CVE-2024-26770 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the HID (Human Interface Device) subsystem for the Nvidia Shield device. The issue arises from the function devm_kasprintf(), which is used to allocate dynamically memory for LED initialization. This function can return a NULL pointer if the memory allocation fails. The vulnerability exists because the Linux kernel code did not properly check whether the pointer returned by devm_kasprintf() was NULL before using it. This missing null pointer check can lead to a NULL pointer dereference during the LED initialization process for the Nvidia Shield HID device. Such a dereference can cause a kernel panic or system crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability was addressed by adding the necessary null pointer checks to ensure that the allocation was successful before proceeding. The fix was contributed by a developer from SUSE and merged into the Linux kernel. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the Nvidia Shield HID driver code prior to the patch. The issue is a classic example of improper error handling in kernel memory allocation routines, which can compromise system stability but does not appear to allow privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution directly.

For European organizations running Linux systems with Nvidia Shield HID support enabled, this vulnerability could lead to system instability or crashes if the vulnerable code path is triggered. While the Nvidia Shield device is a niche product primarily used for media streaming and gaming, Linux servers or desktops with this driver loaded could experience denial of service conditions. This could impact availability of affected systems, particularly in environments where Nvidia Shield devices are integrated or where custom Linux builds include this HID driver. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is minimal since the vulnerability does not enable code execution or data leakage. However, availability disruptions could affect operational continuity, especially in embedded or specialized Linux deployments. Given the limited scope of the affected component and the absence of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate but should not be ignored. European organizations with Linux infrastructure should assess whether their systems include the vulnerable driver and apply patches promptly to avoid potential service interruptions.

1. Apply the official Linux kernel patches that include the null pointer check fix for the Nvidia Shield HID driver as soon as they are available from trusted Linux distributions or kernel sources. 2. Audit Linux systems to identify if the Nvidia Shield HID driver is present and loaded; if not required, consider disabling or blacklisting the module to reduce attack surface. 3. Monitor system logs for kernel panics or crashes related to HID or LED initialization to detect potential exploitation attempts or instability. 4. For embedded or specialized Linux devices using Nvidia Shield hardware, coordinate with device vendors to ensure firmware and kernel updates are deployed. 5. Implement robust kernel crash recovery and system monitoring to minimize downtime in case of triggered faults. 6. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from any denial of service caused by this vulnerability.