CVE-2024-26797 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amd/display: Prevent potential buffer overflow in map_hw_resources
Adds a check in the map_hw_resources function to prevent a potential buffer overflow. The function was accessing arrays using an index that could potentially be greater than the size of the arrays, leading to a buffer overflow.
Adds a check to ensure that the index is within the bounds of the arrays. If the index is out of bounds, an error message is printed and break it will continue execution with just ignoring extra data early to prevent the buffer overflow.
Reported by smatch: drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/../display/dc/dml2/dml2_wrapper.c:79 map_hw_resources() error: buffer overflow 'dml2->v20.scratch.dml_to_dc_pipe_mapping.disp_cfg_to_stream_id' 6 <= 7 drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/../display/dc/dml2/dml2_wrapper.c:81 map_hw_resources() error: buffer overflow 'dml2->v20.scratch.dml_to_dc_pipe_mapping.disp_cfg_to_plane_id' 6 <= 7
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-26797 resides within the Linux kernel's graphics subsystem, specifically in the AMD display driver component known as drm/amd/display. This flaw manifests as a potential buffer overflow condition that could be exploited to compromise system stability or potentially execute arbitrary code. The issue is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, representing a critical security concern in kernel space operations where memory corruption can lead to severe system consequences. The vulnerability impacts systems utilizing AMD graphics hardware through the AMDGPU driver implementation that manages display configuration and hardware resource mapping.
The technical flaw occurs within the map_hw_resources function located in the dml2_wrapper.c file, which handles the mapping between display configuration parameters and hardware pipe identifiers. The function processes arrays containing display configuration to stream ID mappings and display configuration to plane ID mappings without proper bounds checking on array indices. When the index value exceeds the allocated array size, the function attempts to write beyond the buffer boundaries, creating a classic buffer overflow scenario. The smatch static analysis tool identified this issue by detecting that indices of value 7 were being accessed in arrays that could only accommodate up to 6 elements, specifically in the disp_cfg_to_stream_id and disp_cfg_to_plane_id mapping arrays.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it could allow attackers with local privileges to potentially manipulate kernel memory structures and cause system instability or crashes. The buffer overflow condition specifically affects the display management subsystem where hardware resources are allocated and configured, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or more serious security implications. The vulnerability does not appear to have direct remote exploitation capabilities but could be leveraged by malicious processes with appropriate privileges to cause system-wide display failures or potentially escalate privileges through kernel memory corruption. The fix implemented addresses this by introducing proper bounds checking that validates array indices before access, ensuring that execution continues gracefully with error logging rather than allowing dangerous memory access patterns.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the kernel patch that implements the bounds checking mechanism in the map_hw_resources function. System administrators should prioritize updating to kernel versions that contain this fix, particularly those incorporating the drm/amd/display subsystem improvements. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 by addressing a privilege escalation vector through kernel memory corruption. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual display driver behavior or system crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include restricting local user privileges where possible and maintaining up-to-date kernel security patches as part of comprehensive vulnerability management programs. The fix represents a standard defensive programming practice that prevents buffer overflows by validating input parameters before memory access operations, thereby protecting against both accidental and intentional exploitation of kernel memory corruption vulnerabilities.