CVE-2023-53132 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) subsystem related to the mpi3mr driver. The mpi3mr driver manages the communication with certain SCSI devices using the MPI3 (Message Passing Interface 3) protocol. The vulnerability pertains to a memory leak in the function mpi3mr_remove(), which is responsible for cleaning up and freeing resources when a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) port is removed. The issue arises because the mpi3mr_hba_port structure is not properly freed during the removal process, leading to a memory leak. While a memory leak itself does not directly allow code execution or privilege escalation, it can degrade system performance over time, potentially leading to resource exhaustion. This could cause system instability or denial of service (DoS) conditions if exploited in environments where the affected driver is frequently loaded and unloaded or where many SCSI devices are managed dynamically. The vulnerability has been resolved by ensuring that mpi3mr_hba_port memory is correctly freed in the remove function, preventing the leak. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned. The affected Linux kernel versions are identified by a specific commit hash, indicating that the issue is present in certain recent kernel builds prior to the patch. This vulnerability is primarily relevant to systems running Linux kernels that include the mpi3mr driver and use SCSI devices managed by this driver.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-53132 depends largely on their use of Linux systems with the mpi3mr driver managing SCSI devices. Organizations with data centers, cloud infrastructure, or enterprise servers running affected Linux kernels could experience gradual memory consumption increases leading to degraded system performance or potential denial of service if the leak is triggered repeatedly. This could affect availability of critical services, especially in environments with high device churn or dynamic hardware configurations. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the resulting instability could disrupt business operations, impacting sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government services that rely heavily on Linux-based infrastructure. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation or inadvertent system degradation. The impact is more pronounced in large-scale deployments where resource leaks accumulate rapidly, potentially causing system crashes or forced reboots, thereby affecting service continuity.

To mitigate CVE-2023-53132, European organizations should: 1) Identify Linux systems running kernels that include the mpi3mr driver and verify if they are affected by this vulnerability. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches or updates that fix the mpi3mr_hba_port memory leak as soon as they become available. 3) Monitor system logs and resource usage on servers with SCSI devices managed by mpi3mr for abnormal memory consumption patterns that could indicate the leak is active. 4) Implement proactive resource management and automated alerts for memory usage thresholds to detect potential degradation early. 5) In environments where kernel updates are delayed, consider limiting the dynamic removal and addition of SCSI devices or the use of the mpi3mr driver if feasible. 6) Maintain a robust patch management process to ensure timely deployment of kernel updates across all Linux systems. 7) Engage with Linux distribution vendors or maintainers to obtain backported patches if using long-term support kernels. These steps will help prevent resource exhaustion and maintain system stability.