Description: A resource leak occurs when a program fails to release the resources it has acquired, leading to a decrease in performance. This phenomenon can manifest at different levels of a computing environment, being particularly critical in the interaction between privileged and non-privileged modes. In privileged mode, which allows unrestricted access to hardware resources, when a program does not properly release resources such as memory, file descriptors, or network connections, it can cause other processes to be unable to access those resources, resulting in degraded performance or even system crashes. On the other hand, in non-privileged mode, where applications operate with restricted permissions, resource leaks can lead to excessive memory consumption or resource saturation, affecting system stability and efficiency. Resource leaks are problematic because they can be difficult to detect and diagnose, often requiring specialized tools for identification and resolution. Proper resource management is essential to maintain the health and performance of computing systems, and leaks can be an indicator of deeper issues in programming or software architecture.
