CVE-2024-40987 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amdgpu: fix UBSAN warning in kv_dpm.c
Adds bounds check for sumo_vid_mapping_entry.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40987 resides within the Linux kernel's graphics subsystem, specifically affecting the amdgpu driver component responsible for managing AMD graphics hardware. This issue manifests as a UBSAN (Undefined Behavior Sanitizer) warning that occurs during the processing of video memory mapping entries, highlighting a potential security risk in how the kernel handles memory operations related to graphics processing units. The flaw is categorized under CWE-129 as an insufficient bounds check, which represents a fundamental weakness in input validation that could potentially be exploited to cause memory corruption or unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability impacts systems utilizing AMD graphics hardware through the amdgpu driver, particularly those running recent Linux kernel versions where the problematic code path remains active.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the kv_dpm.c source file, which manages the power management aspects of AMD graphics hardware. The specific issue occurs when processing sumo_vid_mapping_entry structures that define video memory mapping entries for graphics processing units. Without proper bounds validation, the kernel's graphics driver can potentially access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to undefined behavior that may manifest as memory corruption or information disclosure. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting weaknesses in system software to gain elevated privileges or access to sensitive system resources. The UBSAN warning indicates that the sanitizer detected an out-of-bounds memory access pattern that could potentially be leveraged by an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-40987 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks targeting graphics processing unit management within Linux systems. Systems running affected kernel versions may experience instability or crashes when handling graphics workloads that trigger the problematic code path, potentially leading to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects any system utilizing AMD graphics hardware through the amdgpu driver, including servers, workstations, and embedded systems that rely on proper graphics memory management for their operations. Security researchers have noted that such bounds checking deficiencies often serve as precursors to more serious exploitation opportunities, as they indicate broader code quality issues that may contain additional vulnerabilities. The presence of this UBSAN warning suggests that the kernel developers have identified a potential security boundary violation that could be exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities to achieve unauthorized access to system resources or escalate privileges within the graphics processing subsystem.
The recommended mitigation strategy for CVE-2024-40987 involves applying the latest kernel updates from the Linux kernel maintainers, which include the specific bounds check fix for the sumo_vid_mapping_entry structure in the kv_dpm.c file. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems to ensure that the graphics driver properly validates memory access boundaries before processing video memory mapping entries. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting graphics subsystem vulnerabilities, as the UBSAN warning indicates a potential security boundary violation that could be leveraged for more serious attacks. The fix addresses the immediate concern by implementing proper bounds checking that prevents out-of-bounds memory access, thereby eliminating the undefined behavior that could lead to system instability or potential privilege escalation. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running older kernel versions that may still be vulnerable to similar issues within the amdgpu driver codebase, particularly focusing on systems where graphics processing is a critical component of operations.