Memory Leak in Linux Kernel GPU SVM

Executive Summary

This is a reference leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's GPU SVM (Shared Virtual Memory) component. When the function drm_gpusvm_range_evict() fails to allocate memory using kvmalloc_array(), it does not release an earlier acquired MM (memory management) reference, causing a memory leak.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's GPU SVM (Shared Virtual Memory) subsystem and involves a memory management reference leak. Detection requires checking kernel logs for errors related to drm_gpusvm_range_evict or kvmalloc_array failures. Commands like dmesg | grep -i drm_gpusvm or journalctl -k | grep -i drm_gpusvm may help identify issues.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could lead to gradual memory exhaustion in the system. Over time, the unreleased MM references may cause the kernel to run out of memory, potentially resulting in system instability, crashes, or degraded performance.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA as it is a memory management reference leak in the Linux kernel's GPU SVM functionality. It may indirectly impact compliance if the leak leads to system instability or crashes, potentially affecting data processing integrity.

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Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest kernel update provided by your Linux distribution to patch the drm/gpusvm reference leak in drm_gpusvm_range_evict. If immediate patching is not possible, monitor kernel logs for related errors and avoid running GPU-intensive workloads until the fix is applied.

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