CVE-2024-26971 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the Qualcomm (qcom) clock controller driver for the IPQ5018 platform (gcc-ipq5018). The issue arises from improperly terminated frequency table arrays used by the driver. Frequency tables are arrays that list supported clock frequencies, and they are expected to be terminated by an empty element to signal the end of the array. In this case, some frequency table arrays were missing this terminating empty element. As a result, functions such as qcom_find_freq() and qcom_find_freq_floor(), which traverse these arrays to find appropriate frequency values, could read beyond the intended bounds of the array. This out-of-bounds access can lead to undefined behavior including potential memory corruption or crashes. The vulnerability was addressed by adding the missing terminating empty element to the frequency tables, preventing out-of-bound reads during traversal. The affected versions correspond to specific Linux kernel commits prior to the fix. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability is technical and low-level, related to kernel driver data structure handling, and does not inherently require user interaction or elevated privileges to manifest if the affected driver is in use. However, exploitation would likely require local access or specific conditions to trigger the vulnerable code path.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-26971 depends on the deployment of Linux systems running kernels with the affected Qualcomm IPQ5018 clock driver. This platform is typically used in embedded devices such as network routers, gateways, or IoT devices. If exploited, the out-of-bounds access could cause system instability, crashes, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in kernel context, leading to privilege escalation or denial of service. Critical infrastructure operators, telecommunications providers, and enterprises using embedded Linux devices with Qualcomm IPQ5018 hardware could face operational disruptions or security breaches. Given the kernel-level nature, successful exploitation could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected devices. However, the absence of known exploits and the technical complexity of triggering this vulnerability reduce immediate risk. Still, organizations relying on embedded Linux devices should consider this vulnerability seriously due to the potential for kernel-level compromise.

Organizations should promptly identify devices running Linux kernels with the affected Qualcomm IPQ5018 clock driver. Mitigation involves applying the official Linux kernel patches that add the missing terminating empty element to the frequency tables, thereby preventing out-of-bound access. For embedded devices, this may require firmware updates from device vendors or recompilation of the kernel with the patched driver. Network administrators should also monitor device logs for unusual crashes or behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Implementing strict access controls to limit local access to devices and employing network segmentation can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should maintain an inventory of embedded devices and ensure timely patch management processes for kernel and firmware updates. Since no exploits are known, proactive patching and monitoring are the best defenses.