CVE-2024-53682 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the regulator driver for the AXP20x family of power management ICs, specifically the AXP717 model. The issue concerns the handling of the ramp_delay parameter, which controls the voltage regulator's ramping speed during dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) operations of the CPU. The AXP717 datasheet specifies a ramp delay of 15.625 microseconds per step, corresponding to a 10mV increment in voltage. The vulnerability arises from incorrect or missing ramp_delay configuration in the kernel's regulator driver macros (AXP_DESC_RANGES and AXP_DESC), which previously did not account for this delay, potentially causing improper voltage ramping. This misconfiguration can lead to kernel crashes when CPU DVFS is active, impacting system stability and availability. The patch introduces new macros (AXP_DESC_RANGES_DELAY and AXP_DESC_DELAY) to correctly set the ramp_delay parameter, ensuring voltage changes occur within the hardware specifications and preventing crashes. The affected Linux kernel versions include the commit identified by hash d2ac3df75c3a995064cfac0171e082a30d8c4c66. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability is technical and specific to power management on systems using the AXP717 regulator hardware under Linux kernel control, particularly affecting CPU DVFS functionality.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53682 primarily concerns system stability and availability rather than direct confidentiality or integrity breaches. Systems running Linux kernels with the affected AXP717 regulator driver and employing CPU DVFS may experience kernel crashes, leading to unexpected reboots or downtime. This can disrupt critical services, especially in environments relying on Linux-based embedded systems, IoT devices, or specialized hardware platforms using the AXP717 power management IC. Industries such as telecommunications, manufacturing automation, and critical infrastructure that deploy Linux on embedded devices could face operational interruptions. While no direct data compromise is indicated, the availability impact could affect service continuity and operational reliability. Since no known exploits exist, the threat is currently low in terms of active attacks but requires timely patching to prevent stability issues. The vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or remote code execution but could indirectly affect system reliability and uptime.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53682, European organizations should: 1) Identify Linux systems using the AXP717 regulator hardware, particularly those employing CPU DVFS. 2) Update the Linux kernel to the latest version that includes the patch fixing the ramp_delay handling in the regulator driver. This involves applying the patch that introduces AXP_DESC_RANGES_DELAY and AXP_DESC_DELAY macros with correct ramp_delay values. 3) For embedded or custom Linux distributions, rebuild the kernel with the updated driver code to ensure the fix is incorporated. 4) Conduct thorough testing of power management and CPU DVFS functionality post-patch to confirm system stability. 5) Monitor system logs for kernel crashes or voltage regulator errors as indicators of the vulnerability's impact. 6) Coordinate with hardware vendors to confirm compatibility and support for the patched driver. 7) Implement robust system monitoring and automated reboot prevention mechanisms to reduce downtime if crashes occur before patching. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on hardware-specific driver updates and operational validation in affected environments.