conncache: fix several lock issues

If the lock is released before the dealings with the bundle is over, it may
have changed by another thread in the mean time.

Fixes #2132
Fixes #2151
Closes #2139

6 files changed, 315 insertions, 183 deletions

diff --git a/lib/conncache.c b/lib/conncache.c
index f8ef2e88b..43d885131 100644
--- a/lib/conncache.c
+++ b/lib/conncache.c
@@ -40,11 +40,26 @@
 #include "curl_memory.h"
 #include "memdebug.h"
 
+#ifdef CURLDEBUG
+/* the debug versions of these macros make extra certain that the lock is
+   never doubly locked or unlocked */
+#define CONN_LOCK(x) if((x)->share) {                                   \
+    Curl_share_lock((x), CURL_LOCK_DATA_CONNECT, CURL_LOCK_ACCESS_SINGLE); \
+    DEBUGASSERT(!(x)->state.conncache_lock);                            \
+    (x)->state.conncache_lock = TRUE;                                   \
+  }
+
+#define CONN_UNLOCK(x) if((x)->share) {                                 \
+    DEBUGASSERT((x)->state.conncache_lock);                             \
+    (x)->state.conncache_lock = FALSE;                                  \
+    Curl_share_unlock((x), CURL_LOCK_DATA_CONNECT);                     \
+  }
+#else
 #define CONN_LOCK(x) if((x)->share)                                     \
     Curl_share_lock((x), CURL_LOCK_DATA_CONNECT, CURL_LOCK_ACCESS_SINGLE)
 #define CONN_UNLOCK(x) if((x)->share)                   \
     Curl_share_unlock((x), CURL_LOCK_DATA_CONNECT)
-
+#endif
 
 static void conn_llist_dtor(void *user, void *element)
 {
@@ -165,18 +180,48 @@ static void hashkey(struct connectdata *conn, char *buf,
   snprintf(buf, len, "%ld%s", conn->port, hostname);
 }
 
+void Curl_conncache_unlock(struct connectdata *conn)
+{
+  CONN_UNLOCK(conn->data);
+}
+
+/* Returns number of connections currently held in the connection cache.
+   Locks/unlocks the cache itself!
+*/
+size_t Curl_conncache_size(struct Curl_easy *data)
+{
+  size_t num;
+  CONN_LOCK(data);
+  num = data->state.conn_cache->num_conn;
+  CONN_UNLOCK(data);
+  return num;
+}
+
+/* Returns number of connections currently held in the connections's bundle
+   Locks/unlocks the cache itself!
+*/
+size_t Curl_conncache_bundle_size(struct connectdata *conn)
+{
+  size_t num;
+  CONN_LOCK(conn->data);
+  num = conn->bundle->num_connections;
+  CONN_UNLOCK(conn->data);
+  return num;
+}
+
 /* Look up the bundle with all the connections to the same host this
-   connectdata struct is setup to use. */
+   connectdata struct is setup to use.
+
+   **NOTE**: When it returns, it holds the connection cache lock! */
 struct connectbundle *Curl_conncache_find_bundle(struct connectdata *conn,
                                                  struct conncache *connc)
 {
   struct connectbundle *bundle = NULL;
+  CONN_LOCK(conn->data);
   if(connc) {
     char key[128];
     hashkey(conn, key, sizeof(key));
-    CONN_LOCK(conn->data);
     bundle = Curl_hash_pick(&connc->hash, key, strlen(key));
-    CONN_UNLOCK(conn->data);
   }
 
   return bundle;
@@ -223,77 +268,89 @@ CURLcode Curl_conncache_add_conn(struct conncache *connc,
   struct connectbundle *new_bundle = NULL;
   struct Curl_easy *data = conn->data;
 
+  /* *find_bundle() locks the connection cache */
   bundle = Curl_conncache_find_bundle(conn, data->state.conn_cache);
   if(!bundle) {
     int rc;
     char key[128];
 
     result = bundle_create(data, &new_bundle);
-    if(result)
-      return result;
+    if(result) {
+      goto unlock;
+    }
 
     hashkey(conn, key, sizeof(key));
-    CONN_LOCK(data);
     rc = conncache_add_bundle(data->state.conn_cache, key, new_bundle);
-    CONN_UNLOCK(data);
 
     if(!rc) {
       bundle_destroy(new_bundle);
-      return CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
+      result = CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
+      goto unlock;
     }
     bundle = new_bundle;
   }
 
