CVE-2024-49913 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the AMD GPU driver component related to the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) subsystem. The issue lies in the function commit_planes_for_stream, located in the file dc.c at line 4140. The vulnerability is a null pointer dereference caused by the absence of a null check on the pointer top_pipe_to_program before accessing its member stream_res. If top_pipe_to_program is null, dereferencing it leads to a kernel crash or system instability. The root cause is that the code previously assumed top_pipe_to_program could never be null, which was proven incorrect. The fix involves adding a null check to ensure top_pipe_to_program is valid before accessing its members, preventing the null pointer dereference. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and likely other versions containing the same code path. The vulnerability was reported by the static analysis tool smatch and has been publicly disclosed on 21 October 2024. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The vulnerability impacts the AMD GPU driver within the Linux kernel, which is widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems running Linux, especially those with AMD graphics hardware. The flaw could be triggered by malicious or malformed input that causes the kernel to execute the vulnerable code path, resulting in a denial of service via kernel panic or crash. While this does not directly lead to privilege escalation or code execution, the resulting system instability can disrupt operations and potentially be leveraged in multi-stage attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-49913 primarily involves potential denial of service conditions on Linux systems using AMD GPUs. This includes enterprise servers, workstations, and cloud infrastructure running Linux kernels with the affected AMD GPU driver code. Organizations relying on Linux for critical infrastructure, data centers, or cloud services could experience system crashes or reboots, leading to service interruptions and operational downtime. Industries such as finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, and public sector entities that deploy AMD GPU-enabled Linux systems are at risk. The vulnerability does not appear to allow unauthorized access or data compromise directly but can degrade system availability, which is critical for business continuity. Additionally, the disruption could be exploited as part of a broader attack chain, especially in environments where attackers have some level of access or can deliver crafted workloads. Given the widespread use of Linux in European IT environments and the popularity of AMD hardware for cost-effective GPU acceleration, the vulnerability poses a tangible risk to system stability if unpatched. However, the absence of known exploits and the requirement for triggering specific kernel code paths somewhat limits immediate widespread impact.

European organizations should prioritize applying the patch that adds the null pointer check in the commit_planes_for_stream function as soon as it becomes available in their Linux kernel distributions. System administrators should monitor vendor advisories and update Linux kernels to versions that include the fix corresponding to commit 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 or later. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations can mitigate risk by restricting untrusted users from accessing systems with AMD GPUs or limiting the ability to load or execute untrusted kernel modules or drivers. Monitoring kernel logs for signs of crashes or instability related to the AMD GPU driver can help detect attempted exploitation. In virtualized or containerized environments, isolating workloads that use AMD GPU passthrough or acceleration can reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also review system hardening policies to minimize kernel attack vectors and ensure that only trusted code runs with kernel privileges. Finally, organizations should incorporate this vulnerability into their vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure timely detection and remediation.