CVE-2023-35824 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel versions prior to 6.3.2, specifically within the dm1105 driver located in drivers/media/pci/dm1105/dm1105.c. The dm1105 driver supports certain PCI-based video capture devices. A use-after-free condition occurs when the kernel code continues to use a memory region after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior. This can result in memory corruption, crashes, or potentially arbitrary code execution within the kernel context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-362 (Race Condition), indicating that improper synchronization or timing issues may contribute to the flaw. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0 (high severity), with the vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This means the attack requires local access (local vector), high attack complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. Exploitation could allow an attacker with limited local privileges to escalate privileges or cause denial of service by triggering kernel memory corruption. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no patches are linked in the provided data, but the issue is addressed in Linux kernel version 6.3.2 and later. The lack of a vendor or product name suggests this vulnerability affects the Linux kernel broadly, specifically installations using the dm1105 driver for media capture hardware.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily to systems running vulnerable Linux kernel versions with the dm1105 driver enabled. This includes servers, workstations, or embedded devices used in media processing or video capture applications. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, allowing attackers to gain root-level access, compromising system confidentiality and integrity. Additionally, it could cause system crashes or denial of service, impacting availability of critical services. Organizations in sectors such as media production, broadcasting, telecommunications, and any industry relying on Linux-based video capture hardware are particularly at risk. Given the local access requirement, the threat is more relevant in environments where untrusted users have local access or where attackers can gain initial footholds via other means. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability makes this vulnerability a serious concern for maintaining secure and stable operations within European enterprises.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to version 6.3.2 or later where the vulnerability is fixed. If immediate kernel upgrade is not feasible, disabling or unloading the dm1105 driver can mitigate exposure, especially on systems not requiring this hardware. Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and prevent untrusted users from executing code or accessing vulnerable devices. Employ kernel hardening techniques such as SELinux or AppArmor to restrict driver interactions. Regularly audit systems for the presence of the dm1105 driver and monitor logs for suspicious activity related to media devices. For environments with remote access, ensure robust network segmentation and multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of attackers gaining local access. Finally, maintain up-to-date intrusion detection systems capable of identifying anomalous kernel behavior indicative of exploitation attempts.