CVE-2024-46817 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the AMD GPU Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) driver component, known as amdgpu_dm. The issue arises when the driver attempts to initialize display streams exceeding six in number. The root cause is an overrun condition detected by static analysis tools (Coverity), indicating that the driver does not properly handle cases where the number of display streams surpasses this threshold. This can lead to memory corruption or instability during the initialization process. The fix involves aborting the initialization process (amdgpu_dm_init) when the stream count exceeds six, thereby preventing the overrun and potential exploitation. This vulnerability is relevant to Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and likely affects systems running AMD GPUs using the amdgpu_dm driver. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability primarily impacts the integrity and availability of the system by potentially causing crashes or undefined behavior during GPU initialization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could affect any infrastructure relying on Linux systems with AMD GPUs, particularly those using advanced multi-stream display configurations (more than six streams). This includes data centers, cloud providers, research institutions, and enterprises with high-end graphical workloads or virtualization environments that leverage GPU passthrough or multi-display setups. The impact could manifest as system instability, crashes, or denial of service conditions affecting critical services or user productivity. While there is no evidence of active exploitation, the vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers with local access or through malicious code execution to disrupt operations or cause system failures. Given the widespread use of Linux in European public and private sectors, especially in technology, finance, and manufacturing industries, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk if left unpatched.

Organizations should promptly apply the Linux kernel patch that addresses CVE-2024-46817 once it is available from their Linux distribution vendors or the mainline kernel. Specifically, ensure that the amdgpu_dm driver is updated to the fixed version that aborts initialization when stream counts exceed six. System administrators should audit their environments to identify Linux hosts with AMD GPUs and verify the driver versions in use. For environments where multi-stream display configurations are necessary, consider limiting the number of active streams to six or fewer until patches are applied. Additionally, implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges, reducing the risk of exploitation by unprivileged users. Monitoring system logs for GPU driver errors or crashes can help detect attempts to trigger this vulnerability. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to mitigate potential availability impacts.