CVE-2024-58054 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the max96712 module, which is part of the staging media drivers. The issue arises during the removal of the max96712 kernel module, where a kernel oops (a type of kernel crash) occurs due to an invalid memory access. The root cause is a pointer mismanagement in the v4l2_i2c_subdev_init() function, where i2c_set_clientdata() is called multiple times, causing the client data pointer to be overwritten incorrectly. Instead of pointing to the private data structure (priv), it points to the sub-device structure (sd). Consequently, when the module is removed, the wrong pointer is passed to v4l2_async_unregister_subdev(), leading to a kernel paging fault and crash. The crash details indicate a level 0 translation fault during a data abort, which is symptomatic of dereferencing an invalid or NULL pointer in kernel space. This vulnerability is specific to the max96712 driver used on certain NXP i.MX95 hardware platforms and is triggered during module unload operations. There is no evidence of known exploits in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the faulty max96712 module implementation, as indicated by the affected commit hashes. The issue is technical and low-level, impacting kernel stability and reliability rather than directly enabling privilege escalation or remote code execution. However, kernel crashes can lead to denial of service conditions and potential system instability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-58054 is on systems running Linux kernels with the vulnerable max96712 module, particularly those deployed on NXP i.MX95-based embedded platforms. Such platforms are commonly used in industrial control systems, IoT devices, and specialized media processing equipment. A kernel oops during module removal can cause system crashes or reboots, leading to denial of service (DoS). This can disrupt critical operations, especially in industrial environments or telecommunications infrastructure. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or remote exploitation, the instability it causes could be exploited indirectly by attackers to degrade service availability. European organizations relying on embedded Linux devices with this hardware and driver combination may face operational disruptions. Additionally, the lack of a patch or exploit in the wild suggests the threat is currently low but should be addressed proactively to maintain system reliability and security compliance.

Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Applying the official Linux kernel patches that fix the pointer handling in the max96712 driver as soon as they become available. Monitoring Linux kernel mailing lists and vendor advisories for updates is critical. 2) Avoid unloading the max96712 module dynamically if possible, especially in production environments, to prevent triggering the kernel oops. 3) For embedded device manufacturers and integrators, consider updating the device firmware to include the patched kernel version. 4) Implement robust monitoring and alerting for kernel oops and crashes on affected systems to detect any attempts to exploit or trigger the vulnerability. 5) Conduct thorough testing of kernel module unload operations in staging environments before deployment. 6) If immediate patching is not feasible, isolate affected devices from critical networks to reduce impact of potential DoS conditions. 7) Engage with hardware vendors (e.g., NXP) for any platform-specific guidance or firmware updates related to this vulnerability.