CVE-2024-53086

What it actually does

Failure to release VM dma-resv lock when xe_sync_in_fence_get returns an error in the exec IOCTL leaves the lock held, creating a race condition that can result in deadlock or improper resource state in the drm/xe driver.

Why it matters to the business

Systems may experience graphics driver instability, application crashes, or denial of service during certain GPU operations, increasing downtime risk for workloads relying on the affected kernel code paths.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with local access crafts an exec IOCTL call that forces xe_sync_in_fence_get to fail, then exploits the unreleased lock to trigger a race that leads to deadlock or resource corruption; listed threat actors have targeted similar Linux kernel resource-handling flaws in espionage and financially motivated campaigns.

How to fix it

Apply the upstream fix that ensures all locks are dropped on xe_sync_in_fence_get failure; update to a kernel version containing commit 7d1a4258e602ffdce529f56686925034c1b3b095 or later equivalent backport.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the patch is present by checking the kernel source for the lock-release logic in xe_exec.c around the xe_sync_in_fence_get error path, or verify the running kernel version includes the referenced commit.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain local user privileges on a system running the vulnerable kernel
2. Trigger the exec IOCTL with parameters that cause xe_sync_in_fence_get to fail
3. Exploit the unreleased dma-resv lock to induce deadlock or race condition
4. Escalate to denial of service or attempt further privilege escalation

How to detect it

Review kernel logs for repeated drm/xe exec IOCTL failures followed by system hangs; examine audit logs for unusual local process activity targeting GPU device nodes around the time of instability.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize kernel updates on systems using the xe DRM driver
• Monitor for any downstream package updates that incorporate the fix
• Review local exploit mitigation controls such as kernel lockdown and seccomp until patched