b18
 </TASK>

Crashes (1):
Time Kernel Commit Syzkaller Config Log Report Syz repro C repro VM info Assets (help?) Manager Title
2026/09/05 15:13 upstream 654ae5d73c05 4f7b22a0 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-gce-selinux-root possible deadlock in ovl_create_object
* Struck through repros no longer work on HEAD.