Re: [RFC PATCH 7.2.y] mm/damon/core: error damos_commit_quota_goal() for zero target_value

From: SJ Park

Date: Sun Oct 25 2026 - 14:01:20 EST


On Sun, 25 Oct 2026 10:46:46 -0700 SJ Park <sj@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> On Sun, 25 Oct 2026 10:24:33 -0700 SJ Park <sj@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Patch series "mm/damon: move zero damos quota target_value handling to the
> > core layer".
> >
> > Having zero DAMOS quota target value can cause division by zero. DAMON
> > API callers are checking the target value parameters to avoid that. It is
> > easy to make mistakes in some of the multiple API callers. Move that to
> > the core layer.
> >
> > Patch 1 adds the corner case handling into the core layer DAMON parameters
> > validation logic. Patches 2 and 3 remove no more needed DAMON API callers
> > side handling of the corner case in DAMON_LRU_SORT and DMON_SAMPLIE_MTIER,
> > respectively.
> >
> > This patch (of 3):
> >
> > If a DAMOS scheme has a damos_quota_goal of zero target_value,
> > damos_quota_goal() could trigger division-by-zero error. Hence each DAMON
> > API callers should do the zero target_value validation. It is easy to
> > make mistakes. Actually such bugs in DAMON_LRU_SORT and
> > DAMON_SAMPLE_MTIER were found and fixed [1].
> >
> > It is better to handle the corner case only once in the core layer,
> > instead of multiple places in all DAMON API callers. One straightforward
> > option is using an alternative denominator for the corner case in the
> > damos_quota_goal(). However, the zero target_value is meaningless. In
> > this case, the quota goal is always evaluated as achieved or
> > over-achieved. The quota will only keep being reduced.
> >
> > Simply avoid using zero target_value by adding a check in the core layer
> > DAMOS quota goal parameters validation/commit path,
> > damos_commit_quota_goal(). Update it to return an error in the case.
> > Also update its caller to propagate the error.
> >
> > Notes for stable kernel porting. The upstream commit doesn't have
> > Fixes: and therefore not ported to stable kernels. It turned out it
> > fixes commit 8b549a4fd3c5 ("mm/damon/sysfs-schemes: commit damos quota
> > goals user input to DAMOS") which was merged into v6.8. The user impact
> > is a race condition that can result in divide-by-zero. Hence backport.
> > Reproducing the issue requires sysfs write permission, certain DAMON ABI
> > usages that are supposed to be uncommon, and a rare race timing, though.
> > The issue was discovered [2] by Sashiko as a part [3] of its bug report.
> >
> > [2] https://sashiko.dev/#/bug/linux-7f814c9a-986f-4103-a55a-ef9537dcf62b
> > [3] https://lore.kernel.org/20261021005234.94107-1-sj@xxxxxxxxxx
>
> On v7.2, DAMON sysfs interface calls damon_commit_ctx() for validation purpose,
> for parameters commit but initial DAMON start. Hence this patch fixes the
> issue in parmeters commit but initial DAMON start. I will post a new version
> to cover the start case.

For minimum change, the next version will add one more validation in DAMON
start path, like below.

'''
--- a/mm/damon/sysfs.c
+++ b/mm/damon/sysfs.c
@@ -2226,6 +2226,20 @@ static int damon_sysfs_repeat_call_fn(void *data)
return 0;
}

+static bool damon_sysfs_valid_start_ctx(struct damon_ctx *ctx)
+{
+ struct damos *s;
+ struct damos_quota_goal *g;
+
+ damon_for_each_scheme(s, ctx) {
+ damos_for_each_quota_goal(g, &s->quota) {
+ if (!g->targe_value)
+ return false;
+ }
+ }
+ return true;
+}
+
static int damon_sysfs_turn_damon_on(struct damon_sysfs_kdamond *kdamond)
{
struct damon_ctx *ctx;
@@ -2251,6 +2265,8 @@ static int damon_sysfs_turn_damon_on(struct damon_sysfs_kdamond *kdamond)
kfree(repeat_call_control);
return PTR_ERR(ctx);
}
+ if (!damon_sysfs_valid_start_ctx(ctx))
+ return -EINVAL;
err = damon_start(&ctx, 1, false);
if (err) {
kfree(repeat_call_control);
'''


Thanks,
SJ

[...]