CVE-2023-53030 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the octeontx2-pf driver component. The issue arises from the improper use of GFP_KERNEL memory allocation flags within an atomic context where preemption is disabled. GFP_KERNEL is intended for memory allocation that may sleep, which is unsafe in atomic contexts where sleeping is prohibited. When CONFIG_DEBUG_ATOMIC_SLEEP is enabled, this misuse triggers kernel warnings and BUG messages indicating that a sleeping function was called from an invalid context. The kernel logs show a call trace involving memory allocation functions such as __kmem_cache_alloc_node and __kmalloc invoked during the initialization of the otx2_sq_aura_pool and the otx2_open function. The root cause is the allocation of memory with GFP_KERNEL while preemption is disabled, which violates kernel atomic context rules and can lead to system instability or crashes. The fix involves avoiding GFP_KERNEL in atomic contexts by disabling preemption only after all memory allocations are completed, ensuring that memory allocations do not sleep in atomic contexts. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by commit hashes and is relevant to systems using the Marvell OcteonTX2 platform or similar hardware where this driver is employed. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-53030 depends largely on their deployment of Linux systems running kernel versions that include the vulnerable octeontx2-pf driver, particularly on hardware platforms based on Marvell OcteonTX2 processors. Such platforms are commonly used in high-performance networking equipment, data center infrastructure, and telecommunications hardware. Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to kernel panics or system crashes due to improper memory allocation in atomic contexts, resulting in denial of service (DoS) conditions. This could disrupt critical network services, data center operations, or telecom infrastructure, impacting availability and operational continuity. While the vulnerability does not directly enable privilege escalation or remote code execution, the resulting instability could be leveraged by attackers to cause service outages or to facilitate further attacks. Given the lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate, but organizations relying on affected hardware and kernel versions should consider the potential for disruption in sensitive environments.

European organizations should take the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Identify and inventory Linux systems running kernel versions containing the vulnerable octeontx2-pf driver, especially those deployed on Marvell OcteonTX2 hardware or similar platforms. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches or updates that address CVE-2023-53030 as soon as they become available, ensuring that the kernel disables preemption only after memory allocations are complete in the affected driver code. 3) Enable CONFIG_DEBUG_ATOMIC_SLEEP in test environments to detect similar atomic context violations proactively. 4) Monitor kernel logs for BUG messages related to sleeping functions called from invalid contexts, which may indicate attempts to trigger this vulnerability or related issues. 5) For critical infrastructure, consider implementing redundancy and failover mechanisms to mitigate potential downtime caused by kernel crashes. 6) Engage with hardware vendors and Linux distribution maintainers to confirm patch availability and deployment timelines. 7) Limit access to systems running vulnerable kernels to trusted administrators and restrict exposure to untrusted networks to reduce the risk of exploitation attempts.