Re: [PATCH] Fix error-code overwrite bug

From: Giel van Schijndel
Date: Wed Jan 07 2015 - 14:52:53 EST


On Wed, Jan 07, 2015 at 20:37:29 +0200, Andy Shevchenko wrote:
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2015 at 8:04 PM, Giel van Schijndel <me@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Don't overwrite the returned error code with the boolean test used by
>> the if-statement (otherwise it'd be 1 or 0 always, 1 in the if-block).
>> ---
>> drivers/mtd/nftlmount.c | 2 +-
>> 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
>>
>> diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nftlmount.c b/drivers/mtd/nftlmount.c
>> index 51b9d6a..1cbeb6b 100644
>> --- a/drivers/mtd/nftlmount.c
>> +++ b/drivers/mtd/nftlmount.c
>> @@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static int find_boot_record(struct NFTLrecord *nftl)
>> /* To be safer with BIOS, also use erase mark as discriminant */
>> if ((ret = nftl_read_oob(mtd, block * nftl->EraseSize +
>> SECTORSIZE + 8, 8, &retlen,
>> - (char *)&h1) < 0)) {
>> + (char *)&h1)) < 0) {
>
> Better to move ret = x(); outside of condition. See here:
> http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.linux.drivers.mtd/56922

In the sense that this bug wouldn't have occurred when using separate
assignment and condition checking you're right. It's a style issue
though, but a relevant one.

So your approach is probably better, though incomplete (like mine), just
look for the exact same (ret = x() < 0) pattern about 20 lines further
down the same file. (Yes that's disabled code, but I still believe the
bug should be fixed considering it's exactly the same class of bug).

So I suggest you resend that ^^ patch you link to with a fix for the
other instance of the bug fixed as well.

--
Met vriendelijke groet,
With kind regards,
Giel van Schijndel
--
"If debugging is the process of removing software bugs, then programming
must be the process of putting them in."
-- Edsger Dijkstra

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: Digital signature