CVE-2024-26600 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the phy-omap-usb2 driver component. The issue arises when the external PHY device, which works in conjunction with the phy-omap-usb2 driver, does not implement the send_srp() function. Despite the absence of this function, the kernel may still attempt to invoke send_srp(), leading to a NULL pointer dereference. This dereference occurs during operations such as an idle Ethernet gadget triggering a wakeup event, which can cause the kernel to crash or become unstable. The vulnerability is rooted in the failure to verify the existence of send_srp() and set_vbus() function pointers before calling them. The stack trace provided in the description shows the kernel attempting to execute code at address 0x0, which is indicative of a NULL pointer dereference, leading to a kernel panic or system crash. The fix involves adding checks to ensure these function pointers are not NULL before invocation, preventing the kernel from dereferencing a NULL pointer. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 657b306a7bdfca4ae1514b533a0e7c3c6d26dbc6 and potentially other versions that include the vulnerable phy-omap-usb2 driver implementation. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-26600 could be significant in environments where Linux-based systems utilize the affected phy-omap-usb2 USB PHY driver, particularly in embedded systems, network appliances, or IoT devices that rely on USB Ethernet gadgets. A successful exploitation could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition by causing kernel crashes or reboots, disrupting critical network connectivity or device functionality. This could affect industrial control systems, telecommunications infrastructure, or enterprise networking equipment running Linux kernels with this vulnerability. Although the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or remote code execution directly, the resulting instability could be leveraged by attackers to cause operational disruptions or facilitate further attacks. The lack of known exploits suggests limited immediate risk, but the widespread use of Linux in European IT infrastructure means that unpatched systems could be vulnerable to accidental or intentional triggering of this flaw, impacting availability and reliability of services.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to the latest patched versions that include the fix for CVE-2024-26600. Specifically, kernel maintainers and system administrators should ensure that the phy-omap-usb2 driver is updated to a version that includes the NULL pointer checks for send_srp() and set_vbus() functions. For embedded and IoT devices where kernel updates may be less frequent, organizations should work with device vendors to obtain firmware updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring kernel logs for signs of NULL pointer dereference crashes related to USB PHY operations can help detect attempts to trigger this vulnerability. Network segmentation and limiting access to devices running vulnerable kernels can reduce the attack surface. Implementing robust incident response procedures to quickly recover from kernel panics or device reboots will also mitigate operational impact. Finally, organizations should maintain an inventory of Linux-based devices and verify their kernel versions to identify systems at risk.