CVE-2024-41008 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amdgpu: change vm->task_info handling
This patch changes the handling and lifecycle of vm->task_info object. The major changes are: - vm->task_info is a dynamically allocated ptr now, and its uasge is reference counted. - introducing two new helper funcs for task_info lifecycle management - amdgpu_vm_get_task_info: reference counts up task_info before returning this info - amdgpu_vm_put_task_info: reference counts down task_info - last put to task_info() frees task_info from the vm.
This patch also does logistical changes required for existing usage of vm->task_info.
V2: Do not block all the prints when task_info not found (Felix)
V3: Fixed review comments from Felix - Fix wrong indentation - No debug message for -ENOMEM - Add NULL check for task_info - Do not duplicate the debug messages (ti vs no ti) - Get first reference of task_info in vm_init(), put last in vm_fini()
V4: Fixed review comments from Felix - fix double reference increment in create_task_info - change amdgpu_vm_get_task_info_pasid - additional changes in amdgpu_gem.c while porting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
The vulnerability addressed in CVE-2024-41008 relates to improper handling of virtual memory management structures within the AMDGPU display driver component of the Linux kernel. This issue specifically affects the drm/amdgpu subsystem where the vm->task_info object was previously managed without proper reference counting mechanisms, creating potential race conditions and memory management inconsistencies. The vulnerability stems from the lack of proper lifecycle management for dynamically allocated task information structures that are integral to GPU virtual memory operations and process tracking within the graphics subsystem.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of reference counting for the vm->task_info object, which previously led to potential use-after-free scenarios and memory corruption when multiple processes or threads attempted to access or modify the same virtual memory task information simultaneously. The patch implements a comprehensive reference counting system that introduces two dedicated helper functions for proper task_info lifecycle management. The amdgpu_vm_get_task_info function increments the reference count before returning task information to ensure the object remains valid during use, while amdgpu_vm_put_task_info decrements the reference count and frees the memory only when the last reference is released. This approach aligns with standard kernel memory management practices and prevents dangling pointer scenarios that could lead to privilege escalation or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory management issues to potentially affect system stability and security posture of Linux systems running AMDGPU graphics drivers. Improper handling of virtual memory structures could enable malicious processes to exploit race conditions during memory allocation and deallocation cycles, potentially leading to privilege escalation attacks or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects systems utilizing AMDGPU graphics hardware where display and graphics processing operations depend on proper virtual memory management. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges or cause system crashes through carefully crafted GPU operations that trigger the improper reference counting behavior, making this a critical security concern for enterprise and server environments using AMD graphics solutions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the kernel patch that implements proper reference counting for vm->task_info objects, ensuring that all affected systems receive the updated drm/amdgpu driver components. System administrators should prioritize patching affected kernel versions and monitor for any unusual system behavior or performance degradation that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper reference counting mechanisms addresses the underlying CWE-415 and CWE-416 vulnerabilities related to double free and use-after-free conditions, while also aligning with ATT&CK techniques targeting kernel-level privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for GPU-related memory operations and establish baseline performance metrics to detect potential exploitation attempts that might manifest as unusual memory allocation patterns or system stability issues. The patch also includes defensive programming improvements such as NULL checks and proper error handling for memory allocation failures, reducing the attack surface for related exploitation vectors.