CVE-2026-72452 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/i915: clear CRTC color blob pointers after dropping refs
intel_crtc_put_color_blobs() drops the CRTC color blob references, but leaves the corresponding pointers unchanged.
This can matter in intel_crtc_prepare_cleared_state(), which frees the old CRTC hw state before calling intel_dp_tunnel_atomic_clear_stream_bw(). The latter can fail while looking up the DP tunnel group state, for example with -EDEADLK.
If that happens, the function returns without completing the cleared state preparation. The failed atomic state will then be cleared by the atomic core and intel_crtc_free_hw_state() can be called again for the same state, dropping the same blob references again.
Clear the blob pointers after dropping the references so repeated cleanup of the same CRTC hw state is safe.
(cherry picked from commit d5005addb5f68e8a0edce249506757bdc9e3d8c8)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2026
The vulnerability resides in the intel graphics driver within the linux kernel, specifically affecting the drm/i915 subsystem responsible for managing display hardware. This issue manifests as a double-free or use-after-free condition that can occur during atomic state management operations on intel CRTC (Cathode Ray Tube Controller) hardware. The root cause stems from improper handling of reference counting for color blob objects within the graphics pipeline, creating potential security implications through resource exhaustion or memory corruption.
The technical flaw occurs in the intel_crtc_put_color_blobs() function which correctly drops references to CRTC color blob objects but fails to clear the corresponding pointer variables. This creates a scenario where the same blob references can be dropped multiple times during cleanup operations. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when intel_crtc_prepare_cleared_state() executes, which first frees old hardware state and then calls intel_dp_tunnel_atomic_clear_stream_bw(). When this latter function encounters an error such as -EDEADLK during DP tunnel group state lookup, it returns without completing the cleanup process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource management issues into potential system instability and security risks. During atomic state preparation failures, the atomic core will attempt to clear the failed state, leading to repeated calls to intel_crtc_free_hw_state() for identical hardware state objects. This repeated cleanup process causes the same blob references to be dropped multiple times, potentially leading to memory corruption or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-threaded graphics environments where concurrent access to shared hardware state can amplify the risk of race conditions.
The fix implements proper pointer clearing after reference dropping, ensuring that repeated cleanup operations on the same CRTC hardware state remain safe and prevent the double-reference decrement scenario. This remediation aligns with security best practices for reference counting implementations and follows established patterns in kernel development for preventing use-after-free vulnerabilities. The solution addresses a fundamental flaw in resource management that could be exploited to cause system instability or potentially enable privilege escalation attacks through memory corruption, making it critical for all systems running affected intel graphics drivers.
This vulnerability classifies under CWE-415 as Double Free and CWE-416 as Use After Free, representing serious memory safety issues in kernel space code. The attack surface is primarily through graphics processing operations involving atomic state management, with potential ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through kernel memory corruption and denial of service via system instability. The fix ensures proper resource lifecycle management and prevents the accumulation of invalid references that could be leveraged by malicious actors to compromise system integrity or availability.