From 1ec9bce2679a272873ca3f35c90d7e2272f40064 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Abtin Keshavarzian <abtink@google.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 10:25:42 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] [mle] ignore Child Update Request when detached (#11656)

This commit updates `Mle` to ensure that a device ignores a
received "Child Update Request" message if it is currently detached.
This prevents the device from sending a "Child Update Response" in
this state. This behavior is particularly important when a device is
trying to restore its previous role as a router or leader.
---
 src/core/thread/mle.cpp | 12 ++++++++----
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
index c7c78fbc1..300aed091 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
@@ -3350,16 +3350,20 @@ exit:
 
 void Mle::HandleChildUpdateRequest(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 {
+    VerifyOrExit(IsAttached());
+
 #if OPENTHREAD_FTD
     if (IsRouterOrLeader())
     {
         HandleChildUpdateRequestOnParent(aRxInfo);
+        ExitNow();
     }
-    else
 #endif
-    {
-        HandleChildUpdateRequestOnChild(aRxInfo);
-    }
+
+    HandleChildUpdateRequestOnChild(aRxInfo);
+
+exit:
+    return;
 }
 
 void Mle::HandleChildUpdateRequestOnChild(RxInfo &aRxInfo)