CVE-2024-58034 is a high-severity use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in the Linux kernel, specifically within the memory management code related to the Tegra20 EMC (External Memory Controller) driver. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of device tree nodes in the function tegra_emc_find_node_by_ram_code(). The root cause is that this function releases references to device nodes prematurely while they are still in use, due to incorrect use of the of_find_node_by_name() API. This leads to potential use-after-free conditions, which can cause memory corruption. The vulnerability affects the Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 96e5da7c842424bcf64afe1082b960b42b96190b. The issue was discovered through an experimental verification tool and fixed by changing the code to use safer device tree traversal macros such as for_each_child_of_node() and of_get_child_by_name(), which correctly manage node references. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free) and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8, indicating high severity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning exploitation could lead to full system compromise or denial of service. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability is specific to the Tegra20 platform, which is an NVIDIA SoC commonly used in embedded systems and some Linux-based devices. The fix involves proper reference counting and node traversal to prevent premature freeing of device nodes.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-58034 depends largely on the presence of Linux systems running on Tegra20-based hardware. Such hardware is typically found in embedded devices, industrial control systems, automotive infotainment, and specialized computing platforms rather than general-purpose servers or desktops. If these devices are part of critical infrastructure, manufacturing environments, or IoT deployments, exploitation could lead to local privilege escalation, arbitrary code execution, or denial of service, potentially disrupting operations or enabling lateral movement within networks. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, attackers could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or disrupt critical services. However, the local attack vector and requirement for low privileges limit remote exploitation, meaning attackers would need initial access to the device. European organizations using Tegra20-based Linux devices in sensitive environments should consider this vulnerability a significant risk, especially in sectors like automotive, manufacturing, and embedded systems in critical infrastructure.

1. Apply the official Linux kernel patches that address CVE-2024-58034 as soon as they become available from trusted sources or Linux distributions. 2. Identify all Tegra20-based devices running vulnerable Linux kernel versions within the organization’s environment using asset management and vulnerability scanning tools. 3. For embedded or IoT devices that cannot be easily patched, consider network segmentation and strict access controls to limit local access to these devices. 4. Implement strict privilege separation and minimize the number of users or processes with local access to affected devices to reduce the attack surface. 5. Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of exploitation attempts, such as crashes or unusual memory access patterns related to the EMC driver. 6. Engage with device vendors to obtain firmware or kernel updates if the devices are third-party products. 7. For development or testing environments, use static and dynamic analysis tools to detect similar use-after-free issues proactively. 8. Educate system administrators and security teams about the specific nature of this vulnerability to ensure timely response and patch management.