CVE-2024-26874: drm/mediatek: Fix a null pointer crash in mtk_drm_crtc_finish_page_flip
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm/mediatek: Fix a null pointer crash in mtk_drm_crtc_finish_page_flip
It's possible that mtk_crtc->event is NULL in
mtk_drm_crtc_finish_page_flip().
pending_needs_vblank value is set by mtk_crtc->event, but in
mtk_drm_crtc_atomic_flush(), it's is not guarded by the same
lock in mtk_drm_finish_page_flip(), thus a race condition happens.
Consider the following case:
CPU1 CPU2
step 1:
mtk_drm_crtc_atomic_begin()
mtk_crtc->event is not null,
step 1:
mtk_drm_crtc_atomic_flush:
mtk_drm_crtc_update_config(
!!mtk_crtc->event)
step 2:
mtk_crtc_ddp_irq ->
mtk_drm_finish_page_flip:
lock
mtk_crtc->event set to null,
pending_needs_vblank set to false
unlock
pending_needs_vblank set to true,
step 2:
mtk_crtc_ddp_irq ->
mtk_drm_finish_page_flip called again,
pending_needs_vblank is still true
//null pointer
Instead of guarding the entire mtk_drm_crtc_atomic_flush(), it's more
efficient to just check if mtk_crtc->event is null before use.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-26874 is a Linux kernel bug in the MediaTek DRM display driver. A timing race can make the kernel use a missing page-flip event and crash. The business impact is mainly device instability or denial of service on systems using the affected MediaTek graphics path.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted availability risk, not a broad internet-facing emergency based on current evidence. Patch affected MediaTek-based Linux endpoints or appliances through normal kernel maintenance, faster where device uptime is operationally important.
Technical view
The flaw is a race in mtk_drm_crtc_finish_page_flip/mtk_drm_finish_page_flip involving mtk_crtc->event and pending_needs_vblank. mtk_drm_crtc_atomic_flush can set pending_needs_vblank based on stale event state while another path clears the event under lock, leading to a null pointer dereference.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the MediaTek DRM driver and affected kernel code. General Linux servers without MediaTek display hardware or this driver enabled are less likely to be exposed. The source bundle does not provide a precise exploitable version range beyond Linux affected-version metadata and stable fixes.
Exploitation context
No CISA KEV listing is provided and the source bundle does not cite active exploitation. The public description frames this as a kernel race causing a null pointer crash, not as code execution or privilege escalation. Exploitability conditions are not fully documented in the supplied sources.
Researcher notes
The key evidence is the kernel fix rationale: event state is checked without equivalent locking across atomic_flush and finish_page_flip. The remediation changes behavior by checking whether mtk_crtc->event is null before use. Source data lacks CVSS, CWE, attacker prerequisites, and confirmed exploit reports.
Mitigation direction
Apply the relevant Linux stable kernel update containing the referenced fix.
Prioritize devices using MediaTek display hardware or DRM driver support.
Check distribution advisories, including Debian LTS, for packaged kernel updates.
If patching is delayed, review whether the MediaTek DRM driver is required.
Avoid claiming remediation complete until the running kernel includes the fix.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux hosts for MediaTek display hardware and enabled MediaTek DRM modules.
Compare running kernel versions against vendor or distribution fixed packages.
Confirm the relevant stable patch is present in kernel source or package changelog.
Review crash logs for null pointer faults in MediaTek DRM page-flip paths.
Track Debian LTS and kernel stable advisories for backport coverage.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CVE-2024-26874 mapping review
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