-  CONN_LOCK(data);
   result = bundle_add_conn(bundle, conn);
   if(result) {
     if(new_bundle)
       conncache_remove_bundle(data->state.conn_cache, new_bundle);
-    CONN_UNLOCK(data);
-    return result;
+    goto unlock;
   }
-  CONN_UNLOCK(data);
 
   conn->connection_id = connc->next_connection_id++;
-  connc->num_connections++;
+  connc->num_conn++;
 
   DEBUGF(infof(conn->data, "Added connection %ld. "
                "The cache now contains %" CURL_FORMAT_CURL_OFF_TU " members\n",
-               conn->connection_id, (curl_off_t) connc->num_connections));
+               conn->connection_id, (curl_off_t) connc->num_conn));
+
+  unlock:
+  CONN_UNLOCK(data);
 
   return CURLE_OK;
 }
 
-void Curl_conncache_remove_conn(struct conncache *connc,
-                                struct connectdata *conn)
+void Curl_conncache_remove_conn(struct connectdata *conn, bool lock)
 {
+  struct Curl_easy *data = conn->data;
   struct connectbundle *bundle = conn->bundle;
+  struct conncache *connc = data->state.conn_cache;
 
   /* The bundle pointer can be NULL, since this function can be called
      due to a failed connection attempt, before being added to a bundle */
   if(bundle) {
-    CONN_LOCK(conn->data);
+    if(lock) {
+      CONN_LOCK(conn->data);
+    }
     bundle_remove_conn(bundle, conn);
     if(bundle->num_connections == 0)
       conncache_remove_bundle(connc, bundle);
-    CONN_UNLOCK(conn->data);
+    conn->bundle = NULL; /* removed from it */
     if(connc) {
-      connc->num_connections--;
-
+      connc->num_conn--;
       DEBUGF(infof(conn->data, "The cache now contains %"
                    CURL_FORMAT_CURL_OFF_TU " members\n",
-                   (curl_off_t) connc->num_connections));
+                   (curl_off_t) connc->num_conn));
+    }
+    if(lock) {
+      CONN_UNLOCK(conn->data);
     }
   }
 }
 
-/* This function iterates the entire connection cache and calls the
-   function func() with the connection pointer as the first argument
-   and the supplied 'param' argument as the other,
+/* This function iterates the entire connection cache and calls the function
+   func() with the connection pointer as the first argument and the supplied
+   'param' argument as the other.
+
+   The conncache lock is still held when the callback is called. It needs it,
+   so that it can safely continue traversing the lists once the callback
+   returns.
+
+   Returns 1 if the loop was aborted due to the callback's return code.
 
    Return 0 from func() to continue the loop, return 1 to abort it.
  */
-void Curl_conncache_foreach(struct Curl_easy *data,
+bool Curl_conncache_foreach(struct Curl_easy *data,
                             struct conncache *connc,
                             void *param,
                             int (*func)(struct connectdata *conn, void *param))
@@ -303,7 +360,7 @@ void Curl_conncache_foreach(struct Curl_easy *data,
   struct curl_hash_element *he;
 
   if(!connc)
-    return;
+    return FALSE;
 
   CONN_LOCK(data);
   Curl_hash_start_iterate(&connc->hash, &iter);
@@ -324,11 +381,12 @@ void Curl_conncache_foreach(struct Curl_easy *data,
 
       if(1 == func(conn, param)) {
         CONN_UNLOCK(data);
-        return;
+        return TRUE;
       }
     }
   }
   CONN_UNLOCK(data);
+  return FALSE;
 }
 
 /* Return the first connection found in the cache. Used when closing all
@@ -363,16 +421,104 @@ Curl_conncache_find_first_connection(struct conncache *connc)
 }
 
