CVE-2024-50295 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the handling of Direct Memory Access (DMA) mappings within the ARC network device driver. The issue arises due to improper device referencing during DMA operations, specifically the incorrect use of device pointers for dma_map_single and dma_unmap_single functions. The vulnerability stems from the fact that the network device's device structure (ndev->dev) and the platform device's device structure (pdev->dev) are not the same, and the correct device to use for DMA mapping should be ndev->dev.parent, which holds the appropriate dma_mask. Failure to use the correct device pointer can lead to kernel warnings and potentially unstable behavior, as indicated by the kernel warning message logged during the dma_map_page_attrs function execution. This suggests that the kernel may attempt to perform DMA operations with incorrect device context, which could cause memory mapping errors or kernel crashes. Although the vulnerability does not currently have known exploits in the wild, it represents a flaw in kernel memory management that could be leveraged in more complex attack scenarios or lead to denial of service conditions. The affected versions are specific Linux kernel commits identified by their hashes, indicating that this vulnerability is present in certain recent kernel builds prior to the patch. The issue was publicly disclosed on November 19, 2024, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have significant implications, especially for those relying on Linux-based infrastructure in networking and embedded systems that use the ARC architecture or similar DMA operations. The improper handling of DMA mappings can lead to kernel instability, resulting in system crashes or denial of service, which can disrupt critical services and operations. In environments where Linux kernels are deployed in servers, network appliances, or IoT devices, exploitation or triggering of this vulnerability could degrade system availability and reliability. Although there is no evidence of active exploitation, the potential for attackers to cause service interruptions or leverage this flaw as part of a larger attack chain cannot be dismissed. Confidentiality and integrity impacts appear limited based on current information, as the vulnerability primarily affects kernel memory mapping and device handling rather than direct data exposure or privilege escalation. However, system availability is at risk, which is critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government services prevalent in Europe.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to the latest patched versions that address CVE-2024-50295. Since the vulnerability is related to specific kernel commits, applying official kernel patches or upgrading to a kernel version released after November 19, 2024, that includes the fix is essential. For organizations using custom or embedded Linux distributions, verifying the kernel source and backporting the fix may be necessary. Additionally, organizations should audit their use of ARC network devices and DMA operations to identify potentially affected systems. Implementing kernel crash monitoring and alerting can help detect attempts to trigger this vulnerability. Network segmentation and limiting access to critical Linux systems can reduce the attack surface. Finally, maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures will mitigate the impact of potential denial of service incidents caused by this vulnerability.