CVE-2023-3106 is a vulnerability identified in the netlink_dump function of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, involving a NULL pointer dereference triggered by specific Netlink socket messages. The flaw manifests when the system processes XFRM_MSG_GETSA or XFRM_MSG_GETPOLICY messages with the DUMP flag set via sendmsg calls. This causes the kernel to dereference a NULL pointer, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing or destabilizing the kernel. While the primary impact is DoS, the nature of the flaw leaves a theoretical possibility for privilege escalation, though this is considered unlikely. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and has low attack complexity (AC:L). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable system. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.6, reflecting medium severity with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, primarily availability due to DoS. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations are explicitly linked in the provided data, though Red Hat typically issues updates for such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, an older but still in-use enterprise Linux distribution, particularly in legacy systems.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2023-3106 is the potential for denial of service on systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. This could disrupt critical services, especially in sectors relying on legacy RHEL 6 deployments such as government, finance, telecommunications, and industrial control systems. Although privilege escalation is unlikely, the possibility cannot be entirely dismissed, which could lead to unauthorized access or further compromise if exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities. The disruption of availability can affect business continuity, compliance with regulatory requirements (such as GDPR for data protection), and operational stability. Organizations with remote or automated management systems that rely on Netlink communications may experience increased risk. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future exploitation, especially given the age of the affected product and potential lack of active maintenance in some environments.

1. Apply official patches or updates from Red Hat as soon as they become available to address CVE-2023-3106. 2. If patching is not immediately possible, restrict access to Netlink sockets by limiting local user permissions and employing mandatory access controls (e.g., SELinux policies) to prevent untrusted users from sending crafted Netlink messages. 3. Monitor kernel logs and system behavior for signs of crashes or unusual Netlink socket activity, using intrusion detection systems or custom scripts. 4. Consider upgrading from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 to a supported version to benefit from ongoing security updates and improved kernel robustness. 5. Implement network segmentation and strict access controls to reduce the number of users or processes capable of interacting with vulnerable kernel interfaces. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focused on legacy systems to identify and remediate similar risks proactively.