CVE-2024-56697 addresses a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's AMDGPU driver, specifically within the function amdgpu_discovery_get_nps_info(). This function is responsible for retrieving information about the number of performance states (NPS) and memory ranges related to AMD GPUs. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory allocation failures. Initially, the function did not check if the memory allocation for mem_ranges succeeded, which could lead to dereferencing a null pointer, causing a kernel crash or potential escalation of privileges. Additionally, the original code used an allocation method that did not guard against multiplication overflow, which could result in allocating less memory than intended, leading to buffer overflows or memory corruption. The fix involves two key improvements: first, adding explicit checks for allocation failure to prevent null pointer dereferences; second, replacing the allocation function with kvcalloc(), which inherently checks for multiplication overflow, enhancing memory safety. Furthermore, the patch ensures that output parameters nps_type and range_cnt are only assigned after successful memory allocation, preventing inconsistent or erroneous output in case of failure. This vulnerability is a memory management flaw in a critical kernel driver component, which could be exploited to cause denial of service via kernel panic or potentially enable privilege escalation if an attacker can manipulate the driver inputs. However, there are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and the vulnerability requires interaction with the AMDGPU driver, which is specific to systems running AMD graphics hardware on Linux kernels containing the affected code versions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-56697 depends largely on their deployment of Linux systems with AMD GPUs, particularly in environments where kernel stability and security are critical. Exploitation could lead to system crashes (denial of service), disrupting services and operations, especially in data centers, cloud providers, and enterprises relying on Linux servers with AMD graphics hardware. In more targeted scenarios, if an attacker gains local access, this vulnerability might be leveraged for privilege escalation, compromising system integrity and confidentiality. Given the widespread use of Linux in European public sector institutions, research centers, and technology companies, any instability or security breach could have significant operational and reputational consequences. However, since no public exploits are known and exploitation requires specific hardware and kernel versions, the immediate risk is moderate. Organizations using AMD GPUs in desktop or workstation environments may face less severe impacts but should still consider the vulnerability in their security posture.

European organizations should promptly apply the official Linux kernel patches that address CVE-2024-56697 as soon as they are available from their Linux distribution vendors. Until patches are deployed, organizations can mitigate risk by limiting untrusted user access to systems with AMD GPUs and monitoring for unusual system crashes or kernel panics related to the AMDGPU driver. System administrators should verify the kernel versions in use and identify systems with AMD graphics hardware to prioritize patching. Additionally, employing kernel hardening techniques such as SELinux or AppArmor can reduce the risk of privilege escalation. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling or unloading the AMDGPU driver if the GPU is not critical to operations, though this may impact functionality. Regularly auditing system logs for anomalies related to the amdgpu driver and maintaining up-to-date backups will also help in recovery if exploitation occurs.