CVE-2024-53060 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) subsystem for AMD GPUs (amdgpu driver). The issue arises from improper handling of the return value of the function acpi_evaluate_object(), which can return AE_NOT_FOUND when the ATIF (ATI Function) is not supported. In such cases, the code previously did not properly check for this failure condition and proceeded to dereference a NULL pointer (buffer.pointer or obj), leading to a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability. Although the scenario may be unlikely with current code paths, the vulnerability represents a potential stability and security risk because dereferencing a NULL pointer can cause kernel crashes (denial of service) or potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation if exploited in conjunction with other bugs. The vulnerability was detected by static analysis tools (Coverity) and fixed by adding proper checks to bail out when AE_NOT_FOUND is returned, preventing the NULL pointer dereference. The fix was backported to multiple affected Linux kernel versions. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. This vulnerability is a memory safety issue in a critical kernel driver component that handles GPU hardware interaction, which is widely used in Linux-based systems.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53060 primarily involves system stability and potential denial of service on Linux systems using AMD GPUs with the affected amdgpu driver versions. Since the vulnerability can cause kernel crashes due to NULL pointer dereference, critical servers, workstations, or embedded devices running vulnerable Linux kernels may experience unexpected reboots or downtime. While direct exploitation for privilege escalation is not confirmed, the vulnerability increases the attack surface and could be chained with other vulnerabilities for more severe attacks. Organizations relying on Linux for infrastructure, cloud services, or desktop environments with AMD GPU hardware could face operational disruptions. Additionally, industries with high availability requirements such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing in Europe may be particularly sensitive to such kernel-level faults. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the widespread use of Linux and AMD GPUs means timely patching is important to maintain system integrity and availability.

European organizations should prioritize updating Linux kernels to versions that include the patch for CVE-2024-53060. This involves applying vendor-supplied kernel updates or recompiling the kernel with the fix if using custom builds. System administrators should verify that the amdgpu driver is updated and confirm that the kernel version corresponds to the patched commits. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations can consider temporarily disabling the amdgpu driver if AMD GPU functionality is not critical, to mitigate risk of kernel crashes. Monitoring system logs for kernel oops or crashes related to amdgpu can help detect attempts to trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should maintain robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize downtime in case of crashes. Security teams should also stay alert for any emerging exploit reports and coordinate with Linux distribution vendors for timely security advisories. Finally, testing patches in staging environments before production deployment will ensure stability and compatibility.