CVE-2024-46805 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amdgpu: fix the waring dereferencing hive
Check the amdgpu_hive_info *hive that maybe is NULL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46805 resides within the Linux kernel's amdgpu driver component, specifically affecting the display subsystem's handling of hardware abstraction layer operations. This issue manifests in the drm/amdgpu subsystem where the driver fails to properly validate pointer references before dereferencing them, creating a potential pathway for system instability or privilege escalation. The flaw occurs during the processing of hardware information structures related to AMD GPU configurations, where the code attempts to access a pointer that may not have been properly initialized or allocated.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate null pointer validation within the amdgpu_hive_info data structure handling mechanism. When the driver processes GPU hardware information, it attempts to dereference a hive pointer without first confirming whether the pointer contains valid memory references. This condition creates a classic null pointer dereference scenario that can lead to kernel oops, system crashes, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL Pointer Dereference issues in software systems.
This vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the graphics driver subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system stability and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or cause denial of service conditions. The operational impact extends beyond simple system crashes as the flaw could be exploited to disrupt graphics rendering capabilities, cause unexpected system reboots, or create persistent instability in systems running AMD GPU hardware. The vulnerability affects systems where the amdgpu driver is actively managing GPU resources and processing hardware information structures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the patched kernel version that includes proper null pointer validation before dereferencing the hive pointer. System administrators should prioritize updating their kernel installations to versions containing the fix, which typically includes additional defensive programming measures such as explicit NULL checks and proper error handling routines. The fix implementation follows standard security best practices by ensuring that all pointer references are validated before access, preventing the kernel from attempting to dereference uninitialized or invalid memory addresses. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain regular kernel update schedules to address similar vulnerabilities proactively.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privileges to gain elevated system access. While the immediate impact may be limited to system stability issues, the potential for privilege escalation exists in certain configurations where the kernel's memory management can be manipulated through controlled input sequences. The fix addresses this by implementing proper defensive programming patterns that align with industry standards for kernel development and security hardening practices.