CVE-2024-39758 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) Arc™ and Iris(R) Xe graphics software versions prior to 31.0.101.4032. The root cause is improper access control within the graphics software stack, which can be exploited by an authenticated local user to trigger a denial of service (DoS) condition. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a user with limited privileges (local authenticated user) to cause the graphics driver or related software components to crash or become unresponsive, thereby disrupting normal graphics processing and potentially impacting system stability. The attack vector is local access, meaning an adversary must have some level of access to the affected system, but no elevated privileges or network access are required. User interaction is necessary to trigger the vulnerability. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.1, reflecting a medium severity level, with the main impact being availability (denial of service). Confidentiality and integrity impacts are not present. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges but does require local authentication and user interaction, limiting the scope of exploitation. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links were provided in the source information, indicating that affected organizations should monitor for vendor updates and advisories. The vulnerability affects Intel's graphics software widely used in many modern laptops and desktops that utilize Intel Arc and Iris Xe GPUs, which are common in enterprise and consumer devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to disruption of critical systems relying on Intel Arc and Iris Xe graphics hardware, particularly in environments where local user access is possible, such as shared workstations, corporate laptops, or public access terminals. The denial of service could manifest as system crashes, loss of graphical interface, or degraded performance, potentially interrupting business operations, causing productivity loss, or impacting user experience. While the vulnerability does not allow privilege escalation or data compromise, the availability impact could be significant in sectors relying heavily on graphical processing, such as design, engineering, media production, and certain industrial applications. Additionally, organizations with strict uptime requirements or those operating in regulated industries may face compliance or operational risks if systems become unstable. The requirement for local authentication and user interaction limits remote exploitation risks but does not eliminate insider threat scenarios or risks from compromised user accounts.

Organizations should prioritize updating Intel Arc and Iris Xe graphics software to version 31.0.101.4032 or later once patches become available from Intel. Until then, practical mitigations include restricting local user access to trusted personnel only, enforcing strict user account controls and session management to prevent unauthorized local logins, and monitoring for unusual system crashes or graphics driver failures that could indicate exploitation attempts. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior related to graphics drivers may help identify exploitation attempts early. Additionally, organizations should educate users about the risks of running untrusted software or scripts that might trigger the vulnerability. For environments where graphical availability is critical, consider implementing redundancy or failover mechanisms to minimize operational impact from potential DoS events. Finally, maintain close communication with Intel for timely patch releases and advisories.