syzbot


possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked (3)

Status: upstream: reported on 2025/12/30 11:48
Subsystems: ext4
[Documentation on labels]
Reported-by: syzbot+5d19358d7eb30ffb0cc5@syzkaller.appspotmail.com
First crash: 15d, last: 6h59m
Discussions (1)
Title Replies (including bot) Last reply
[syzbot] [ext4?] possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked (3) 0 (1) 2025/12/30 11:48
Similar bugs (2)
Kernel Title Rank 🛈 Repro Cause bisect Fix bisect Count Last Reported Patched Status
upstream possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked ext4 4 3 584d 602d 0/29 auto-obsoleted due to no activity on 2024/09/14 08:21
upstream possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked (2) ext4 4 1 367d 363d 0/29 auto-obsoleted due to no activity on 2025/04/18 23:41

Sample crash report:
======================================================
WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected
syzkaller #0 Not tainted
------------------------------------------------------
kworker/u8:1/13 is trying to acquire lock:
ffff888033968950 (jbd2_handle){++++}-{0:0}, at: wait_transaction_locked+0x19d/0x270 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:151

but task is already holding lock:
ffff88814dbfeb98 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}, at: percpu_down_read include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:77 [inline]
ffff88814dbfeb98 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}, at: ext4_writepages_down_read fs/ext4/ext4.h:1820 [inline]
ffff88814dbfeb98 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}, at: ext4_writepages+0x1ca/0x350 fs/ext4/inode.c:3025

which lock already depends on the new lock.


the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:

-> #2 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}:
       percpu_down_read_internal+0x48/0x1c0 include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:53
       percpu_down_read include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:77 [inline]
       ext4_writepages_down_read fs/ext4/ext4.h:1820 [inline]
       ext4_writepages+0x1ca/0x350 fs/ext4/inode.c:3025
       do_writepages+0x32e/0x550 mm/page-writeback.c:2598
       __writeback_single_inode+0x133/0x1240 fs/fs-writeback.c:1737
       writeback_single_inode+0x493/0xc70 fs/fs-writeback.c:1858
       write_inode_now+0x160/0x1d0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2924
       iput_final fs/inode.c:1944 [inline]
       iput+0xa77/0x1030 fs/inode.c:2006
       ext4_xattr_block_set+0x1fce/0x2ac0 fs/ext4/xattr.c:2203
       ext4_xattr_move_to_block fs/ext4/xattr.c:2668 [inline]
       ext4_xattr_make_inode_space fs/ext4/xattr.c:2743 [inline]
       ext4_expand_extra_isize_ea+0x12da/0x1ea0 fs/ext4/xattr.c:2831
       __ext4_expand_extra_isize+0x30d/0x400 fs/ext4/inode.c:6349
       ext4_try_to_expand_extra_isize fs/ext4/inode.c:6392 [inline]
       __ext4_mark_inode_dirty+0x45c/0x6e0 fs/ext4/inode.c:6470
       ext4_evict_inode+0x79c/0xe60 fs/ext4/inode.c:253
       evict+0x5f4/0xae0 fs/inode.c:837
       ext4_orphan_cleanup+0xc20/0x1460 fs/ext4/orphan.c:472
       __ext4_fill_super fs/ext4/super.c:5658 [inline]
       ext4_fill_super+0x58a1/0x6160 fs/ext4/super.c:5777
       get_tree_bdev_flags+0x40e/0x4d0 fs/super.c:1691
       vfs_get_tree+0x92/0x2a0 fs/super.c:1751
       fc_mount fs/namespace.c:1199 [inline]
       do_new_mount_fc fs/namespace.c:3636 [inline]
       do_new_mount+0x302/0xa10 fs/namespace.c:3712
       do_mount fs/namespace.c:4035 [inline]
       __do_sys_mount fs/namespace.c:4224 [inline]
       __se_sys_mount+0x313/0x410 fs/namespace.c:4201
       do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]
       do_syscall_64+0xec/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94
       entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