 /*
- * This function finds the connection in the connection
- * cache that has been unused for the longest time.
+ * Give ownership of a connection back to the connection cache. Might
+ * disconnect the oldest existing in there to make space.
+ *
+ * Return TRUE if stored, FALSE if closed.
+ */
+bool Curl_conncache_return_conn(struct connectdata *conn)
+{
+  struct Curl_easy *data = conn->data;
+
+  /* data->multi->maxconnects can be negative, deal with it. */
+  size_t maxconnects =
+    (data->multi->maxconnects < 0) ? data->multi->num_easy * 4:
+    data->multi->maxconnects;
+  struct connectdata *conn_candidate = NULL;
+
+  if(maxconnects > 0 &&
+     Curl_conncache_size(data) > maxconnects) {
+    infof(data, "Connection cache is full, closing the oldest one.\n");
+
+    conn_candidate = Curl_conncache_extract_oldest(data);
+
+    if(conn_candidate) {
+      /* Set the connection's owner correctly */
+      conn_candidate->data = data;
+
+      /* the winner gets the honour of being disconnected */
+      (void)Curl_disconnect(conn_candidate, /* dead_connection */ FALSE);
+    }
+  }
+  CONN_LOCK(data);
+  conn->inuse = FALSE; /* Mark the connection unused */
+  CONN_UNLOCK(data);
+
+  return (conn_candidate == conn) ? FALSE : TRUE;
+
+}
+
+/*
+ * This function finds the connection in the connection bundle that has been
+ * unused for the longest time.
+ *
+ * Does not lock the connection cache!
  *
  * Returns the pointer to the oldest idle connection, or NULL if none was
  * found.
  */
 struct connectdata *
-Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(struct Curl_easy *data)
+Curl_conncache_extract_bundle(struct Curl_easy *data,
+                              struct connectbundle *bundle)
+{
+  struct curl_llist_element *curr;
+  timediff_t highscore = -1;
+  timediff_t score;
+  struct curltime now;
+  struct connectdata *conn_candidate = NULL;
+  struct connectdata *conn;
+
+  (void)data;
+
+  now = Curl_now();
+
+  curr = bundle->conn_list.head;
+  while(curr) {
+    conn = curr->ptr;
+
+    if(!conn->inuse) {
+      /* Set higher score for the age passed since the connection was used */
+      score = Curl_timediff(now, conn->now);
+
+      if(score > highscore) {
+        highscore = score;
+        conn_candidate = conn;
+      }
+    }
+    curr = curr->next;
+  }
+  if(conn_candidate) {
+    /* remove it to prevent another thread from nicking it */
+    bundle_remove_conn(bundle, conn_candidate);
+    data->state.conn_cache->num_conn--;
+    DEBUGF(infof(data, "The cache now contains %"
+                 CURL_FORMAT_CURL_OFF_TU " members\n",
+                 (curl_off_t) data->state.conn_cache->num_conn));
+  }
+
+  return conn_candidate;
+}
+
+/*
+ * This function finds the connection in the connection cache that has been
+ * unused for the longest time and extracts that from the bundle.
+ *
+ * Returns the pointer to the connection, or NULL if none was found.
+ */
+struct connectdata *
+Curl_conncache_extract_oldest(struct Curl_easy *data)
 {
-  struct conncache *bc = data->state.conn_cache;
+  struct conncache *connc = data->state.conn_cache;
   struct curl_hash_iterator iter;
   struct curl_llist_element *curr;
   struct curl_hash_element *he;
@@ -381,11 +527,12 @@ Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(struct Curl_easy *data)
   struct curltime now;
   struct connectdata *conn_candidate = NULL;
   struct connectbundle *bundle;
+  struct connectbundle *bundle_candidate = NULL;
 
   now = Curl_now();
 
   CONN_LOCK(data);
-  Curl_hash_start_iterate(&bc->hash, &iter);
+  Curl_hash_start_iterate(&connc->hash, &iter);
 
   he = Curl_hash_next_element(&iter);
   while(he) {
@@ -404,6 +551,7 @@ Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(struct Curl_easy *data)
         if(score > highscore) {
           highscore = score;
           conn_candidate = conn;
+          bundle_candidate = bundle;
         }
       }
       curr = curr->next;
@@ -411,6 +559,14 @@ Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(struct Curl_easy *data)
 
