Linux Kernel GPU Throttling Vulnerability in Arm64 Qcom X1E80100

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel for the arm64 architecture, specifically in the Qualcomm X1E80100 device tree, has been addressed. The issue arose because the GPU does not automatically reduce its speed upon reaching high temperatures, unlike the CPU. Under certain heavy GPU loads, temperatures could escalate to the critical shutdown point of 120°C, risking hardware damage and disrupting the performance of some applications. The vulnerability has been mitigated by introducing a cooling mechanism for the GPU, similar to existing ACPI table protocols. This new system throttles GPU speed at 95°C and includes a polling interval of 200 milliseconds.

Impact

The vulnerability could lead to overheating of the GPU, reaching critical shutdown temperatures, and causing potential hardware damage. This overheating issue could also disrupt the normal operation of applications relying on GPU performance.