CVE-2024-47752 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: mediatek: vcodec: Fix H264 stateless decoder smatch warning
Fix a smatch static checker warning on vdec_h264_req_if.c. Which leads to a kernel crash when fb is NULL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47752 resides within the Linux kernel's media subsystem, specifically affecting the Mediatek video codec driver implementation. This issue manifests in the H264 stateless decoder component where a static analysis tool known as smatch has detected a potential warning condition. The flaw occurs within the vdec_h264_req_if.c source file which governs the handling of H264 video decoding operations for Mediatek hardware platforms. The vulnerability represents a classic null pointer dereference scenario where the framebuffer reference becomes null during decoder operation, leading to system instability and potential kernel panic conditions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate null pointer validation within the video decoder state management logic. When the framebuffer pointer fb is not properly initialized or becomes invalid during the H264 decoding process, the kernel attempts to access memory locations through this null reference. This condition violates fundamental memory safety principles and constitutes a CWE-476 Null Pointer Dereference vulnerability pattern. The smatch static analysis tool identifies this potential issue during code inspection, flagging the absence of proper null checks before framebuffer access operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Shell Script, as it represents an indirect execution path that can lead to system compromise through kernel-level memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple kernel crashes to potentially compromise the entire system stability during video processing operations. When the decoder encounters a null framebuffer reference, the kernel's memory management subsystem may experience critical failures, resulting in immediate system termination or reboot cycles. This vulnerability particularly affects devices utilizing Mediatek SoCs that implement H264 decoding capabilities, including various smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems. The crash condition can occur during normal video playback scenarios, making it a significant concern for end-users and system administrators. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases when considering that such kernel-level issues can provide attackers with opportunities for privilege escalation or denial-of-service attacks against legitimate system operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-47752 should prioritize applying the official kernel patches that address the null pointer dereference condition in the vdec_h264_req_if.c file. System administrators should ensure all Mediatek-based devices receive timely kernel updates from their respective vendors, particularly focusing on media driver components. The fix typically involves implementing proper null pointer validation before framebuffer access operations, ensuring that the fb pointer is checked for validity before any memory dereference occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect kernel-level anomalies and provide early warning systems for similar memory corruption conditions. Additionally, regular security assessments of kernel components and static analysis of source code should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in production environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive code review processes and static analysis tool integration within security development lifecycle practices.