     he = Curl_hash_next_element(&iter);
   }
+  if(conn_candidate) {
+    /* remove it to prevent another thread from nicking it */
+    bundle_remove_conn(bundle_candidate, conn_candidate);
+    connc->num_conn--;
+    DEBUGF(infof(data, "The cache now contains %"
+                 CURL_FORMAT_CURL_OFF_TU " members\n",
+                 (curl_off_t) connc->num_conn));
+  }
   CONN_UNLOCK(data);
 
   return conn_candidate;
diff --git a/lib/conncache.h b/lib/conncache.h
index 0d97a6cef..d8ad80f96 100644
--- a/lib/conncache.h
+++ b/lib/conncache.h
@@ -23,9 +23,15 @@
  *
  ***************************************************************************/
 
+/*
+ * All accesses to struct fields and changing of data in the connection cache
+ * and connectbundles must be done with the conncache LOCKED. The cache might
+ * be shared.
+ */
+
 struct conncache {
   struct curl_hash hash;
-  size_t num_connections;
+  size_t num_conn;
   long next_connection_id;
   struct curltime last_cleanup;
   /* handle used for closing cached connections */
@@ -50,14 +56,17 @@ void Curl_conncache_destroy(struct conncache *connc);
 /* return the correct bundle, to a host or a proxy */
 struct connectbundle *Curl_conncache_find_bundle(struct connectdata *conn,
                                                  struct conncache *connc);
+void Curl_conncache_unlock(struct connectdata *conn);
+/* returns number of connections currently held in the connection cache */
+size_t Curl_conncache_size(struct Curl_easy *data);
+size_t Curl_conncache_bundle_size(struct connectdata *conn);
 
+bool Curl_conncache_return_conn(struct connectdata *conn);
 CURLcode Curl_conncache_add_conn(struct conncache *connc,
                                  struct connectdata *conn);
-
-void Curl_conncache_remove_conn(struct conncache *connc,
-                                struct connectdata *conn);
-
-void Curl_conncache_foreach(struct Curl_easy *data,
+void Curl_conncache_remove_conn(struct connectdata *conn,
+                                bool lock);
+bool Curl_conncache_foreach(struct Curl_easy *data,
                             struct conncache *connc,
                             void *param,
                             int (*func)(struct connectdata *conn,
@@ -67,7 +76,10 @@ struct connectdata *
 Curl_conncache_find_first_connection(struct conncache *connc);
 
 struct connectdata *
-Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(struct Curl_easy *data);
+Curl_conncache_extract_bundle(struct Curl_easy *data,
+                              struct connectbundle *bundle);
+struct connectdata *
+Curl_conncache_extract_oldest(struct Curl_easy *data);
 void Curl_conncache_close_all_connections(struct conncache *connc);
 void Curl_conncache_print(struct conncache *connc);
 
diff --git a/lib/multi.c b/lib/multi.c
index 9728e5a2f..1a4618eb2 100644
--- a/lib/multi.c
+++ b/lib/multi.c
@@ -479,38 +479,6 @@ static void debug_print_sock_hash(void *p)
 }
 #endif
 
