CVE-2024-28036 is a vulnerability identified in Intel(R) Arc™ GPUs that allows an authenticated local user to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition. The root cause is an improper conditions check within the GPU's handling logic, which can be triggered by a user with local access and limited privileges. This vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication and is characterized by a medium severity with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.7. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring high attack complexity (AC:H), and privileges at the low level (PR:L). There is no requirement for user interaction (UI:N), and the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality, integrity, or availability beyond the DoS impact (VC:N, VI:N, VA:H). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and no security attributes such as confidentiality, integrity, or availability beyond availability are impacted. The vulnerability is not currently known to be exploited in the wild, and no patches or exploit code are publicly available at this time. The affected versions are unspecified but pertain to Intel Arc GPUs, a product line focused on discrete graphics solutions primarily for desktops and laptops. The vulnerability could manifest as system instability, GPU driver crashes, or rendering failures, potentially impacting workloads relying on GPU acceleration. Since the vulnerability requires local authenticated access, it is primarily a risk in multi-user environments or where untrusted users have access to the system. It is not exploitable remotely or without authentication, limiting its attack surface. However, in environments where Intel Arc GPUs are deployed, such as workstations or servers used for graphics-intensive tasks, this vulnerability could disrupt operations and cause denial of service conditions, impacting productivity and service availability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-28036 depends on the prevalence of Intel Arc GPUs in their IT infrastructure. Organizations using these GPUs in workstations, development environments, or specialized computing tasks could experience service disruptions due to GPU crashes or system instability caused by the DoS condition. This could affect sectors such as media production, engineering, scientific research, and any industry relying on GPU acceleration. The requirement for local authenticated access reduces the risk from external attackers but raises concerns in environments with multiple users or insufficient access controls. In shared workstations, educational institutions, or corporate environments where users have local accounts, a malicious or compromised user could exploit this vulnerability to disrupt services. The denial of service could lead to downtime, loss of productivity, and potential data loss if GPU-related processes are interrupted unexpectedly. Additionally, organizations with strict uptime requirements or those providing GPU-accelerated services may face reputational damage or contractual penalties if service availability is compromised. The absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium severity rating suggest a moderate risk level, but organizations should remain vigilant and assess their exposure based on their hardware inventory and user access policies.

To mitigate CVE-2024-28036 effectively, European organizations should first identify all systems equipped with Intel Arc GPUs through hardware inventory and asset management tools. Restrict local user access to trusted personnel only, enforcing the principle of least privilege to minimize the number of users who can authenticate locally. Implement strict user account controls and monitor for unusual local activity that could indicate attempts to exploit the vulnerability. Since no patches are currently available, organizations should consider temporary workarounds such as disabling GPU acceleration for non-critical applications or isolating affected systems from multi-user environments. Regularly check Intel's security advisories and driver updates for patches addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once released. Additionally, implement robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect abnormal GPU or driver behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. For environments where GPU availability is critical, consider fallback mechanisms or redundancy to maintain service continuity in case of GPU-related failures. Finally, educate users about the risks of unauthorized local access and enforce physical security controls to prevent unauthorized system access.