CVE-2022-48710 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's Radeon DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) driver, specifically within the function radeon_fp_native_mode(). The issue arises due to improper handling of the return value from drm_mode_duplicate(), which can return NULL on failure. The vulnerable code assigns this return value directly to a pointer variable 'mode' without verifying if it is NULL, leading to a potential null pointer dereference (NPD). This can cause the kernel to crash or behave unpredictably when the null pointer is dereferenced. Additionally, the failure status of drm_cvt_mode() on an alternate code path is checked properly, but the main vulnerability stems from the missing NULL check after drm_mode_duplicate(). The patch for this vulnerability involves adding a check to ensure that if drm_mode_duplicate() returns NULL, the code handles this gracefully, thereby preventing the NPD. Null pointer dereferences in kernel space typically result in denial of service (DoS) conditions due to kernel panics or oops events. Since this vulnerability is in the graphics subsystem driver for Radeon GPUs, it affects systems running Linux kernels with this driver enabled and using Radeon graphics hardware. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability was published on May 21, 2024, and is relevant to Linux kernel versions identified by the given commit hashes.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-48710 is the potential for denial of service on Linux systems utilizing Radeon graphics hardware. This could affect servers, workstations, or embedded devices running vulnerable Linux kernels with the Radeon DRM driver enabled. A successful exploitation would cause kernel crashes, leading to system downtime and potential disruption of critical services. While this vulnerability does not directly lead to privilege escalation or data compromise, the availability impact can be significant for organizations relying on Linux-based infrastructure for operations, especially in sectors like finance, manufacturing, research, and public services where Linux is prevalent. Systems with graphical interfaces or GPU-accelerated workloads using Radeon hardware are at higher risk. Since no authentication or user interaction is explicitly required, local or potentially remote attackers with the ability to trigger the vulnerable code path could cause system instability. However, exploitation complexity may be moderate due to the need to invoke specific DRM functions. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the patch for CVE-2022-48710. Specifically, they should apply the latest stable kernel releases or backported security patches from their Linux distribution vendors that address this null pointer dereference in the Radeon DRM driver. System administrators should audit their environments to identify systems running vulnerable kernel versions with Radeon GPU support enabled. Where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations can consider temporarily disabling the Radeon DRM driver or restricting access to systems with Radeon hardware to trusted users only, minimizing the attack surface. Monitoring kernel logs for OOPS or panic events related to the Radeon driver can help detect attempted exploitation. Additionally, organizations should ensure robust system recovery procedures are in place to minimize downtime in case of crashes. For critical infrastructure, employing kernel live patching solutions that support security fixes without rebooting can reduce operational impact. Finally, maintaining up-to-date asset inventories and vulnerability management processes will help track and remediate this and similar vulnerabilities promptly.