-/* Mark the connection as 'idle', or close it if the cache is full.
-   Returns TRUE if the connection is kept, or FALSE if it was closed. */
-static bool
-ConnectionDone(struct Curl_easy *data, struct connectdata *conn)
-{
-  /* data->multi->maxconnects can be negative, deal with it. */
-  size_t maxconnects =
-    (data->multi->maxconnects < 0) ? data->multi->num_easy * 4:
-    data->multi->maxconnects;
-  struct connectdata *conn_candidate = NULL;
-
-  /* Mark the current connection as 'unused' */
-  conn->inuse = FALSE;
-
-  if(maxconnects > 0 &&
-     data->state.conn_cache->num_connections > maxconnects) {
-    infof(data, "Connection cache is full, closing the oldest one.\n");
-
-    conn_candidate = Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(data);
-
-    if(conn_candidate) {
-      /* Set the connection's owner correctly */
-      conn_candidate->data = data;
-
-      /* the winner gets the honour of being disconnected */
-      (void)Curl_disconnect(conn_candidate, /* dead_connection */ FALSE);
-    }
-  }
-
-  return (conn_candidate == conn) ? FALSE : TRUE;
-}
-
 static CURLcode multi_done(struct connectdata **connp,
                           CURLcode status,  /* an error if this is called
                                                after an error was detected */
@@ -621,17 +589,21 @@ static CURLcode multi_done(struct connectdata **connp,
       result = res2;
   }
   else {
+    char buffer[256];
+    /* create string before returning the connection */
+    snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer),
+             "Connection #%ld to host %s left intact",
+             conn->connection_id,
+             conn->bits.socksproxy ? conn->socks_proxy.host.dispname :
+             conn->bits.httpproxy ? conn->http_proxy.host.dispname :
+             conn->bits.conn_to_host ? conn->conn_to_host.dispname :
+             conn->host.dispname);
+
     /* the connection is no longer in use */
-    if(ConnectionDone(data, conn)) {
+    if(Curl_conncache_return_conn(conn)) {
       /* remember the most recently used connection */
       data->state.lastconnect = conn;
-
-      infof(data, "Connection #%ld to host %s left intact\n",
-            conn->connection_id,
-            conn->bits.socksproxy ? conn->socks_proxy.host.dispname :
-            conn->bits.httpproxy ? conn->http_proxy.host.dispname :
-            conn->bits.conn_to_host ? conn->conn_to_host.dispname :
-            conn->host.dispname);
+      infof(data, "%s\n", buffer);
     }
     else
       data->state.lastconnect = NULL;
@@ -1357,16 +1329,16 @@ static CURLMcode multi_runsingle(struct Curl_multi *multi,
     }
 
     if(data->easy_conn && data->mstate > CURLM_STATE_CONNECT &&
-       data->mstate < CURLM_STATE_COMPLETED)
+       data->mstate < CURLM_STATE_COMPLETED) {
       /* Make sure we set the connection's current owner */
       data->easy_conn->data = data;
+    }
 
     if(data->easy_conn &&
        (data->mstate >= CURLM_STATE_CONNECT) &&
        (data->mstate < CURLM_STATE_COMPLETED)) {
       /* we need to wait for the connect state as only then is the start time
          stored, but we must not check already completed handles */
-
       timeout_ms = Curl_timeleft(data, &now,
                                  (data->mstate <= CURLM_STATE_WAITDO)?
                                  TRUE:FALSE);
diff --git a/lib/url.c b/lib/url.c
index 731e67e17..b38e88eec 100644
--- a/lib/url.c
+++ b/lib/url.c
@@ -127,10 +127,6 @@ bool curl_win32_idn_to_ascii(const char *in, char **out);
 #include "curl_memory.h"
 #include "memdebug.h"
 
-/* Local static prototypes */
-static struct connectdata *
-find_oldest_idle_connection_in_bundle(struct Curl_easy *data,
-                                      struct connectbundle *bundle);
 static void conn_free(struct connectdata *conn);
 static void free_fixed_hostname(struct hostname *host);
 static void signalPipeClose(struct curl_llist *pipeline, bool pipe_broke);
@@ -722,7 +718,6 @@ static void conn_free(struct connectdata *conn)
 #ifdef USE_SSL
   Curl_safefree(conn->ssl_extra);
 #endif
-
   free(conn); /* free all the connection oriented data */
 }
 
@@ -777,7 +772,7 @@ CURLcode Curl_disconnect(struct connectdata *conn, bool dead_connection)
 
     /* unlink ourselves! */
   infof(data, "Closing connection %ld\n", conn->connection_id);
-  Curl_conncache_remove_conn(data->state.conn_cache, conn);
+  Curl_conncache_remove_conn(conn, TRUE);
 
   free_fixed_hostname(&conn->host);
   free_fixed_hostname(&conn->conn_to_host);
@@ -943,56 +938,17 @@ proxy_info_matches(const struct proxy_info* data,
   return FALSE;
 }
 
