CVE-2024-27411 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/nouveau: keep DMA buffers required for suspend/resume
Nouveau deallocates a few buffers post GPU init which are required for GPU suspend/resume to function correctly. This is likely not as big an issue on systems where the NVGPU is the only GPU, but on multi-GPU set ups it leads to a regression where the kernel module errors and results in a system-wide rendering freeze.
This commit addresses that regression by moving the two buffers required for suspend and resume to be deallocated at driver unload instead of post init.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27411 affects the Linux kernel's nouveau graphics driver implementation within the direct rendering manager subsystem. This issue represents a critical regression in multi-GPU system configurations where the nouveau driver improperly deallocates essential DMA buffers during the GPU initialization phase. The flaw occurs when the driver removes buffers that are subsequently required for proper suspend and resume functionality, creating a fundamental conflict in the graphics subsystem's ability to manage GPU states correctly. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where the nouveau driver operates alongside other graphics hardware, making it particularly problematic in enterprise and workstation environments where multiple GPUs are commonly deployed.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the nouveau driver's memory management strategy during GPU initialization. During normal operation, the driver allocates DMA buffers to handle graphics operations and suspend/resume functionality, but it incorrectly deallocates certain buffers after the initial GPU setup phase. This premature deallocation leaves the system unable to properly restore GPU state when transitioning from suspend to resume modes. The issue manifests as kernel module errors that propagate throughout the graphics subsystem, ultimately resulting in complete rendering freezes across the entire system. According to CWE-459, this represents a partial cleanup vulnerability where resources are not properly maintained for their intended duration, while the behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1547.001 for privilege escalation through kernel module manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple rendering failures to encompass complete system stability issues in multi-GPU configurations. When the kernel module encounters errors during suspend/resume operations, the entire graphics pipeline becomes unresponsive, forcing users to perform hard reboots to recover system functionality. This regression particularly affects enterprise workstations, gaming systems, and servers that rely on multiple graphics processing units for various workloads. The vulnerability creates a cascading failure effect where graphics applications become unresponsive, desktop environments freeze, and system monitoring tools may fail to report proper status information. The issue is exacerbated in virtualized environments where GPU passthrough configurations depend on proper suspend/resume handling for resource management.
The resolution implemented in this fix addresses the core memory management issue by modifying the nouveau driver's buffer deallocation strategy. Instead of deallocating the critical DMA buffers during the post-initialization phase, the fix ensures these buffers remain allocated until the driver is explicitly unloaded from the system. This change maintains the required resources for suspend/resume operations while preserving the driver's ability to manage memory efficiently during normal operation. The mitigation approach follows established kernel development practices for resource lifecycle management and aligns with industry standards for graphics driver stability. System administrators should apply the updated kernel version containing this fix to prevent the regression from occurring in multi-GPU environments, particularly in mission-critical systems where graphics stability is essential for operations continuity. The fix demonstrates proper adherence to security best practices by ensuring that required kernel resources remain available for their intended operational period while maintaining system security posture.