-> #1 (&ei->xattr_sem){++++}-{4:4}:
       down_read+0x47/0x2e0 kernel/locking/rwsem.c:1537
       ext4_setattr+0x855/0x1bc0 fs/ext4/inode.c:5865
       notify_change+0xc1a/0xf40 fs/attr.c:546
       chown_common+0x40c/0x5b0 fs/open.c:788
       do_fchownat+0x161/0x270 fs/open.c:819
       __do_sys_chown fs/open.c:839 [inline]
       __se_sys_chown fs/open.c:837 [inline]
       __x64_sys_chown+0x82/0xa0 fs/open.c:837
       do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]
       do_syscall_64+0xec/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94
       entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

-> #0 (jbd2_handle){++++}-{0:0}:
       check_prev_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3165 [inline]
       check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3284 [inline]
       validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3908 [inline]
       __lock_acquire+0x15a6/0x2cf0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5237
       lock_acquire+0x107/0x340 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5868
       wait_transaction_locked+0x1b6/0x270 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:151
       add_transaction_credits fs/jbd2/transaction.c:222 [inline]
       start_this_handle+0x77d/0x21c0 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:403
       jbd2__journal_start+0x2c1/0x5b0 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:501
       __ext4_journal_start_sb+0x203/0x580 fs/ext4/ext4_jbd2.c:114
       __ext4_journal_start fs/ext4/ext4_jbd2.h:242 [inline]
       ext4_do_writepages+0xf3e/0x4500 fs/ext4/inode.c:2914
       ext4_writepages+0x203/0x350 fs/ext4/inode.c:3026
       do_writepages+0x32e/0x550 mm/page-writeback.c:2598
       __writeback_single_inode+0x133/0x1240 fs/fs-writeback.c:1737
       writeback_sb_inodes+0x93a/0x1870 fs/fs-writeback.c:2030
       __writeback_inodes_wb+0x111/0x240 fs/fs-writeback.c:2107
       wb_writeback+0x43f/0xaa0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2218
       wb_check_old_data_flush fs/fs-writeback.c:2322 [inline]
       wb_do_writeback fs/fs-writeback.c:2375 [inline]
       wb_workfn+0xad2/0xed0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2403
       process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3257 [inline]
       process_scheduled_works+0xad1/0x1770 kernel/workqueue.c:3340
       worker_thread+0x8a0/0xda0 kernel/workqueue.c:3421
       kthread+0x711/0x8a0 kernel/kthread.c:463
       ret_from_fork+0x510/0xa50 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:158
       ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:246

other info that might help us debug this:

Chain exists of:
  jbd2_handle --> &ei->xattr_sem --> &sbi->s_writepages_rwsem

 Possible unsafe locking scenario:

       CPU0                    CPU1
       ----                    ----
  rlock(&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem);
                               lock(&ei->xattr_sem);
                               lock(&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem);
  lock(jbd2_handle);

 *** DEADLOCK ***

4 locks held by kworker/u8:1/13:
 #0: ffff888141a99148 ((wq_completion)writeback){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3232 [inline]
 #0: ffff888141a99148 ((wq_completion)writeback){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: process_scheduled_works+0x9b4/0x1770 kernel/workqueue.c:3340
 #1: ffffc90000127bc0 ((work_completion)(&(&wb->dwork)->work)){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3233 [inline]
 #1: ffffc90000127bc0 ((work_completion)(&(&wb->dwork)->work)){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: process_scheduled_works+0x9ef/0x1770 kernel/workqueue.c:3340
 #2: ffff88814dbfc0e0 (&type->s_umount_key#32){++++}-{4:4}, at: super_trylock_shared+0x20/0xf0 fs/super.c:563
 #3: ffff88814dbfeb98 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}, at: percpu_down_read include/linux/percpu-rwsem.h:77 [inline]
 #3: ffff88814dbfeb98 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}, at: ext4_writepages_down_read fs/ext4/ext4.h:1820 [inline]
 #3: ffff88814dbfeb98 (&sbi->s_writepages_rwsem){++++}-{0:0}, at: ext4_writepages+0x1ca/0x350 fs/ext4/inode.c:3025

