CVE-2024-53132 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) subsystem for Intel Xe graphics (xe driver). The issue pertains to a missing outer runtime power management (PM) protection, which triggers warnings such as "Missing outer runtime PM protection" in the kernel logs. The vulnerability is linked to improper handling of runtime PM in the drm/xe/oa (Open Analytics) component, which is responsible for managing GPU power states and telemetry data. The problem manifests as drm_WARN kernel warnings indicating that certain power management calls are made without the necessary outer runtime PM protection, potentially leading to race conditions or improper resource management. The fix involves ensuring that runtime PM calls are properly protected and synchronized, preventing these warnings and stabilizing GPU power management. The vulnerability was addressed by a patch cherry-picked from commit b107c63d2953907908fd0cafb0e543b3c3167b75. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The affected versions correspond to specific Linux kernel commits identified by their hashes, indicating this is a recent and targeted fix in the kernel source. This vulnerability is primarily relevant to systems running Linux kernels with Intel Xe graphics support where runtime PM is utilized.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53132 is likely limited but non-negligible. The vulnerability affects the Linux kernel's GPU power management subsystem for Intel Xe graphics, which are commonly found in modern Intel processors integrated with Xe graphics. Organizations relying on Linux servers or workstations with Intel Xe graphics could experience system instability, increased power consumption, or degraded GPU performance due to improper power management. Although no direct exploitation or privilege escalation has been reported, the underlying issue could potentially be leveraged in complex attack scenarios to cause denial of service (system crashes or GPU hangs) or to interfere with GPU telemetry data integrity. This could impact sectors such as research institutions, media companies, or any enterprise using Linux-based systems with Intel Xe graphics for compute or graphical workloads. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched systems may face increased operational risks and potential future exploitation as attackers analyze the vulnerability.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53132, European organizations should: 1) Apply the latest Linux kernel updates that include the patch for this vulnerability, ensuring the commit b107c63d2953907908fd0cafb0e543b3c3167b75 or equivalent fix is present. 2) Validate that all systems using Intel Xe graphics have runtime PM enabled and properly configured to avoid inconsistent power states. 3) Monitor kernel logs for drm_WARN messages related to runtime PM to detect any residual issues. 4) For critical systems, consider temporarily disabling runtime PM for the affected GPU driver as a short-term workaround if patching is delayed, understanding this may increase power consumption. 5) Maintain strict update policies for Linux kernels, especially on systems with integrated Intel Xe graphics, to promptly incorporate security fixes. 6) Engage with hardware vendors and Linux distribution maintainers to confirm timely delivery of patched kernels. 7) Implement comprehensive system monitoring to detect anomalies in GPU behavior or system stability that could indicate exploitation attempts.