-
 /*
- * This function finds the connection in the connection
- * bundle that has been unused for the longest time.
+ * This function checks if the given connection is dead and extracts it from
+ * the connection cache if so.
  *
- * Returns the pointer to the oldest idle connection, or NULL if none was
- * found.
- */
-static struct connectdata *
-find_oldest_idle_connection_in_bundle(struct Curl_easy *data,
-                                      struct connectbundle *bundle)
-{
-  struct curl_llist_element *curr;
-  timediff_t highscore = -1;
-  timediff_t score;
-  struct curltime now;
-  struct connectdata *conn_candidate = NULL;
-  struct connectdata *conn;
-
-  (void)data;
-
-  now = Curl_now();
-
-  curr = bundle->conn_list.head;
-  while(curr) {
-    conn = curr->ptr;
-
-    if(!conn->inuse) {
-      /* Set higher score for the age passed since the connection was used */
-      score = Curl_timediff(now, conn->now);
-
-      if(score > highscore) {
-        highscore = score;
-        conn_candidate = conn;
-      }
-    }
-    curr = curr->next;
-  }
-
-  return conn_candidate;
-}
-
-/*
- * This function checks if given connection is dead and disconnects if so.
- * (That also removes it from the connection cache.)
+ * When this is called as a Curl_conncache_foreach() callback, the connection
+ * cache lock is held!
  *
- * Returns TRUE if the connection actually was dead and disconnected.
+ * Returns TRUE if the connection was dead and extracted.
  */
-static bool disconnect_if_dead(struct connectdata *conn,
-                               struct Curl_easy *data)
+static bool extract_if_dead(struct connectdata *conn,
+                            struct Curl_easy *data)
 {
   size_t pipeLen = conn->send_pipe.size + conn->recv_pipe.size;
   if(!pipeLen && !conn->inuse) {
@@ -1017,25 +973,30 @@ static bool disconnect_if_dead(struct connectdata *conn,
     if(dead) {
       conn->data = data;
       infof(data, "Connection %ld seems to be dead!\n", conn->connection_id);
-
-      /* disconnect resources */
-      Curl_disconnect(conn, /* dead_connection */TRUE);
+      Curl_conncache_remove_conn(conn, FALSE);
       return TRUE;
     }
   }
   return FALSE;
 }
 
+struct prunedead {
+  struct Curl_easy *data;
+  struct connectdata *extracted;
+};
+
 /*
- * Wrapper to use disconnect_if_dead() function in Curl_conncache_foreach()
+ * Wrapper to use extract_if_dead() function in Curl_conncache_foreach()
  *
- * Returns always 0.
  */
-static int call_disconnect_if_dead(struct connectdata *conn,
-                                      void *param)
+static int call_extract_if_dead(struct connectdata *conn, void *param)
 {
-  struct Curl_easy* data = (struct Curl_easy*)param;
-  disconnect_if_dead(conn, data);
+  struct prunedead *p = (struct prunedead *)param;
+  if(extract_if_dead(conn, p->data)) {
+    /* stop the iteration here, pass back the connection that was extracted */
+    p->extracted = conn;
+    return 1;
+  }
   return 0; /* continue iteration */
 }
 
@@ -1050,8 +1011,14 @@ static void prune_dead_connections(struct Curl_easy *data)
   time_t elapsed = Curl_timediff(now, data->state.conn_cache->last_cleanup);
 
   if(elapsed >= 1000L) {
-    Curl_conncache_foreach(data, data->state.conn_cache, data,
-                           call_disconnect_if_dead);
+    struct prunedead prune;
+    prune.data = data;
+    prune.extracted = NULL;
+    while(Curl_conncache_foreach(data, data->state.conn_cache, &prune,
+                                 call_extract_if_dead)) {
+      /* disconnect it */
+      (void)Curl_disconnect(prune.extracted, /* dead_connection */TRUE);
+    }
     data->state.conn_cache->last_cleanup = now;
   }
 }
@@ -1106,8 +1073,8 @@ ConnectionExists(struct Curl_easy *data,
      Curl_pipeline_site_blacklisted(data, needle))
     canpipe &= ~ CURLPIPE_HTTP1;
 
-  /* Look up the bundle with all the connections to this
-     particular host */
+  /* Look up the bundle with all the connections to this particular host.
+     Locks the connection cache, beware of early returns! */
   bundle = Curl_conncache_find_bundle(needle, data->state.conn_cache);
   if(bundle) {
     /* Max pipe length is zero (unlimited) for multiplexed connections */
@@ -1130,6 +1097,7 @@ ConnectionExists(struct Curl_easy *data,
         if((bundle->multiuse == BUNDLE_UNKNOWN) && data->set.pipewait) {
           infof(data, "Server doesn't support multi-use yet, wait\n");
           *waitpipe = TRUE;
+          Curl_conncache_unlock(needle);
           return FALSE; /* no re-use */
         }
 
