CVE-2023-6176 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel API implementation of the cryptographic algorithm scatterwalk functionality within Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. The flaw is a null pointer dereference triggered when a local user constructs a malicious packet with a specific socket configuration. This causes the kernel to dereference a null pointer, leading to a system crash (denial of service) or potentially enabling privilege escalation by corrupting kernel memory or state. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges, no user interaction, and has a high attack complexity, indicating that exploitation is non-trivial but feasible under certain conditions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.7 (medium), reflecting the lack of confidentiality or integrity impact but significant availability impact. No known public exploits exist yet, and no patches are linked in the provided data, though Red Hat typically issues updates promptly. The vulnerability affects the kernel's cryptographic scatterwalk API, which is used internally for cryptographic operations involving scatter-gather lists, a common pattern in kernel data handling. Exploiting this flaw could allow attackers to disrupt services or elevate privileges, potentially compromising system stability and security.

For European organizations, the primary impact is on system availability due to potential denial of service from kernel crashes. This can disrupt critical services, especially in environments relying heavily on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, such as financial institutions, government agencies, and industrial control systems. Privilege escalation risks could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive systems if exploited, increasing the risk of lateral movement and further compromise. The medium severity and high attack complexity reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation but do not eliminate risk, particularly in environments with many local users or shared access. The absence of known exploits suggests a window for proactive mitigation. Disruptions could affect compliance with regulations such as GDPR if service availability or data integrity is compromised. Organizations running containerized or virtualized workloads on RHEL 8 may also be affected if the kernel vulnerability is exposed within those environments.

Organizations should monitor Red Hat security advisories closely and apply kernel updates as soon as patches become available. In the interim, restrict local user access to trusted personnel only, minimizing the attack surface. Employ strict socket and network configuration policies to limit the ability to craft malicious packets triggering the flaw. Use kernel hardening features such as SELinux and seccomp to reduce the impact of potential exploits. Regularly audit user privileges and remove unnecessary local accounts. Implement robust monitoring and alerting for unusual kernel crashes or privilege escalation attempts. Consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can detect anomalous socket activity. For critical systems, plan for rapid incident response to recover from potential denial of service events. Finally, test patches in staging environments to ensure stability before production deployment.