Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux kernel flaw in the Intel VPU accelerator driver can mishandle errors while a device starts or resumes. Competing recovery and initialization activity may dereference invalid memory and crash the kernel. The issue requires local access according to the CVSS vector, so exposed multi-user systems and endpoints using this driver deserve priority.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority stability and security update for affected endpoints, especially shared or locally accessible systems using Intel VPU acceleration. Scope exposure before emergency action because remote exploitation is not indicated. Track vendor confirmation and kernel rollout through completion.
Technical view
During ivpu_probe() or ivpu_resume(), failures in D0i3 entry, DCT initialization, or HWS initialization could incorrectly invoke recovery. Recovery could race with incomplete initialization, producing undefined behavior and null-pointer dereferences. The fix changes internal IPC operations to return errors so probe or resume performs orderly teardown or shutdown.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems using the affected accel/ivpu driver and relevant kernel code. The supplied affected-version data is ambiguous, including an unexplained “0,” so administrators should not treat it as reliable cutoff guidance. Confirm distribution kernel builds and backported fixes against the cited commits.
Exploitation context
The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local, low-privilege access required and no user interaction. The supplied record does not establish a reliable trigger method. It marks the CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit. Kernel crashes are explicitly supported; broader impacts are represented only by the CVSS assessment.
Researcher notes
Analysis should focus on error propagation and teardown during ivpu probe and resume, particularly D0i3, DCT, and HWS initialization. The three kernel.org references represent stable-branch fixes. Version normalization in the supplied bundle is insufficient for precise branch boundaries, so commit-level or distribution-level verification is necessary.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable cited stable fix.
- Confirm whether the distribution has backported the fix under a different kernel version.
- Check Linux distribution or hardware-vendor guidance for branch-specific remediation.
- Prioritize remediation on systems that load the accel/ivpu driver.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems for Intel VPU hardware and use of the accel/ivpu driver.
- Record installed kernel package versions and distribution build identifiers.
- Compare distribution source or advisories with the three cited stable commits.
- Review kernel logs for ivpu failures, null-pointer dereferences, or crashes around probe and resume.
- After updating, verify the fixed kernel is active and probe and resume complete normally.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-56540 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H13.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cac822772c4dc27a285f09caf30072ab76d2bf38CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/362ef76020ea6219a4df4ac5b738672b59527239CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5eaa497411197c41b0813d61ba3fbd6267049082CVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.