CVE-2024-40924 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) subsystem for Intel graphics (i915 driver), related to the Display Plane Table (DPT) object management. The vulnerability arises when the DPT object is incorrectly allowed to be shrunk, while the actual framebuffer remains allocated and linked on the DPT's virtual memory bound list (vm->bound_list). This mismatch leads to attempts to rewrite Page Table Entries (PTEs) through a stale CPU mapping, which can cause a kernel panic. Essentially, the kernel tries to access or modify memory mappings that are no longer valid, leading to system instability or crash. The fix involves making the DPT object unshrinkable to prevent this inconsistent state. This vulnerability affects certain versions of the Linux kernel prior to the patch commit identified by the hash 51064d471c53dcc8eddd2333c3f1c1d9131ba36c. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The issue is technical and low-level, involving kernel memory management and graphics subsystem internals, which could be triggered under specific conditions related to graphics memory handling.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-40924 primarily concerns system stability and availability. Since the vulnerability can cause kernel panics, affected systems running vulnerable Linux kernels with Intel i915 graphics drivers may experience unexpected crashes or reboots. This can disrupt critical services, especially in environments relying on Linux servers or workstations with Intel integrated graphics, such as development environments, office desktops, or embedded systems. While this vulnerability does not directly lead to privilege escalation or data leakage, the denial of service caused by kernel panics can affect business continuity and operational reliability. Organizations with large Linux deployments, particularly those using Intel graphics hardware, may face increased downtime or require emergency patching. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the potential for future exploitation or triggering by benign workloads means proactive mitigation is advisable.

To mitigate CVE-2024-40924, European organizations should: 1) Identify all Linux systems using Intel i915 graphics drivers, especially those running kernel versions prior to the patch commit 51064d471c53dcc8eddd2333c3f1c1d9131ba36c. 2) Apply the latest Linux kernel updates from trusted sources that include the fix making the DPT object unshrinkable. 3) For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling or limiting the use of Intel integrated graphics if possible, or use alternative graphics drivers temporarily. 4) Monitor system logs for signs of kernel panics or graphics-related errors that could indicate attempts to trigger this vulnerability. 5) Implement robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize downtime in case of crashes. 6) Coordinate with Linux distribution vendors and update management tools to ensure timely deployment of patches. 7) Test patches in staging environments to confirm stability before wide deployment, as kernel updates can impact system behavior.