CVE-2024-36951 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amdkfd: range check cp bad op exception interrupts
Due to a CP interrupt bug, bad packet garbage exception codes are raised. Do a range check so that the debugger and runtime do not receive garbage codes. Update the user api to guard exception code type checking as well.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36951 affects the Linux kernel's graphics subsystem, specifically within the amdkfd driver component that handles AMD GPU functionality. This issue resides in the Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) framework which provides kernel-level support for graphics hardware acceleration. The flaw manifests in how the kernel processes interrupt notifications from the Command Processor (CP) unit within AMD GPUs, creating a potential vector for system instability or information disclosure.
The technical root cause involves improper validation of exception codes generated by the CP interrupt mechanism. When malformed or corrupted packet data is processed, the system generates bad packet garbage exception codes that are not properly validated before being forwarded to debugger and runtime components. This lack of range checking allows invalid interrupt codes to propagate through the system, potentially causing unexpected behavior in graphics applications or system monitoring tools. The vulnerability specifically targets the communication channel between GPU hardware interrupts and kernel-level software components responsible for handling graphics processing exceptions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially enable privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. When garbage exception codes are passed to user-space applications or debugging interfaces, it can cause crashes in graphics drivers, rendering applications, or system monitoring tools that rely on proper exception code validation. This issue particularly affects systems utilizing AMD GPU hardware with the amdkfd driver, potentially compromising the reliability of graphics-intensive applications and gaming environments. The vulnerability creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the lack of proper input validation in interrupt handling mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive range checking mechanisms within the kernel's interrupt handling code for the amdkfd driver. System administrators should ensure kernel updates are applied promptly to address this vulnerability, as the fix requires modifications to both kernel-level interrupt processing and user API validation logic. The solution involves updating the kernel's exception code type checking to prevent invalid codes from being forwarded to user-space components, aligning with best practices for input validation and error handling. Additionally, implementing proper logging mechanisms for invalid interrupt codes can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide forensic data for security analysis.
This vulnerability relates to CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, both of which are commonly exploited in kernel-level security incidents. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, requiring privilege escalation to exploit the interrupt handling mechanism, and T1547, potentially allowing for persistence through corrupted interrupt handling routines. The fix addresses the underlying security weakness by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation, preventing malformed data from corrupting the graphics processing subsystem and maintaining system integrity during interrupt processing operations.