Executive brief
The Linux kernel's Xe graphics driver incorrectly allocates Display Page Tables (DPT) from stolen GPU memory, which can cause system hangs and display failures under load. This affects systems with Intel media GPUs where stolen memory allocation is not properly tracked and can be exhausted, resulting in visual corruption or complete system instability.
Technical details
A resource management flaw exists in the Xe DRM driver's DPT (Display Page Table) allocation logic. The driver previously attempted to allocate DPTs from stolen GPU memory, but this memory region lacks proper accounting and can be exhausted if multiple DPTs are created. Additionally, accessing stolen memory when the GT (Graphics Tile) is in low-power MC6 state introduces extra latency. The fix removes the fallback allocation attempt and stolen memory option entirely, restricting DPT allocation to VRAM on discrete GPUs or system memory on integrated GPUs. Systems running affected kernel versions (v6.12+) with Intel media GT may experience random hangs or black screens with pipe fault errors under graphics workload.
Affected products
- Linux Linux kernel v6.12+
Timeline
- 2026-09-09: disclosed: CVE published on NVD
- 2026-08-27: patched: Fix merged in stable kernel trees