CVE-2024-46806

What it actually does

The AMD GPU driver in the Linux kernel lacks validation of partition mode values, allowing an invalid mode to reach arithmetic operations and trigger a division or modulo by zero condition.

Why it matters to the business

Systems using AMD graphics hardware on Linux may experience kernel warnings, instability, or crashes during graphics initialization or mode changes, disrupting workloads that rely on GPU acceleration.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with the ability to influence or set partition mode parameters on a vulnerable kernel could supply an invalid value, causing the driver to perform unchecked division and potentially leading to a crash or denial of service; no widespread exploitation has been observed despite mentions of kernel-related campaigns.

How to fix it

Upgrade the Linux kernel to a version containing commit d116bb921e8b104f45d1f30a473ea99ef4262b9a; the go-ethereum package is unrelated to this issue and requires no action for this vulnerability.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the presence of the fix commit in the running kernel source or verify that the amdgpu driver now returns an error for invalid partition modes before proceeding with arithmetic operations.

Typical attack path

1. Identify a Linux system running a vulnerable kernel version with AMD GPU hardware
2. Obtain local access or privileges sufficient to interact with the DRM subsystem
3. Trigger or manipulate an invalid partition mode value
4. Cause the driver to execute division or modulo by zero

How to detect it

Search kernel logs and dmesg output for amdgpu-related division or modulo warnings; monitor for unexpected GPU resets or failures during partition mode changes on affected kernels.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize kernel updates on all AMD GPU Linux hosts within standard patch cycles
• Review graphics driver logs for division-by-zero warnings as a temporary detection measure
• Limit untrusted local access to systems until patches are applied