CVE-2023-52650 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) subsystem for NVIDIA Tegra devices, in the Display Serial Interface (DSI) driver code. The issue arises due to a missing check on the return value of the function of_find_device_by_node(). This function is responsible for locating a device node in the device tree, and if it fails, it returns NULL. Without proper validation of this return value, the kernel code attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, leading to a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability. This can cause the kernel to crash (kernel panic) or lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions. The vulnerability is addressed by adding a check for the return value of of_find_device_by_node() and returning an error if the device node is not found, thereby preventing the NULL pointer dereference. The affected versions are identified by specific commit hashes, indicating the vulnerability is present in certain recent Linux kernel builds prior to the patch. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability does not appear to require user interaction or authentication to be triggered, but it is limited to systems running the affected Tegra DRM DSI driver code, which is typically embedded or specialized hardware using NVIDIA Tegra SoCs running Linux.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-52650 depends largely on their use of Linux systems with NVIDIA Tegra hardware, which is common in embedded systems, automotive infotainment, industrial control, and IoT devices. A successful exploitation could cause system crashes or denial of service, potentially disrupting critical operations or services relying on affected devices. While this vulnerability does not directly lead to privilege escalation or remote code execution, the resulting instability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain or cause operational downtime. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, transportation, and critical infrastructure that deploy Tegra-based Linux devices may face increased risk. The vulnerability's impact on confidentiality and integrity is limited, but availability is significantly affected due to potential kernel panics. Since no known exploits exist yet, the immediate risk is moderate, but patching is recommended to prevent future exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2023-52650, organizations should: 1) Identify all Linux systems running NVIDIA Tegra SoCs with the DRM DSI driver enabled, especially embedded and industrial devices. 2) Apply the latest Linux kernel patches that include the fix for this vulnerability as soon as they become available from trusted sources or Linux distributions. 3) For devices where kernel upgrades are not feasible, consider vendor-provided firmware or driver updates that address this issue. 4) Implement monitoring for kernel crashes or unusual system reboots that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Restrict access to affected devices to trusted users and networks to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability. 6) Engage with hardware and software vendors to confirm patch availability and deployment timelines. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure timely detection and remediation.