vm_object_terminate() on a device-backed object at the same time that
another processor, call it Pa, is performing dev_pager_alloc() on the
same device. The problem is that vm_pager_object_lookup() should not be
allowed to return a doomed object, i.e., an object with OBJ_DEAD set,
but it does. In detail, the unfortunate sequence of events is: Pt in
vm_object_terminate() holds the doomed object's lock and sets OBJ_DEAD
on the object. Pa in dev_pager_alloc() holds dev_pager_sx and calls
vm_pager_object_lookup(), which returns the doomed object. Next, Pa
calls vm_object_reference(), which requires the doomed object's lock, so
Pa waits for Pt to release the doomed object's lock. Pt proceeds to the
point in vm_object_terminate() where it releases the doomed object's
lock. Pa is now able to complete vm_object_reference() because it can
now complete the acquisition of the doomed object's lock. So, now the
doomed object has a reference count of one! Pa releases dev_pager_sx
and returns the doomed object from dev_pager_alloc(). Pt now acquires
dev_pager_mtx, removes the doomed object from dev_pager_object_list,
releases dev_pager_mtx, and finally calls uma_zfree with the doomed
object. However, the doomed object is still in use by Pa.
Repeating my key point, vm_pager_object_lookup() must not return a
doomed object. Moreover, the test for the object's state, i.e.,
doomed or not, and the increment of the object's reference count
should be carried out atomically.
Reviewed by: kib
Approved by: re (kensmith)
MFC after: 3 weeks
b5e8f167b9