CVE-2021-47210 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the USB Type-C Power Delivery (PD) interface driver for the Texas Instruments TPS6598x chip series. The vulnerability arises from the function tps6598x_block_read, which is responsible for reading data blocks from the device. In the affected versions of the Linux kernel, if this function is called with a length parameter exceeding the allowed maximum, the kernel triggers a WARN_ON condition. This warning, under configurations where panic-on-warn is enabled, causes the entire system to crash (kernel panic), leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition. The patch resolves this by changing the behavior to return an error instead of triggering a warning, thus preventing system crashes due to malformed or malicious input lengths. This vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution but can be exploited to cause system instability or downtime. The affected component is part of the USB Type-C PD driver stack, which is widely used in modern Linux distributions running on devices with TPS6598x controllers. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability is primarily a robustness issue that can be triggered by malformed USB PD messages or potentially crafted USB devices or drivers interacting with the affected kernel module.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2021-47210 is the potential for denial of service on Linux systems that utilize the TPS6598x USB Type-C PD controller and have panic-on-warn enabled. This could affect servers, workstations, or embedded devices relying on Linux kernels with the vulnerable driver. The DoS condition could disrupt critical business operations, especially in environments where USB Type-C peripherals are common or where USB PD is used for power management and device communication. Although the vulnerability does not allow direct data compromise or privilege escalation, the induced system crashes could lead to operational downtime, loss of availability, and potential cascading effects on dependent services. In sectors such as manufacturing, telecommunications, or critical infrastructure where Linux-based embedded systems are prevalent, this could have more pronounced effects. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to avoid future exploitation, especially in environments with strict uptime requirements.

European organizations should apply the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Update the Linux kernel to the latest patched version that addresses CVE-2021-47210 as soon as it becomes available from their distribution vendors or kernel maintainers. 2) Review and, if possible, disable panic-on-warn configurations temporarily to prevent system-wide crashes from WARN_ON triggers until patches are applied. 3) Implement USB device control policies to restrict or monitor the use of untrusted or unknown USB Type-C devices, reducing the risk of maliciously crafted USB PD messages triggering the vulnerability. 4) For embedded or specialized Linux systems, verify the presence of the TPS6598x driver and assess the feasibility of disabling or isolating the affected USB PD functionality if not required. 5) Conduct thorough testing of USB Type-C device interactions in controlled environments to detect anomalous behavior that could lead to kernel warnings or panics. 6) Maintain robust system monitoring and alerting to detect kernel panics or related system crashes promptly, enabling rapid incident response.