CVE-2026-45202 Overview
CVE-2026-45202 is a local GPU driver vulnerability that allows a non-privileged user to trigger memory leaks and possible kernel heap corruption through crafted GPU system calls. The flaw stems from memory free paths that fail to maintain state data for upgraded higher-order allocations, resulting in memory leak or double free conditions [CWE-415]. Successful exploitation impacts system availability by corrupting the kernel heap or exhausting GPU memory. The vulnerability affects Imagination Technologies GPU driver components and is exploitable from a local context by any authenticated user who can issue GPU ioctls.
Critical Impact
A local, low-privileged attacker can induce kernel heap corruption or memory exhaustion by invoking GPU system calls, leading to denial of service on affected devices.
Affected Products
- Imagination Technologies GPU drivers (see vendor advisory for specific driver versions)
- Systems and devices integrating vulnerable Imagination GPU driver components
- Downstream OS and SoC vendors shipping the affected GPU driver stack
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-21 - CVE-2026-45202 published to NVD
- 2026-08-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-45202
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the GPU driver's memory management paths. When the allocator upgrades an allocation to a higher order to satisfy a request, the corresponding free paths do not consistently track that upgraded state. As a result, the driver can free the wrong-sized region or free the same region twice.
Because the affected code runs in kernel context, a double free or state mismatch [CWE-415] can corrupt kernel heap metadata. Repeated invocation can also leak GPU memory until the system becomes unresponsive. The attack requires only local access and low privileges, with no user interaction.
Confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted, but availability is impacted through kernel instability and resource exhaustion. On mobile and embedded devices where GPU drivers run with elevated kernel privileges, heap corruption may become a stepping stone in a broader exploit chain when combined with other primitives.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing state tracking in the free path for allocations that were upgraded to a higher order. The allocator promotes the allocation size to fit alignment or fragmentation requirements, but the metadata describing this promotion is not preserved. When the region is later released, the free path operates on stale or incorrect state, producing a leak on one path and a double free on another.
Attack Vector
An attacker executes unprivileged code on the target device and issues GPU system calls, typically through the driver's ioctl interface used by user-space graphics or compute libraries. By repeatedly triggering allocation and free sequences that exercise the higher-order upgrade path, the attacker forces the driver into the vulnerable state. Refer to the Imagination Technologies GPU Vulnerabilities advisory for technical details on affected interfaces.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-45202
Indicators of Compromise
- Kernel log entries referencing GPU driver allocation faults, double free warnings, or slab corruption messages.
- Unexplained GPU memory exhaustion or GPU driver resets on affected devices.
- Unprivileged processes issuing high volumes of GPU ioctl calls in short intervals.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor kernel ring buffer output (dmesg) for driver panics, BUG: messages, or KASAN reports tied to GPU driver symbols.
- Baseline normal GPU ioctl frequency per process and alert on sustained outliers from non-graphics workloads.
- Correlate GPU driver crashes with the invoking process and user identity via audit logs.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Collect kernel logs and crash dumps centrally for post-incident analysis.
- Track GPU memory utilization metrics and alert on sustained upward trends without matching workload.
- Watch for repeated driver restarts or device resets, which often precede successful heap corruption.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-45202
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the driver update published in the Imagination Technologies GPU Vulnerabilities advisory as soon as it is available for your platform.
- Restrict local access on affected systems to trusted users and remove unnecessary shell or code-execution paths for non-privileged accounts.
- Inventory devices using Imagination GPU drivers and prioritize patch rollout on shared or multi-user systems.
Patch Information
Imagination Technologies coordinates driver fixes with downstream SoC and OS vendors. Consult the vendor advisory linked above for the fixed driver versions, and obtain the patched build from your device manufacturer or Linux distribution.
Workarounds
- Limit which local users and processes can open the GPU device node by tightening file permissions on the driver's device files.
- Disable or unload the affected GPU driver on systems that do not require GPU acceleration until a patch is applied.
- Apply seccomp or LSM policies to constrain GPU ioctl usage by untrusted workloads and containers.
# Configuration example: restrict GPU device node access to a trusted group
sudo groupadd -r gpuusers
sudo chown root:gpuusers /dev/dri/renderD128
sudo chmod 0660 /dev/dri/renderD128
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
