CVE-2024-26702 is a medium severity vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's Industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem, specifically within the magnetometer driver for the RM3100 sensor. The vulnerability arises from a lack of boundary checking when reading values from the RM3100_REG_TMRC register. This register value is used as an index to access the rm3100_samp_rates array. Due to underlying hardware failures or unexpected sensor data, the index can be out of bounds, leading to an out-of-bounds array access. This improper validation can cause the kernel to crash during the rm3100_common_probe function execution, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The issue is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and has a limited attack vector (AV:L), meaning an attacker must have local access to the affected system. The impact is limited to availability, with no confidentiality or integrity compromise. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and the vulnerability has been addressed by adding boundary checks to prevent out-of-bounds access. The affected versions are specific Linux kernel commits identified by their hashes. This vulnerability is relevant to systems using the RM3100 magnetometer sensor driver, which is typically found in embedded or specialized hardware running Linux kernels that include this driver.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-26702 is the potential for local denial of service on Linux systems utilizing the RM3100 magnetometer driver. This could affect embedded devices, industrial control systems, or specialized hardware that rely on this sensor for operation or monitoring. While the vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation or data compromise, the kernel crash can disrupt critical services or processes, leading to operational downtime. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or IoT deployments that use Linux-based embedded systems with this sensor could experience service interruptions. The impact is more pronounced in environments where system availability is critical and where physical or local access by attackers or malfunctioning hardware is possible. Since the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, remote exploitation is unlikely, reducing the risk for traditional IT infrastructure but increasing concern for physical security and device integrity in operational technology (OT) environments.

To mitigate CVE-2024-26702, organizations should: 1) Apply the latest Linux kernel updates that include the patch adding boundary checks for the RM3100_REG_TMRC register value to prevent out-of-bounds access. 2) Identify and inventory devices running Linux kernels with the RM3100 magnetometer driver, focusing on embedded and IoT devices. 3) Restrict local access to affected devices to trusted personnel only, implementing strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local interactions. 4) Monitor system logs and kernel crash reports for signs of rm3100_common_probe failures or related kernel panics to detect potential exploitation or hardware faults. 5) For embedded systems where kernel updates are challenging, consider isolating affected devices from critical networks or deploying compensating controls such as watchdog timers to automatically recover from crashes. 6) Collaborate with hardware vendors to verify sensor health and firmware integrity to minimize hardware-induced faults that could trigger the vulnerability. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and patching cycles, prioritizing devices with the RM3100 driver in critical operational roles.