CVE-2021-47079 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the platform/x86 ideapad-laptop driver. The issue arises due to a NULL pointer dereference caused by the third parameter of the function dytc_cql_command being NULL when it should not be. This parameter is dereferenced immediately without a prior NULL check, leading to a potential kernel crash or denial of service (DoS). The vulnerability is rooted in improper input validation within the kernel driver code. When triggered, this NULL pointer dereference can cause the kernel to panic, resulting in system instability or a forced reboot. Although the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution directly, the denial of service impact can be significant, especially on systems relying on the affected driver. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash ff36b0d953dc4cbc40a72945920ff8e805f1b0da, and it has been addressed by a patch that ensures the third parameter is never NULL before dereferencing. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The flaw is specific to the ideapad-laptop driver on x86 platforms, which suggests it primarily affects Lenovo Ideapad laptops running Linux kernels with the vulnerable driver version.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-47079 is primarily related to system availability and stability. Organizations using Lenovo Ideapad laptops or other systems with the affected Linux kernel driver may experience unexpected system crashes or reboots if the vulnerability is triggered. This could disrupt business operations, especially in environments where uptime is critical, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, or industrial control systems. While the vulnerability does not currently enable remote code execution or privilege escalation, denial of service conditions can still lead to operational downtime and potential data loss if systems are not properly backed up or if critical processes are interrupted. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the possibility of future exploitation. European organizations with large Linux deployments on affected hardware should be aware of this vulnerability and prioritize patching to maintain system reliability and security compliance.

To mitigate CVE-2021-47079, European organizations should: 1) Identify all systems running the affected Linux kernel versions with the ideapad-laptop driver, focusing on Lenovo Ideapad hardware. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches or updates that fix the NULL pointer dereference issue as soon as they become available. 3) If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporary workarounds such as blacklisting the ideapad-laptop kernel module to prevent it from loading, though this may reduce hardware functionality. 4) Monitor system logs for kernel panics or crashes related to the ideapad-laptop driver to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5) Implement robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize operational impact in case of system crashes. 6) Maintain up-to-date intrusion detection and prevention systems to identify unusual activity that could indicate attempts to exploit kernel vulnerabilities. 7) Educate IT staff about this specific vulnerability to ensure timely response and remediation.