CVE-2024-32936 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the media subsystem component ti: j721e-csi2rx, which handles the Camera Serial Interface 2 (CSI-2) receiver functionality on certain Texas Instruments J721E SoCs. The vulnerability arises from a race condition during the restart of Direct Memory Access (DMA) operations. After a frame is submitted to the DMA engine, the submitted list that tracks DMA operations may not be updated promptly. Consequently, the DMA callback can be triggered before the submitted list reflects the current state. This timing discrepancy leads to a race condition that can cause kernel crashes. The root cause is the lack of proper synchronization around the DMA restart logic. The fix involves moving the critical operations into a single lock/unlock section to ensure atomicity and prevent concurrent access issues. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash b4a3d877dc92963a4db16ddb71df3d333c0d40bd. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability can cause system instability and denial of service due to kernel panics or crashes when the affected DMA operations are triggered.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-32936 primarily concerns systems running Linux kernels with the affected ti: j721e-csi2rx driver, which is used in embedded devices or industrial equipment based on Texas Instruments J721E SoCs. Organizations deploying such hardware in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, telecommunications, or media processing could experience system crashes leading to service interruptions or downtime. The vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity risks but can affect availability by causing kernel crashes. This can disrupt operations, especially in environments relying on continuous media streaming or camera data processing. Since the vulnerability requires triggering specific DMA operations, exploitation may require local access or interaction with the affected hardware, limiting remote exploitation risks. However, in environments where these devices are part of larger networked systems, denial of service could have cascading effects. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed promptly to maintain system stability and reliability.

European organizations should apply the patch that moves the DMA restart operations into a single lock/unlock section as soon as it is available in their Linux kernel updates. For systems using custom or embedded Linux builds, vendors should be contacted to provide updated kernel versions incorporating this fix. Until patched, organizations should limit access to affected devices, especially restricting untrusted users from triggering DMA operations on the ti: j721e-csi2rx driver. Monitoring system logs for kernel warnings or crashes related to media or DMA operations can help detect attempts to trigger the race condition. Additionally, implementing robust system restart and recovery procedures will minimize downtime if crashes occur. For critical deployments, consider isolating affected hardware from sensitive networks to reduce potential impact. Regularly reviewing and updating embedded device firmware and Linux kernel versions is essential to mitigate similar vulnerabilities proactively.