@@ -1161,8 +1129,11 @@ ConnectionExists(struct Curl_easy *data,
       check = curr->ptr;
       curr = curr->next;
 
-      if(disconnect_if_dead(check, data))
+      if(extract_if_dead(check, data)) {
+        /* disconnect it */
+        (void)Curl_disconnect(check, /* dead_connection */TRUE);
         continue;
+      }
 
       pipeLen = check->send_pipe.size + check->recv_pipe.size;
 
@@ -1479,9 +1450,13 @@ ConnectionExists(struct Curl_easy *data,
   }
 
   if(chosen) {
+    /* mark it as used before releasing the lock */
+    chosen->inuse = TRUE;
+    Curl_conncache_unlock(needle);
     *usethis = chosen;
     return TRUE; /* yes, we found one to use! */
   }
+  Curl_conncache_unlock(needle);
 
   if(foundPendingCandidate && data->set.pipewait) {
     infof(data,
@@ -4409,20 +4384,21 @@ static CURLcode create_conn(struct Curl_easy *data,
   else
     reuse = ConnectionExists(data, conn, &conn_temp, &force_reuse, &waitpipe);
 
-  /* If we found a reusable connection, we may still want to
-     open a new connection if we are pipelining. */
+  /* If we found a reusable connection that is now marked as in use, we may
+     still want to open a new connection if we are pipelining. */
   if(reuse && !force_reuse && IsPipeliningPossible(data, conn_temp)) {
     size_t pipelen = conn_temp->send_pipe.size + conn_temp->recv_pipe.size;
     if(pipelen > 0) {
       infof(data, "Found connection %ld, with requests in the pipe (%zu)\n",
             conn_temp->connection_id, pipelen);
 
-      if(conn_temp->bundle->num_connections < max_host_connections &&
-         data->state.conn_cache->num_connections < max_total_connections) {
+      if(Curl_conncache_bundle_size(conn_temp) < max_host_connections &&
+         Curl_conncache_size(data) < max_total_connections) {
         /* We want a new connection anyway */
         reuse = FALSE;
 
         infof(data, "We can reuse, but we want a new connection anyway\n");
+        Curl_conncache_return_conn(conn_temp);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -4434,8 +4410,6 @@ static CURLcode create_conn(struct Curl_easy *data,
      * just allocated before we can move along and use the previously
      * existing one.
      */
-    conn_temp->inuse = TRUE; /* mark this as being in use so that no other
-                                handle in a multi stack may nick it */
     reuse_conn(conn, conn_temp);
 #ifdef USE_SSL
     free(conn->ssl_extra);
@@ -4455,7 +4429,6 @@ static CURLcode create_conn(struct Curl_easy *data,
     /* We have decided that we want a new connection. However, we may not
        be able to do that if we have reached the limit of how many
        connections we are allowed to open. */
-    struct connectbundle *bundle = NULL;
 
