CVE-2023-52663 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the ASoC (ALSA System on Chip) Sound Open Firmware (SOF) AMD driver component. The issue arises from a memory leak in the amd_sof_acp_probe() function. The driver uses the kasprintf() function to allocate memory for firmware code and data binary members within the acp_dev_data structure. However, the allocated memory is never freed using kfree(), leading to a memory leak. This leak occurs because the driver does not properly deallocate the memory when it is no longer needed. The fix implemented involves replacing kasprintf() with devm_kasprintf(), which ties the memory allocation to the device's lifecycle, ensuring automatic cleanup when the device is removed. Additionally, the patch includes validation of the allocation success by checking the pointer's validity before use. While this vulnerability does not directly allow code execution or privilege escalation, the memory leak can degrade system stability and performance over time, especially on systems that frequently load and unload the affected driver or run for extended periods. The vulnerability affects specific versions of the Linux kernel containing the vulnerable commit identified by the hash f7da88003c53cf0eedabe609324a047b1921dfcc. There are currently no known exploits in the wild targeting this vulnerability, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability was published on May 17, 2024, and is categorized as a kernel-level memory management flaw in a hardware driver component related to AMD audio firmware handling.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-52663 is primarily related to system reliability and resource management rather than direct security breaches. Organizations running Linux servers or workstations with AMD hardware that utilize the SOF AMD audio driver may experience gradual memory consumption increases due to the leak, potentially leading to degraded performance or system instability over time. This can affect critical infrastructure, especially in environments where uptime and system responsiveness are crucial, such as data centers, telecommunications, and industrial control systems. Although the vulnerability does not currently enable remote code execution or privilege escalation, the memory leak could be exploited in a denial-of-service (DoS) scenario by forcing repeated driver initialization and unloading, exhausting system memory resources. This could disrupt services or require system reboots, impacting business continuity. European organizations with large-scale Linux deployments, particularly those using AMD-based audio subsystems, should be aware of this vulnerability to maintain system health and avoid unexpected outages. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but proactive patching is recommended to prevent potential future abuse or operational issues.

To mitigate CVE-2023-52663, European organizations should: 1) Apply the official Linux kernel patches that replace kasprintf() with devm_kasprintf() in the amd_sof_acp_probe() function to ensure proper memory management and automatic cleanup. 2) Verify that the kernel versions in use have incorporated this fix, especially for systems running AMD hardware with SOF audio drivers. 3) Implement monitoring of system memory usage and kernel logs for signs of memory leaks or driver-related errors, enabling early detection of abnormal resource consumption. 4) For critical systems, consider scheduling regular maintenance windows to reboot or reload drivers if patching cannot be immediately applied, minimizing the risk of memory exhaustion. 5) Coordinate with hardware vendors and Linux distribution maintainers to receive timely updates and advisories related to this vulnerability. 6) Educate system administrators about the importance of applying kernel updates promptly and validating driver integrity to prevent similar issues. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on driver-specific patching, proactive monitoring, and operational practices tailored to the nature of this memory leak vulnerability.