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[PATCH 27/29] lock_ref_for_update(): don't resolve symrefs

From
Michael Haggerty <mhagger@alum.mit.edu>
Date
Apr 27, 2016, 16:57 UTC
Message-ID
<dc9cd5747320dbbfc328f79b60ba8d6d78764fff.1461768690.git.mhagger@alum.mit.edu>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1461768689.git.mhagger@alum.mit.edu>

If a transaction includes a non-NODEREF update to a symbolic reference, we don't have to look it up in lock_ref_for_update(). The reference will be dereferenced anyway when the split-off update is processed.

This change requires that we store a backpointer from the split-off update to its parent update, for two reasons:

* We still want to report the original reference name in error messages.
  So if an error occurs when checking the split-off update's old_sha1,
  walk the parent_update pointers back to find the original reference
  name, and report that one.
* We still need to write the old_sha1 of the symref to its reflog. So
  after we read the split-off update's reference value, walk the
  parent_update pointers back and fill in their old_sha1 fields.

Aside from eliminating unnecessary reads, this change fixes a subtle (though not very serious) race condition: in the old code, the old_sha1 of the symref was resolved before the reference that it pointed at was locked. So it was possible that the old_sha1 value logged to the symref's reflog could be wrong if another process changed the downstream reference before it was locked.

Signed-off-by: Michael Haggerty <mhagger@alum.mit.edu>
---
There is one remaining race that I know of: the value of HEAD is read
at the start of the transaction to determine whether its referent is
changed in the transaction. If so, the update is also logged in HEAD's
reflog.

The problem is that HEAD is read without acquiring its lock. So in principle HEAD could change during the time that the transaction is being processed, leading to inconsistencies in the reflogs.

This problem could be fixed, but it would require HEAD to be locked for every reference transaction, probably in some kind of an additional fake ref_update. I don't know that it's worth the effort, but if it is it can be done within the same framework that I implemented here.

 refs/files-backend.c | 108 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------
 refs/refs-internal.h |  17 ++++++++
 2 files changed, 95 insertions(+), 30 deletions(-)
diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 66ceb83..40ed157 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -3366,8 +3366,15 @@ static int split_symref_update(struct ref_update *update,
 			update->new_sha1, update->old_sha1,
 			update->msg);
 
-	/* Change the symbolic ref update to log only: */
+	new_update->parent_update = update;
+
+	/*
+	 * Change the symbolic ref update to log only. Also, it
+	 * doesn't need to check its old SHA-1 value, as that will be
+	 * done when new_update is processed.
+	 */
 	update->flags |= REF_LOG_ONLY | REF_NODEREF;
+	update->flags &= ~REF_HAVE_OLD;
 
 	item->util = new_update;
 
@@ -3375,6 +3382,17 @@ static int split_symref_update(struct ref_update *update,
 }
 
 /*
+ * Return the refname under which update was originally requested.
+ */
+static const char *original_update_refname(struct ref_update *update)
+{
+	while (update->parent_update)
+		update = update->parent_update;
+
+	return update->refname;
+}
+
+/*
  * Prepare for carrying out update:
  * - Lock the reference referred to by update.
  * - Read the reference under lock.
@@ -3428,44 +3446,74 @@ static int lock_ref_for_update(struct ref_update *update,
 	lock = update->lock;
 
 	if (update->type & REF_ISSYMREF) {
-		if (read_ref_full(update->refname,
-				  mustexist ? RESOLVE_REF_READING : 0,
-				  lock->old_oid.hash, NULL)) {
-			if (update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) {
-				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': can't resolve old value",
-					    update->refname);
+		if (update->flags & REF_NODEREF) {
+			/*
+			 * We won't be reading the referent as part of
+			 * the transaction, so we have to read it here
+			 * to record and possibly check old_sha1:
+			 */
+			if (read_ref_full(update->refname,
+					  mustexist ? RESOLVE_REF_READING : 0,
+					  lock->old_oid.hash, NULL)) {
+				if (update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) {
+					strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+						    "can't resolve old value",
+						    update->refname);
+					return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+				} else {
+					hashclr(lock->old_oid.hash);
+				}
+			}
+			if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
+			    hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->old_sha1)) {
+				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': "
+					    "is at %s but expected %s",
+					    update->refname,
+					    sha1_to_hex(lock->old_oid.hash),
+					    sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
 				return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
-			} else {
-				hashclr(lock->old_oid.hash);
 			}
-		}
-		if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
-		    hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->old_sha1)) {
-			strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': is at %s but expected %s",
-				    update->refname,
-				    sha1_to_hex(lock->old_oid.hash),
-				    sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
-			return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
-		}
 
-		if (!(update->flags & REF_NODEREF)) {
+		} else {
+			/*
+			 * Create a new update for the reference this
+			 * symref is pointing at. Also, we will record
+			 * and verify old_sha1 for this update as part
+			 * of processing the split-off update, so we
+			 * don't have to do it here.
+			 */
 			ret = split_symref_update(update, referent.buf, transaction,
 						  affected_refnames, err);
 			if (ret)
 				return ret;
 		}
-	} else if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
-		   hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->old_sha1)) {
-		if (is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1))
-			strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': reference already exists",
-				    update->refname);
-		else
-			strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': is at %s but expected %s",
-				    update->refname,
-				    sha1_to_hex(lock->old_oid.hash),
-				    sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+	} else {
+		struct ref_update *parent_update;
 
