[PATCH] newlib: Unlock the mutex while calling atexit()'ed functions

Takashi Yano takashi.yano@nifty.ne.jp
Tue Nov 18 13:31:33 GMT 2025


The atexit()'ed function may deadlock if it waits for another thread
which calls atexit() in the current __call_atexit.c code. This patch
unlock __atexit_recursive_mutex while calling atexit()'ed functions
to avoid the deadlock mentioned above. glibc and Darwin do the same,
so it sounds reasonable.

Addresses: https://cygwin.com/pipermail/cygwin/2025-October/258930.html
Reported-by: Tomohiro Kashiwada <tomohiro-kashiwada@ezweb.ne.jp>
Reviewed-by:
Signed-off-by: Takashi Yano <takashi.yano@nifty.ne.jp>
---
 newlib/libc/stdlib/__call_atexit.c | 8 ++++++++
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+)

diff --git a/newlib/libc/stdlib/__call_atexit.c b/newlib/libc/stdlib/__call_atexit.c
index 710440389..44f1f6acc 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/stdlib/__call_atexit.c
+++ b/newlib/libc/stdlib/__call_atexit.c
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ __call_exitprocs (int code, void *d)
 
 	  ind = p->_ind;
 
+#ifndef __SINGLE_THREAD__
+	  /* Unlock __atexit_recursive_mutex; otherwise, the function fn() may
+	     deadlock if it waits for another thread which calls atexit(). */
+	  __lock_release_recursive(__atexit_recursive_mutex);
+#endif
 	  /* Call the function.  */
 	  if (!args || (args->_fntypes & i) == 0)
 	    fn ();
@@ -121,6 +126,9 @@ __call_exitprocs (int code, void *d)
 	    (*((void (*)(int, void *)) fn))(code, args->_fnargs[n]);
 	  else
 	    (*((void (*)(void *)) fn))(args->_fnargs[n]);
+#ifndef __SINGLE_THREAD__
+	  __lock_acquire_recursive(__atexit_recursive_mutex);
+#endif
 
 	  /* The function we called call atexit and registered another
 	     function (or functions).  Call these new functions before
-- 
2.51.0



More information about the Newlib mailing list