From: Dian-Syuan Yang dian_syuan0116@realtek.com
[ Upstream commit d105652b33245162867ac769bea336976e67efb8 ]
Due to mac80211 triggering the hardware to enter idle mode, it fails to install WEP key causing connected station can't ping successfully. Currently, it forces the hardware to leave idle mode before driver adding WEP keys.
Signed-off-by: Dian-Syuan Yang dian_syuan0116@realtek.com Signed-off-by: Ping-Ke Shih pkshih@realtek.com Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20250507031203.8256-1-pkshih@realtek.com Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin sashal@kernel.org ---
**YES** This commit should be backported to stable kernel trees. Here's my extensive analysis: ## Bug Fix Analysis **Real User-Affecting Bug**: The commit fixes a clear functional issue where WEP encryption key installation fails in AP mode when the rtw89 wireless device is in idle mode. This directly impacts users trying to establish WEP-encrypted connections to an AP, causing authentication failures and preventing network connectivity. **Specific Technical Problem**: When mac80211 puts the hardware into idle mode (IPS - Idle Power Save), the rtw89 firmware/hardware enters a low-power state where key installation operations fail. This is particularly problematic for WEP encryption which appears to have specific hardware state requirements. ## Code Change Analysis **Minimal and Targeted**: The fix adds exactly two lines of code: ```c case WLAN_CIPHER_SUITE_WEP40: rtw89_leave_ips_by_hwflags(rtwdev); // NEW hw_key_type = RTW89_SEC_KEY_TYPE_WEP40; break; case WLAN_CIPHER_SUITE_WEP104: rtw89_leave_ips_by_hwflags(rtwdev); // NEW hw_key_type = RTW89_SEC_KEY_TYPE_WEP104; break; ``` **Uses Existing Infrastructure**: The fix leverages the existing `rtw89_leave_ips_by_hwflags()` function, which is a well-tested mechanism already used throughout the driver for similar power management scenarios. **WEP-Specific Requirement**: Notably, other cipher types (TKIP, CCMP, GCMP) don't require this call, indicating WEP has unique hardware state dependencies - likely due to its legacy implementation requiring specific firmware states. ## Risk Assessment **Very Low Risk**: - The `rtw89_leave_ips_by_hwflags()` function only acts when the hardware is actually in idle mode (`IEEE80211_CONF_IDLE` flag set) - It's a conditional safety mechanism that doesn't affect normal operation - Limited scope - only affects WEP40/WEP104 cipher types - Follows established patterns already present in the driver **No Architectural Changes**: This is purely a bug fix that ensures hardware is in the correct state before performing WEP key operations. ## Stable Tree Criteria Compliance **Meets All Stable Requirements**: 1. ✅ **Important bug fix**: Resolves WEP authentication failures in AP mode 2. ✅ **Small and contained**: Two identical function calls in a switch statement 3. ✅ **Obviously correct**: Uses existing, proven power management infrastructure 4. ✅ **Low regression risk**: Conservative fix affecting only legacy WEP encryption 5. ✅ **User- visible impact**: Fixes network connectivity issues ## Comparison with Historical Commits Looking at the similar commits provided, this follows the same pattern as other rtw88/rtw89 power management fixes that were marked as "NO" for backporting. However, those commits were primarily optimizations or behavior changes during scanning operations, not fixes for broken functionality. This commit differs because: - It fixes a **broken feature** (WEP key installation failure) - It's not an optimization or behavioral change - It has direct user-visible impact (connection failures) - It's a minimal, surgical fix for a specific failure mode ## Conclusion This is a textbook example of a commit suitable for stable backporting: it fixes a real bug affecting users, uses minimal and safe code changes, and follows established driver patterns. The fix ensures WEP encryption works properly in AP mode by guaranteeing the hardware is powered up during key installation operations.
drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/cam.c | 3 +++ 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/cam.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/cam.c index 8fa1e6c1ce139..359141e78798d 100644 --- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/cam.c +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/cam.c @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ #include "debug.h" #include "fw.h" #include "mac.h" +#include "ps.h"
static struct sk_buff * rtw89_cam_get_sec_key_cmd(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev, @@ -471,9 +472,11 @@ int rtw89_cam_sec_key_add(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev,
switch (key->cipher) { case WLAN_CIPHER_SUITE_WEP40: + rtw89_leave_ips_by_hwflags(rtwdev); hw_key_type = RTW89_SEC_KEY_TYPE_WEP40; break; case WLAN_CIPHER_SUITE_WEP104: + rtw89_leave_ips_by_hwflags(rtwdev); hw_key_type = RTW89_SEC_KEY_TYPE_WEP104; break; case WLAN_CIPHER_SUITE_CCMP: