static int af9005_identify_state(struct usb_device *udev,
				 struct dvb_usb_device_properties *props,
				 struct dvb_usb_device_description **desc,
				 int *cold)
{
	int ret;
	u8 reply, *buf;

	buf = kmalloc(FW_BULKOUT_SIZE + 2, GFP_KERNEL);
	if (!buf)
		return -ENOMEM;

	ret = af9005_boot_packet(udev, FW_CONFIG, &reply,
				 buf, FW_BULKOUT_SIZE + 2);
	if (ret)
		goto err;
	deb_info("result of FW_CONFIG in identify state %d\n", reply);
	if (reply == 0x01)
		*cold = 1;
	else if (reply == 0x02)
		*cold = 0;
	else
		return -EIO;
	deb_info("Identify state cold = %d\n", *cold);

err:
	kfree(buf);
	return ret;
}
The software does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory.