CVE-2024-49906 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2024
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/amd/display: Check null pointer before try to access it
[why & how]
Change the order of the pipe_ctx->plane_state check to ensure that plane_state is not null before accessing it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49906 resides within the Linux kernel's graphics subsystem, specifically affecting the amdgpu display driver component. This issue manifests as a potential null pointer dereference that could lead to system instability or denial of service conditions. The flaw occurs within the display management code path where the driver attempts to access plane state information without proper validation of the pointer's validity. Such vulnerabilities in graphics drivers are particularly concerning as they can affect system stability during normal display operations, potentially impacting both desktop environments and server workloads that rely on proper graphics handling.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper pointer validation within the display management logic. The drm/amd/display subsystem processes display pipeline contexts and plane states during graphics operations, but the existing code structure did not adequately verify that pipe_ctx->plane_state was not null before attempting to access its members. This ordering issue creates a race condition or logic flaw where the driver proceeds to dereference a potentially null pointer, leading to undefined behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions, representing a fundamental flaw in pointer validation that can be exploited to crash system processes or potentially escalate privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running Linux kernels with AMD graphics hardware. When triggered, the null pointer dereference can cause the graphics driver to crash, resulting in display corruption, system lockups, or complete system hang conditions. The attack surface is particularly broad as any application or user interaction that involves graphics operations on AMD hardware could potentially trigger this condition. This vulnerability affects the broader Linux ecosystem's stability, as graphics drivers are critical components in both desktop and server environments, making this a high-severity issue that requires immediate attention from system administrators and kernel maintainers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49906 focus on applying the patched kernel version that reorders the pointer validation check to ensure plane_state is verified before access. System administrators should prioritize updating their kernel installations to versions that include the fix, which typically involves applying the specific patch that moves the null pointer check before the access operation. The fix aligns with established security best practices for pointer validation and follows the principle of defensive programming. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive backup procedures for systems that cannot be immediately updated. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and defensive coding practices in kernel space, where errors can have catastrophic effects on system stability and availability. The resolution addresses the core issue by ensuring proper ordering of validation checks, which prevents the null pointer dereference condition that could be exploited to cause system instability or denial of service scenarios.