CVE-2026-72361 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/xe/hw_engine: Fix double-free of managed BO in error path
The error path in hw_engine_init() explicitly frees a BO allocated with xe_managed_bo_create_pin_map() via xe_bo_unpin_map_no_vm(). Since the managed BO already has a devm cleanup action registered, this causes a double-free when devm unwinds during probe failure.
Remove the explicit free and let devm handle it, consistent with all other xe_managed_bo_create_pin_map() callers.
(cherry picked from commit e459a3bdeb117be496d7f229e2ea1f6c9fe4080b)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2026
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's graphics driver subsystem, specifically within the x86 graphics engine implementation. The issue manifests as a double-free condition that occurs during error handling paths when initializing hardware engines. The problem stems from improper resource management practices where both explicit cleanup and automatic device memory cleanup mechanisms attempt to free the same memory object simultaneously.
The technical flaw resides in the hw_engine_init() function where a buffer object created through xe_managed_bo_create_pin_map() undergoes explicit freeing via xe_bo_unpin_map_no_vm() during error conditions. However, this buffer object also has a device memory cleanup action registered through the devm (device memory) framework which automatically handles resource deallocation when device probe operations fail. This dual cleanup mechanism creates a scenario where the same memory location gets freed twice, leading to potential system instability and memory corruption issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory management errors as it can cause kernel panics or system crashes during graphics driver initialization phases. When the device memory framework attempts to clean up resources after a failed probe operation, it encounters already-freed memory locations, resulting in undefined behavior that may compromise system stability. This particular issue affects systems utilizing Intel graphics hardware through the x86 engine subsystem and could potentially be exploited to cause denial of service conditions or memory corruption.
The fix addresses this vulnerability by removing the explicit free operation within the error path and allowing the device memory framework to handle all cleanup operations consistently. This approach aligns with established patterns used by other callers of xe_managed_bo_create_pin_map() function, ensuring uniform resource management practices throughout the codebase. The solution follows best practices for device memory management in Linux kernel drivers and prevents the double-free condition that could lead to system instability. This remediation ensures proper resource lifecycle management while maintaining consistency with the broader kernel's device memory handling conventions.
This vulnerability type maps to CWE-415: Double Free, which is classified as a memory safety issue affecting software systems through improper resource deallocation patterns. The fix demonstrates adherence to proper kernel driver development practices and follows the ATT&CK framework's system compromise techniques by preventing memory corruption that could lead to privilege escalation or system instability. The resolution maintains the integrity of the device memory management subsystem while ensuring consistent behavior across all driver initialization error paths.