CVE-2024-50291 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) core subsystem. The issue arises from the function dvb_vb2_expbuf(), which is responsible for handling buffer operations related to DVB video buffers. The vulnerability is due to a missing validation check on the buffer index parameter. Without verifying whether the provided buffer index corresponds to a valid buffer, the function could potentially access invalid memory regions. This lack of boundary checking can lead to undefined behavior such as memory corruption, which might be exploited to cause denial of service (system crashes) or potentially escalate privileges if an attacker can manipulate kernel memory. The vulnerability affects versions of the Linux kernel identified by the commit hash 7dc866df40127dceac9ba83ae16c0c11e7d1666f, and the issue was publicly disclosed on November 19, 2024. The Linux maintainers have addressed this by adding the missing buffer index validation to ensure that only valid buffer indices are processed, mitigating the risk of out-of-bounds memory access. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to systems running Linux kernels with DVB support enabled, which is common in media servers, broadcast infrastructure, and some embedded devices. Exploitation could lead to system instability or crashes, affecting availability of critical services. In environments where untrusted users or processes have access to DVB device interfaces, there is a risk of privilege escalation or kernel memory corruption, potentially compromising system integrity and confidentiality. Organizations relying on Linux-based media streaming, broadcasting, or video processing infrastructure could face operational disruptions. Additionally, if exploited in multi-tenant environments such as cloud or hosting providers, the vulnerability could be leveraged to escape container or virtual machine isolation, impacting broader infrastructure security. However, the absence of known exploits and the requirement for access to DVB device interfaces somewhat limits the immediate risk.

European organizations should promptly apply the Linux kernel patches that address this vulnerability by incorporating the updated dvb-core module with the added buffer index validation. System administrators should verify that all Linux systems, especially those involved in media processing or broadcasting, are running updated kernel versions. Restrict access to DVB device interfaces to trusted users and processes only, employing strict access controls and mandatory access control (MAC) frameworks such as SELinux or AppArmor to limit potential exploitation vectors. Regularly audit and monitor kernel logs for unusual activity related to DVB devices. For environments using containerization or virtualization, ensure that device passthrough is tightly controlled and that unprivileged containers do not have direct access to DVB devices. Finally, maintain an up-to-date inventory of Linux kernel versions deployed across the organization to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable systems.