CVE-2024-26941 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/dp: Fix divide-by-zero regression on DP MST unplug with nouveau
Fix a regression when using nouveau and unplugging a StarTech MSTDP122DP DisplayPort 1.2 MST hub (the same regression does not appear when using a Cable Matters DisplayPort 1.4 MST hub). Trace:
divide error: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP PTI
CPU: 7 PID: 2962 Comm: Xorg Not tainted 6.8.0-rc3+ #744 Hardware name: Razer Blade/DANA_MB, BIOS 01.01 08/31/2018 RIP: 0010:drm_dp_bw_overhead+0xb4/0x110 [drm_display_helper]
Code: c6 b8 01 00 00 00 75 61 01 c6 41 0f af f3 41 0f af f1 c1 e1 04 48 63 c7 31 d2 89 ff 48 8b 5d f8 c9 48 0f af f1 48 8d 44 06 ff f7 f7 31 d2 31 c9 31 f6 31 ff 45 31 c0 45 31 c9 45 31 d2 45 31 RSP: 0018:ffffb2c5c211fa30 EFLAGS: 00010206 RAX: ffffffffffffffff RBX: 0000000000000000 RCX: 0000000000f59b00 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: 0000000000000000 RBP: ffffb2c5c211fa48 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000020 R10: 0000000000000004 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: 0000000000023b4a R13: ffff91d37d165800 R14: ffff91d36fac6d80 R15: ffff91d34a764010 FS: 00007f4a1ca3fa80(0000) GS:ffff91d6edbc0000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000559491d49000 CR3: 000000011d180002 CR4: 00000000003706f0 Call Trace: ? show_regs+0x6d/0x80 ? die+0x37/0xa0 ? do_trap+0xd4/0xf0 ? do_error_trap+0x71/0xb0 ? drm_dp_bw_overhead+0xb4/0x110 [drm_display_helper]
? exc_divide_error+0x3a/0x70 ? drm_dp_bw_overhead+0xb4/0x110 [drm_display_helper]
? asm_exc_divide_error+0x1b/0x20 ? drm_dp_bw_overhead+0xb4/0x110 [drm_display_helper]
? drm_dp_calc_pbn_mode+0x2e/0x70 [drm_display_helper]
nv50_msto_atomic_check+0xda/0x120 [nouveau]
drm_atomic_helper_check_modeset+0xa87/0xdf0 [drm_kms_helper]
drm_atomic_helper_check+0x19/0xa0 [drm_kms_helper]
nv50_disp_atomic_check+0x13f/0x2f0 [nouveau]
drm_atomic_check_only+0x668/0xb20 [drm]
? drm_connector_list_iter_next+0x86/0xc0 [drm]
drm_atomic_commit+0x58/0xd0 [drm]
? __pfx___drm_printfn_info+0x10/0x10 [drm]
drm_atomic_connector_commit_dpms+0xd7/0x100 [drm]
drm_mode_obj_set_property_ioctl+0x1c5/0x450 [drm]
? __pfx_drm_connector_property_set_ioctl+0x10/0x10 [drm]
drm_connector_property_set_ioctl+0x3b/0x60 [drm]
drm_ioctl_kernel+0xb9/0x120 [drm]
drm_ioctl+0x2d0/0x550 [drm]
? __pfx_drm_connector_property_set_ioctl+0x10/0x10 [drm]
nouveau_drm_ioctl+0x61/0xc0 [nouveau]
__x64_sys_ioctl+0xa0/0xf0 do_syscall_64+0x76/0x140 ? do_syscall_64+0x85/0x140 ? do_syscall_64+0x85/0x140 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x76 RIP: 0033:0x7f4a1cd1a94f Code: 00 48 89 44 24 18 31 c0 48 8d 44 24 60 c7 04 24 10 00 00 00 48 89 44 24 08 48 8d 44 24 20 48 89 44 24 10 b8 10 00 00 00 0f 05 89 c0 3d 00 f0 ff ff 77 1f 48 8b 44 24 18 64 48 2b 04 25 28 00 RSP: 002b:00007ffd2f1df520 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 0000000000000010 RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 00007ffd2f1df5b0 RCX: 00007f4a1cd1a94f RDX: 00007ffd2f1df5b0 RSI: 00000000c01064ab RDI: 000000000000000f RBP: 00000000c01064ab R08: 000056347932deb8 R09: 000056347a7d99c0 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 000056347938a220 R13: 000000000000000f R14: 0000563479d9f3f0 R15: 0000000000000000 Modules linked in: rfcomm xt_conntrack nft_chain_nat xt_MASQUERADE nf_nat nf_conntrack_netlink nf_conntrack nf_defrag_ipv6 nf_defrag_ipv4 xfrm_user xfrm_algo xt_addrtype nft_compat nf_tables nfnetlink br_netfilter bridge stp llc ccm cmac algif_hash overlay