CVE-2024-50101 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's IOMMU (Input-Output Memory Management Unit) VT-d implementation. The issue arises from improper handling of device types within the domain_context_clear() function. Specifically, this function incorrectly invokes pci_for_each_dma_alias()—a routine designed to iterate over PCI device DMA aliases—on non-PCI devices. Since non-PCI devices do not have PCI DMA aliases, this misuse can cause kernel hangs or other unexpected behaviors, potentially leading to system instability or denial of service. The root cause is a missing check to differentiate PCI from non-PCI devices before calling pci_for_each_dma_alias(). The fix involves adding a conditional check to ensure pci_for_each_dma_alias() is only called for PCI devices, while non-PCI devices are handled directly via domain_context_clear_one(). This vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions identified by specific commit hashes. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the flaw impacts the kernel's core memory management for device I/O, which is critical for system stability and security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-50101 primarily concerns system availability and stability. Linux is widely deployed across European enterprises, government agencies, and cloud service providers, often running critical infrastructure and services. A kernel hang or unexpected behavior caused by this vulnerability could lead to denial of service conditions, disrupting business operations, especially in environments with heavy I/O workloads or specialized hardware relying on IOMMU VT-d features. While this vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity risks, the resulting instability could indirectly affect service reliability and availability. Organizations using Linux kernels with affected versions, particularly in data centers, telecommunications, and industrial control systems, may experience outages or degraded performance until patched. The absence of known exploits suggests a lower immediate threat, but the vulnerability's nature warrants prompt remediation to prevent potential exploitation or accidental system failures.

To mitigate CVE-2024-50101, European organizations should: 1) Identify Linux systems running affected kernel versions by comparing kernel commit hashes or version numbers against vendor advisories. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches or updates that include the fix for this vulnerability as soon as they become available from trusted sources or Linux distribution maintainers. 3) For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling VT-d/IOMMU features temporarily if they are not critical to operations, to reduce exposure. 4) Monitor system logs and kernel messages for signs of kernel hangs or unusual behavior related to device I/O operations. 5) Engage with hardware vendors to ensure firmware and drivers are compatible with patched kernels, as IOMMU functionality involves close hardware-software interaction. 6) Incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and incident response workflows to ensure timely detection and remediation.