     if(conn->handler->flags & PROTOPT_ALPN_NPN) {
       /* The protocol wants it, so set the bits if enabled in the easy handle
@@ -4470,35 +4443,42 @@ static CURLcode create_conn(struct Curl_easy *data,
       /* There is a connection that *might* become usable for pipelining
          "soon", and we wait for that */
       connections_available = FALSE;
-    else
-      bundle = Curl_conncache_find_bundle(conn, data->state.conn_cache);
-
-    if(max_host_connections > 0 && bundle &&
-       (bundle->num_connections >= max_host_connections)) {
-      struct connectdata *conn_candidate;
-
-      /* The bundle is full. Let's see if we can kill a connection. */
-      conn_candidate = find_oldest_idle_connection_in_bundle(data, bundle);
-
-      if(conn_candidate) {
-        /* Set the connection's owner correctly, then kill it */
-        conn_candidate->data = data;
-        (void)Curl_disconnect(conn_candidate, /* dead_connection */ FALSE);
-      }
-      else {
-        infof(data, "No more connections allowed to host: %d\n",
-              max_host_connections);
-        connections_available = FALSE;
+    else {
+      /* this gets a lock on the conncache */
+      struct connectbundle *bundle =
+        Curl_conncache_find_bundle(conn, data->state.conn_cache);
+
+      if(max_host_connections > 0 && bundle &&
+         (bundle->num_connections >= max_host_connections)) {
+        struct connectdata *conn_candidate;
+
+        /* The bundle is full. Extract the oldest connection. */
+        conn_candidate = Curl_conncache_extract_bundle(data, bundle);
+        Curl_conncache_unlock(conn);
+
+        if(conn_candidate) {
+          /* Set the connection's owner correctly, then kill it */
+          conn_candidate->data = data;
+          (void)Curl_disconnect(conn_candidate, /* dead_connection */ FALSE);
+        }
+        else {
+          infof(data, "No more connections allowed to host: %d\n",
+                max_host_connections);
+          connections_available = FALSE;
+        }
       }
+      else
+        Curl_conncache_unlock(conn);
+
     }
 
     if(connections_available &&
        (max_total_connections > 0) &&
-       (data->state.conn_cache->num_connections >= max_total_connections)) {
+       (Curl_conncache_size(data) >= max_total_connections)) {
       struct connectdata *conn_candidate;
 
       /* The cache is full. Let's see if we can kill a connection. */
-      conn_candidate = Curl_conncache_oldest_idle(data);
+      conn_candidate = Curl_conncache_extract_oldest(data);
 
       if(conn_candidate) {
         /* Set the connection's owner correctly, then kill it */
@@ -4521,6 +4501,9 @@ static CURLcode create_conn(struct Curl_easy *data,
       goto out;
     }
     else {
+      /* Mark the connection as used, before we add it */
+      conn->inuse = TRUE;
+
       /*
        * This is a brand new connection, so let's store it in the connection
        * cache of ours!
@@ -4548,9 +4531,6 @@ static CURLcode create_conn(struct Curl_easy *data,
 #endif
   }
 
-  /* Mark the connection as used */
-  conn->inuse = TRUE;
-
   /* Setup and init stuff before DO starts, in preparing for the transfer. */
   Curl_init_do(data, conn);
 
diff --git a/lib/urldata.h b/lib/urldata.h
index ed6bbb4f0..19cb6cafd 100644
--- a/lib/urldata.h
+++ b/lib/urldata.h
@@ -775,9 +775,10 @@ struct connectdata {
   void *closesocket_client;
 
   bool inuse; /* This is a marker for the connection cache logic. If this is
-                 TRUE this handle is being used by an easy handle and cannot
-                 be used by any other easy handle without careful
-                 consideration (== only for pipelining). */
+                 TRUE this handle is being used by one or more easy handles
+                 and can only used by any other easy handle without careful
+                 consideration (== only for pipelining/multiplexing) and it
+                 cannot be used by another multi handle! */
 
   /**** Fields set when inited and not modified again */
   long connection_id; /* Contains a unique number to make it easier to
@@ -1325,6 +1326,9 @@ struct UrlState {
   struct Curl_easy *stream_depends_on;
   bool stream_depends_e; /* set or don't set the Exclusive bit */
   int stream_weight;
+#ifdef CURLDEBUG
+  bool conncache_lock;
+#endif
 };
 
 
diff --git a/tests/data/test1554 b/tests/data/test1554
index 8739b2c8a..06f189724 100644
--- a/tests/data/test1554
+++ b/tests/data/test1554
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ run 1: foobar and so on fun!
 <- Mutex unlock
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
+run 1: foobar and so on fun!
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
-run 1: foobar and so on fun!
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
 -> Mutex lock
@@ -47,11 +47,19 @@ run 1: foobar and so on fun!
 <- Mutex unlock
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
+-> Mutex lock
+<- Mutex unlock
+-> Mutex lock
+<- Mutex unlock
 run 1: foobar and so on fun!
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
 -> Mutex lock
 <- Mutex unlock
+-> Mutex lock
+<- Mutex unlock
+-> Mutex lock
+<- Mutex unlock
 </datacheck>
 </reply>