CVE-2025-40069 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/msm: Fix obj leak in VM_BIND error path
If we fail a handle-lookup part way thru, we need to drop the already obtained obj references.
Patchwork: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/669784/
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-40069 represents a memory management issue within the Linux kernel's graphics subsystem, specifically affecting the msm (Mobile Station Module) driver component. This flaw manifests in the direct rendering manager framework where improper handling of object references occurs during virtual memory binding operations. The vulnerability stems from a failure to properly release previously acquired object references when an error condition is encountered during handle lookup processes, creating a scenario where memory resources remain allocated even after the operation should have been terminated.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition and resource management flaw within the drm/msm driver's VM_BIND error handling path. When the system attempts to bind virtual memory pages to graphics objects and encounters an error during the handle lookup phase, the code fails to properly decrement reference counts for objects that were already successfully acquired. This creates a memory leak where graphics objects remain in memory even though they should be freed, leading to gradual resource exhaustion over time. The issue is particularly concerning because it occurs in the kernel's graphics processing pathway, which is frequently accessed by graphics-intensive applications and system components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system stability and resource availability, particularly in environments running graphics-intensive workloads or embedded systems with limited memory resources. The memory leak could potentially lead to system performance degradation, application crashes, or in severe cases, system instability and resource exhaustion that might require manual intervention or system reboot. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by repeatedly triggering the error path to accelerate memory consumption, though the direct exploitation risk appears moderate as this is primarily a resource exhaustion issue rather than a privilege escalation vector.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-404, which addresses improper resource management, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for resource exhaustion. Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the upstream patch referenced in the patchwork link, which properly implements reference count management during error paths. System administrators should prioritize kernel updates and ensure that all graphics drivers are current with the latest security patches. Additionally, monitoring memory usage patterns and implementing automated alerts for unusual resource consumption can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular system audits should verify that all graphics subsystem components are properly updated, as this vulnerability affects the core kernel graphics infrastructure rather than user-space applications.