v24: discarded vm contexts cause OOM; possible V8 backport

[domenic]

Version

v24.21.0

Platform

Linux x86_64, kernel 6.8.0-139-generic

Subsystem

vm, V8

What steps will reproduce the bug?

Save as repro.mjs; run node --max-old-space-size=128 repro.mjs.

import { runInNewContext } from "node:vm";
import { setImmediate } from "node:timers/promises";

const source = `
  globalThis.payload = new Array(1_000_000).fill(0);
  ${Array.from({ length: 30 }, (_, index) => `
    function work${index}(values) {
      let result = 0;
      for (let i = 0; i < values.length; ++i) {
        result += Math.sqrt(values[i] * values[i] + ${index});
      }
      return result;
    }
  `).join("\n")}
  const values = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
  for (let i = 0; i < 1000; ++i) {
    ${Array.from({ length: 30 }, (_, index) => `work${index}(values);`).join("\n")}
  }
`;

for (let i = 0; i < 100; ++i) {
  runInNewContext(source + `\n// ${i}`);
  await setImmediate();
}
console.log("Completed");

How often does it reproduce? Is there a required condition?

Repeatedly on v24.15.0, v24.16.0, and v24.21.0. Completes on v22.23.2, v26.8.2, or with --no-concurrent-recompilation on v24.

What is the expected behavior? Why is that the expected behavior?

Print Completed; discarded contexts should be collectible.

What do you see instead?

FATAL ERROR: Reached heap limit Allocation failed - JavaScript heap out of memory

Additional information

This surfaced in jsdom’s WPT runner with the default ~4 GB heap; the smaller limit makes this reproduction quick. Sampled heap retainers point through V8’s IdentityMapBase to realm prototypes, keeping entire windows alive.

Could V8’s “Stop collecting array and object prototypes” change be backported to v24? Its later thread-safety follow-up might also be relevant.

I haven't verified that those commits are the key ones, but it's worth trying.

[inoway46]

Reproduced with official Linux x64 binaries using the same script and --max-old-space-size=128:

Version	Default	--no-concurrent-recompilation
v22.23.2	10/10 completed	3/3 completed
v24.21.0	10/10 OOM	3/3 completed
v26.8.2	10/10 completed	3/3 completed

All v24 default runs exited with SIGABRT:

FATAL ERROR: Reached heap limit Allocation failed - JavaScript heap out of memory

[inoway46]

I confirmed that backporting the relevant V8 changes fixes the repro on v24.21.0:

https://github.com/inoway46/node/actions/runs/35083804474

I’m preparing a backport PR now and should have it up later.