CVE-2024-46867 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) subsystem's Xe client driver. The issue arises in the show_meminfo() function, where a deadlock condition and improper sleeping in atomic context occur. The root cause is related to the handling of buffer objects (bo) references during their destruction. When the last reference to a buffer object is released, the destruction process attempts to acquire a spinlock that is already held, causing a deadlock. Additionally, the code incorrectly performs sleeping operations while holding atomic locks, which is unsafe and can lead to kernel instability. The fix involves deferring the release of the buffer object reference using xe_bo_put_deferred() and moving the final commit operation outside the locked section. This approach avoids the deadlock by ensuring that the buffer object can safely delete itself from the list without holding the spinlock, which is complex due to the risk of the object going out of scope. This vulnerability is significant because it affects the Linux kernel's graphics subsystem, which is widely used across many Linux distributions and environments. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the presence of a deadlock and improper locking can lead to system hangs or crashes, impacting system availability. The vulnerability was published on September 27, 2024, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the DRM Xe client driver enabled, which includes many desktop, server, and embedded systems using Intel graphics hardware. The deadlock can cause system hangs or kernel panics, leading to denial of service conditions. This can disrupt critical services, especially in sectors relying on Linux-based infrastructure such as finance, telecommunications, government, and manufacturing. Systems used in cloud environments or data centers that utilize Linux with Intel graphics acceleration could also be impacted, potentially affecting virtualized workloads and containerized applications. Although the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or data leakage directly, the availability impact can be severe in environments requiring high uptime and reliability. Given the widespread use of Linux in European IT infrastructure, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of organizations if unpatched kernels are deployed.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to the patched versions that include the fix for CVE-2024-46867. Since the vulnerability involves kernel-level deadlocks, applying vendor or distribution-provided kernel updates is the most effective mitigation. Organizations should: 1) Identify all systems running affected Linux kernel versions with Intel DRM Xe client drivers. 2) Test and deploy kernel updates from trusted sources promptly. 3) For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider temporarily disabling or limiting use of the affected graphics driver if possible, to reduce exposure. 4) Monitor system logs for signs of deadlocks or kernel panics related to graphics operations. 5) Implement robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize downtime in case of system crashes. 6) Engage with Linux distribution vendors for guidance on backported patches and security advisories. 7) For cloud or virtualized environments, coordinate with cloud providers to ensure underlying host kernels are patched. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on driver-specific mitigation and operational monitoring tailored to this vulnerability.