algif_skcipher af_alg bnep binfmt_misc snd_sof_pci_intel_cnl snd_sof_intel_hda_common snd_soc_hdac_hda snd_sof_pci snd_sof_xtensa_dsp snd_sof_intel_hda snd_sof snd_sof_utils snd_soc_acpi_intel_match snd_soc_acpi snd_soc_core snd_compress snd_sof_intel_hda_mlink snd_hda_ext_core iwlmvm intel_rapl_msr intel_rapl_common intel_tcc_cooling x86_pkg_temp_thermal intel_powerclamp mac80211 coretemp kvm_intel snd_hda_codec_hdmi kvm snd_hda_ ---truncated---
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-26941 represents a divide-by-zero error occurring within the Linux kernel's display subsystem, specifically affecting DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport (MST) operations when using the nouveau graphics driver. This issue arises during the unplugging of certain DisplayPort MST hubs, leading to a kernel oops and potential system instability. The flaw is rooted in the drm_dp_bw_overhead function within the drm_display_helper kernel module, which attempts to perform a division operation that results in a zero denominator under specific conditions related to MST hub configurations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-369, which defines the weakness of divide-by-zero errors in software systems. The error manifests when the kernel calculates bandwidth overhead for DisplayPort MST connections, where an improper division operation occurs when dealing with certain hub models, specifically the StarTech MSTDP122DP DisplayPort 1.2 MST hub. This behavior does not occur with the Cable Matters DisplayPort 1.4 MST hub, indicating that the issue is tied to specific hardware compatibility and driver handling rather than a generic kernel flaw. The stack trace shows the execution path leading to the divide error through the nouveau driver's atomic check functions, eventually reaching the drm_dp_bw_overhead function where the kernel traps the divide-by-zero exception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems using the nouveau driver with specific MST hardware configurations. When an affected MST hub is unplugged, the kernel will crash with a divide error, potentially causing system hangs or reboots. This affects desktop and laptop systems using NVIDIA graphics hardware with MST-capable displays, particularly those connected through the problematic StarTech hubs. The vulnerability can be exploited by any process that triggers the MST connection state change, making it a potential denial-of-service vector that could impact user productivity and system reliability in multi-monitor setups.
Mitigation strategies should focus on avoiding the specific hardware combination that triggers this issue, which includes the StarTech MSTDP122DP hub with the nouveau driver. System administrators should consider upgrading to kernel versions that include the fix, which resolves the divide-by-zero condition in the drm_dp_bw_overhead function. Alternative approaches include switching to the proprietary NVIDIA driver, which may handle these MST scenarios more robustly, or using different MST hub hardware that does not trigger the problematic code path. For environments where the affected hardware must be retained, monitoring and alerting systems should be implemented to detect and respond to kernel oops events that may indicate this vulnerability's exploitation. The fix should be applied as part of routine kernel updates, following standard security patch management procedures to maintain system integrity and prevent potential escalation to more serious compromise scenarios.