stack backtrace:
CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 13 Comm: kworker/u8:1 Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT(full) 
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 10/25/2025
Workqueue: writeback wb_workfn (flush-8:0)
Call Trace:
 <TASK>
 dump_stack_lvl+0xe8/0x150 lib/dump_stack.c:120
 print_circular_bug+0x2e2/0x300 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:2043
 check_noncircular+0x12e/0x150 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:2175
 check_prev_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3165 [inline]
 check_prevs_add kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3284 [inline]
 validate_chain kernel/locking/lockdep.c:3908 [inline]
 __lock_acquire+0x15a6/0x2cf0 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5237
 lock_acquire+0x107/0x340 kernel/locking/lockdep.c:5868
 wait_transaction_locked+0x1b6/0x270 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:151
 add_transaction_credits fs/jbd2/transaction.c:222 [inline]
 start_this_handle+0x77d/0x21c0 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:403
 jbd2__journal_start+0x2c1/0x5b0 fs/jbd2/transaction.c:501
 __ext4_journal_start_sb+0x203/0x580 fs/ext4/ext4_jbd2.c:114
 __ext4_journal_start fs/ext4/ext4_jbd2.h:242 [inline]
 ext4_do_writepages+0xf3e/0x4500 fs/ext4/inode.c:2914
 ext4_writepages+0x203/0x350 fs/ext4/inode.c:3026
 do_writepages+0x32e/0x550 mm/page-writeback.c:2598
 __writeback_single_inode+0x133/0x1240 fs/fs-writeback.c:1737
 writeback_sb_inodes+0x93a/0x1870 fs/fs-writeback.c:2030
 __writeback_inodes_wb+0x111/0x240 fs/fs-writeback.c:2107
 wb_writeback+0x43f/0xaa0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2218
 wb_check_old_data_flush fs/fs-writeback.c:2322 [inline]
 wb_do_writeback fs/fs-writeback.c:2375 [inline]
 wb_workfn+0xad2/0xed0 fs/fs-writeback.c:2403
 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3257 [inline]
 process_scheduled_works+0xad1/0x1770 kernel/workqueue.c:3340
 worker_thread+0x8a0/0xda0 kernel/workqueue.c:3421
 kthread+0x711/0x8a0 kernel/kthread.c:463
 ret_from_fork+0x510/0xa50 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:158
 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:246
 </TASK>

Crashes (12):
Time Kernel Commit Syzkaller Config Log Report Syz repro C repro VM info Assets (help?) Manager Title
2026/01/11 01:28 upstream 97313d6113ab d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-gce-root possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/10 02:29 upstream 372800cb95a3 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci2-upstream-fs possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/04 17:47 upstream 54e82e93ca93 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-badwrites-root possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/04 16:59 upstream 54e82e93ca93 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-gce-root possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/03 10:35 upstream 805f9a061372 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-badwrites-root possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/02 21:12 upstream 9b0436804460 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-badwrites-root possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2025/12/30 01:22 upstream 8640b74557fc d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-kasan-gce-root possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/06 03:46 git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm64/linux.git for-kernelci 9ace4753a520 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-gce-arm64 possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/05 16:57 git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm64/linux.git for-kernelci 9ace4753a520 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-gce-arm64 possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2026/01/01 23:46 git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm64/linux.git for-kernelci 8f0b4cce4481 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-gce-arm64 possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2025/12/30 06:42 git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm64/linux.git for-kernelci 8f0b4cce4481 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-gce-arm64 possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
2025/12/26 11:41 git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/arm64/linux.git for-kernelci 8f0b4cce4481 d6526ea3 .config console log report info [disk image] [vmlinux] [kernel image] ci-upstream-gce-arm64 possible deadlock in wait_transaction_locked
* Struck through repros no longer work on HEAD.