-		return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+		/*
+		 * If this update is happening indirectly because of a
+		 * symref update, record the old SHA-1 in the parent
+		 * update:
+		 */
+		for (parent_update = update->parent_update;
+		     parent_update;
+		     parent_update = parent_update->parent_update) {
+			oidcpy(&parent_update->lock->old_oid, &lock->old_oid);
+		}
+
+		if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_OLD) &&
+		    hashcmp(lock->old_oid.hash, update->old_sha1)) {
+			if (is_null_sha1(update->old_sha1))
+				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': reference already exists",
+					    original_update_refname(update));
+			else
+				strbuf_addf(err, "cannot lock ref '%s': is at %s but expected %s",
+					    original_update_refname(update),
+					    sha1_to_hex(lock->old_oid.hash),
+					    sha1_to_hex(update->old_sha1));
+
+			return TRANSACTION_GENERIC_ERROR;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if ((update->flags & REF_HAVE_NEW) &&
diff --git a/refs/refs-internal.h b/refs/refs-internal.h
index 9839b07..2355735 100644
--- a/refs/refs-internal.h
+++ b/refs/refs-internal.h
@@ -143,24 +143,41 @@ int should_autocreate_reflog(const char *refname);
  * not exist before update.
  */
 struct ref_update {
+
 	/*
 	 * If (flags & REF_HAVE_NEW), set the reference to this value:
 	 */
 	unsigned char new_sha1[20];
+
 	/*
 	 * If (flags & REF_HAVE_OLD), check that the reference
 	 * previously had this value:
 	 */
 	unsigned char old_sha1[20];
+
 	/*
 	 * One or more of REF_HAVE_NEW, REF_HAVE_OLD, REF_NODEREF,
 	 * REF_DELETING, REF_ISPRUNING, REF_LOG_ONLY, and
 	 * REF_UPDATE_VIA_HEAD:
 	 */
 	unsigned int flags;
+
 	struct ref_lock *lock;
 	unsigned int type;
 	char *msg;
+
+	/*
+	 * If this ref_update was split off of a symref update via
+	 * split_symref_update(), then this member points at that
+	 * update. This is used for two purposes:
+	 * 1. When reporting errors, we report the refname under which
+	 *    the update was originally requested.
+	 * 2. When we read the old value of this reference, we
+	 *    propagate it back to its parent update for recording in
+	 *    the latter's reflog.
+	 */
+	struct ref_update *parent_update;
+
 	const char refname[FLEX_ARRAY];
 };
 
-- 
2.8.1
Previous: Michael HaggertyNext: Michael Haggerty
Message 66 of 70 in “Yet more preparation for reference backends”
  1. 00/29 Yet more preparation for reference backendsMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  2. 01/29 safe_create_leading_directories(): improve docstringMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  3. 02/29 remove_dir_recursively(): add docstringMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  4. 03/29 refname_is_safe(): use skip_prefix()Michael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  5. 04/29 refname_is_safe(): don't allow the empty stringMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  6. 05/29 refname_is_safe(): insist that the refname already be normalizedMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  7. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  8. David TurnerApr 27, 2016
  9. Jeff KingApr 27, 2016
  10. David TurnerApr 27, 2016
  11. Jeff KingApr 27, 2016
  12. Jeff KingApr 27, 2016
  13. David TurnerApr 28, 2016
  14. 06/29 commit_ref_update(): write error message to *err, not stderrMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  15. 07/29 rename_ref(): remove unneeded local variableMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  16. 08/29 ref_transaction_commit(): remove local variable nMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  17. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  18. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  19. 09/29 read_raw_ref(): rename flags argument to typeMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  20. 10/29 read_raw_ref(): clear *type at start of functionMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  21. 11/29 read_raw_ref(): rename symref argument to referentMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  22. 12/29 read_raw_ref(): improve docstringMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  23. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  24. 13/29 lock_ref_sha1_basic(): remove unneeded local variableMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  25. 14/29 refs: make error messages more consistentMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  26. 15/29 ref_transaction_create(): disallow recursive pruningMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  27. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  28. David TurnerApr 27, 2016
  29. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  30. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  31. David TurnerApr 28, 2016
  32. Junio C HamanoApr 28, 2016
  33. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  34. Junio C HamanoApr 29, 2016
  35. Junio C HamanoApr 29, 2016
  36. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  37. 16/29 ref_transaction_commit(): correctly report close_ref() failureMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  38. 17/29 delete_branches(): use resolve_refdup()Michael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  39. 18/29 refs: allow log-only updatesMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  40. 19/29 refs: don't dereference on renameMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  41. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  42. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  43. Junio C HamanoApr 29, 2016
  44. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  45. Jeff KingApr 29, 2016
  46. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  47. Jeff KingApr 29, 2016
  48. Junio C HamanoApr 29, 2016
  49. David TurnerApr 29, 2016
  50. Michael HaggertyApr 30, 2016
  51. Junio C HamanoMay 2, 2016
  52. 20/29 verify_refname_available(): adjust constness in declarationMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  53. 21/29 add_update(): initialize the whole ref_updateMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  54. 22/29 lock_ref_for_update(): new functionMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  55. 23/29 unlock_ref(): move definition higher in the fileMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  56. 24/29 ref_transaction_update(): check refname_is_safe() at a minimumMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  57. Junio C HamanoApr 27, 2016
  58. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  59. Junio C HamanoApr 29, 2016
  60. 25/29 refs: resolve symbolic refs firstMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  61. David TurnerApr 28, 2016
  62. Michael HaggertyApr 29, 2016
  63. David TurnerApr 29, 2016
  64. Junio C HamanoMay 2, 2016
  65. 26/29 lock_ref_for_update(): don't re-read non-symbolic referencesMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  66. 27/29 lock_ref_for_update(): don't resolve symrefsMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  67. 28/29 commit_ref_update(): remove the flags parameterMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  68. 29/29 lock_ref_sha1_basic(): only handle REF_NODEREF modeMichael Haggerty, Apr 27, 2016
  69. Junio C HamanoApr 29, 2016
  70. David TurnerApr 29, 2016

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