[PATCH] ubi: Reject MLC NAND

From: Richard Weinberger
Date: Sat Mar 03 2018 - 05:44:47 EST


While UBI and UBIFS seem to work at first sight with MLC NAND, you will
most likely lose all your data upon a power-cut or due to read/write
disturb.
In order to protect users from bad surprises, refuse to attach to MLC
NAND.

Cc: stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Signed-off-by: Richard Weinberger <richard@xxxxxx>
---
drivers/mtd/ubi/build.c | 11 +++++++++++
1 file changed, 11 insertions(+)

diff --git a/drivers/mtd/ubi/build.c b/drivers/mtd/ubi/build.c
index e941395de3ae..753494e042d5 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/ubi/build.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/ubi/build.c
@@ -854,6 +854,17 @@ int ubi_attach_mtd_dev(struct mtd_info *mtd, int ubi_num,
return -EINVAL;
}

+ /*
+ * Both UBI and UBIFS have been designed for SLC NAND and NOR flashes.
+ * MLC NAND is different and needs special care, otherwise UBI or UBIFS
+ * will die soon and you will lose all your data.
+ */
+ if (mtd->type == MTD_MLCNANDFLASH) {
+ pr_err("ubi: refuse attaching mtd%d - MLC NAND is not supported\n",
+ mtd->index);
+ return -EINVAL;
+ }
+
if (ubi_num == UBI_DEV_NUM_AUTO) {
/* Search for an empty slot in the @ubi_devices array */
for (ubi_num = 0; ubi_num < UBI_MAX_DEVICES; ubi_num++)
--
2.13.6