CVE-2024-46808
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the AMD display driver component of the Linux kernel. The vulnerability occurs when kcalloc fails to allocate memory and returns NULL, which is then dereferenced without proper validation. This affects Linux systems with AMD graphics hardware using the affected kernel versions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with AMD display driver (drm/amd/display)
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially causing data loss or system instability.
Likely Case
System crash or kernel panic when specific display operations are performed, requiring system reboot.
If Mitigated
Minor system instability or application crashes if the vulnerable code path is triggered.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires triggering specific display operations that cause memory allocation failure. This is typically a local vulnerability requiring user interaction or specific application behavior.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel versions containing commit 5524fa301ba649f8cf00848f91468e0ba7e4f24c or ca0b0b0a22306f2e51105ac48f4a09c2fbbb504e
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5524fa301ba649f8cf00848f91468e0ba7e4f24c
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update to a patched kernel version from your distribution's repositories. 2. Reboot the system to load the new kernel. 3. Verify the patch is applied by checking kernel version or commit hash.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable AMD display driver
linuxPrevent loading of the vulnerable AMD display driver module
echo 'blacklist amdgpu' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to systems with AMD graphics hardware
- Monitor system logs for kernel panic events related to display operations
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if your kernel version contains the vulnerable commit: 'git log --oneline | grep -E "5524fa301ba649f8cf00848f91468e0ba7e4f24c|ca0b0b0a22306f2e51105ac48f4a09c2fbbb504e"'Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the patched commit is present: 'uname -r' and check with your distribution's security advisories📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- NULL pointer dereference errors in dmesg
- Display driver crash logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("NULL pointer dereference" OR "kernel panic" OR "amdgpu")