CVE-2024-46818 – This CVE describes an array index out-of-bounds... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-46818?

CVE-2024-46818 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes an array index out-of-bounds vulnerability in the AMD display driver component of the Linux kernel. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause a kernel panic (denial of service) or possibly execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Systems running Linux kernels with the affected AMD display driver are vulnerable.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes an array index out-of-bounds vulnerability in the AMD display driver component of the Linux kernel. An attacker could potentially exploit this to cause a kernel panic (denial of service) or possibly execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Systems running Linux kernels with the affected AMD display driver are vulnerable.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Linux kernel with AMD GPU display driver (drm/amd/display)

Versions: Linux kernel versions containing the vulnerable code prior to the fix commits

Operating Systems: Linux distributions with affected kernel versions

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires AMD GPU hardware and the amdgpu driver to be loaded and active. Systems without AMD GPUs or with the driver disabled are not affected.

📦 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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges, potentially resulting in full system compromise.

🟠

Likely Case

Kernel panic causing system crash and denial of service, requiring physical or remote console access to reboot.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if the vulnerable code path is not triggered or if proper input validation prevents the invalid index access.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This requires local access or ability to interact with the display driver, which is typically not exposed to network interfaces.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Local users or processes with access to the display subsystem could potentially trigger this vulnerability.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires local access and ability to trigger the vulnerable display driver code path. The vulnerability is an array index validation issue that could lead to memory corruption.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Linux kernel versions containing the fix commits: 0184cca30cad74d88f5c875d4e26999e26325700, 08e7755f754e3d2cef7d3a7da538d33526bd6f7c, 276e3fd93e3beb5894eb1cc8480f9f417d51524d, 2a5626eeb3b5eec7a36886f9556113dd93ec8ed6, 3d4198ab612ad48f73383ad3bb5663e6f0cdf406

Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0184cca30cad74d88f5c875d4e26999e26325700

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update to a Linux kernel version containing the fix commits. 2. For distributions: Use your package manager to update the kernel package. 3. Reboot the system to load the new kernel.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable AMD GPU driver

linux

Prevent loading of the vulnerable amdgpu driver module

echo 'blacklist amdgpu' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-amdgpu.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Restrict local user access to systems with AMD GPUs
Implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual display subsystem activity

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if the amdgpu module is loaded: lsmod | grep amdgpu. If loaded, check kernel version against patched versions.

Check Version:

uname -r

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify the kernel version includes one of the fix commits: uname -r and check with your distribution's security advisories.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Kernel oops messages in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg output
System crash/panic events

Network Indicators:

None - this is a local vulnerability

SIEM Query:

source="kernel" AND ("Oops" OR "panic" OR "BUG") AND ("amdgpu" OR "display")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-46818

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-129

Published: September 27, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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