CVE-2026-80608 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
accel/amdxdna: Fix iommu domain lifetime race during device removal
When force_iova mode is enabled, amdxdna_remove() frees xdna->domain. If amdxdna_gem_obj_free() is called after device removal, it may attempt to access xdna->domain, resulting in a use-after-free.
Fix the race by adding freeing xdna->domain as a managed release action, so its lifetime is managed by DRM and remains valid until all managed resources are released.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2026
The Linux kernel driver for AMD XDNA accelerators contains a critical concurrency flaw related to resource management during device removal operations. Specifically, the vulnerability arises within the amdxdna_remove function when the force_iova mode is enabled. In this configuration, the code path directly frees the memory associated with xdna->domain without ensuring that all dependent subsystems have completed their cleanup procedures. This premature deallocation creates a window of opportunity for race conditions where other kernel threads may still hold references to the now-invalid domain structure. The core issue lies in the lack of synchronization between the device removal process and the garbage collection or finalization routines of graphics execution manager objects, leading to potential memory corruption if access occurs after the free operation but before all references are cleared.
The operational impact manifests as a use-after-free vulnerability when amdxdna_gem_obj_free is invoked subsequent to the device removal sequence. Since GEM object management often operates asynchronously relative to driver unloading, there exists a scenario where an application or kernel subsystem attempts to release graphics execution manager objects after the underlying accelerator domain has already been deallocated. Accessing xdna->domain in this state results in undefined behavior, which can lead to system crashes, data corruption, or potentially exploitable conditions if an attacker can influence the timing of these operations through crafted workloads that trigger rapid device removal and object cleanup cycles. This type of flaw undermines kernel stability and poses a significant risk to systems relying on hardware acceleration for compute-intensive tasks.
To resolve this issue, the fix implements a managed resource release strategy by integrating xdna->domain freeing into the DRM managed action framework. By registering the domain deallocation as a managed release action, the lifetime of the memory is now tied to the lifecycle management provided by the Direct Rendering Manager subsystem rather than being handled manually during device removal. This ensures that the domain structure remains valid and accessible until all other managed resources associated with the driver instance have been properly released. This approach eliminates the race condition by guaranteeing proper ordering of cleanup operations, thereby preventing access to freed memory regardless of the execution order between device unloading and GEM object finalization routines.
From a security taxonomy perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes use-after-free errors resulting from improper management of pointer lifetimes in dynamic memory allocation scenarios. The exploitation vector typically involves triggering specific driver state transitions under concurrent load conditions, mapping to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically sub-techniques related to system scripting or command and control if the crash leads to denial-of-service that can be leveraged for availability attacks. Mitigation strategies include applying the kernel patch that enforces managed resource cleanup semantics. System administrators should ensure their Linux kernels are updated to versions containing this fix, particularly those utilizing AMD XDNA accelerators with force_iova mode enabled. Regular auditing of driver unload paths and ensuring strict adherence to lifecycle management protocols within kernel modules serves as a preventive measure against similar concurrency-related memory safety violations in future development cycles.