CVE-2024-24258 is a memory leak vulnerability identified in freeglut version 3.4.0, an open-source library widely used for managing OpenGL contexts and windowing in graphical applications. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the menuEntry variable within the glutAddSubMenu function, where allocated memory is not correctly freed, leading to a leak. This flaw can be exploited remotely without any authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), making it relatively easy for attackers to trigger. The primary impact is on availability (A:H), as continuous exploitation can cause the affected application or system to consume excessive memory resources, potentially leading to crashes or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the high CVSS score of 7.5 reflects the seriousness of the issue. No patches have been released at the time of publication, so users must rely on interim mitigations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-401 (Improper Release of Memory), highlighting a common programming error that can have severe operational consequences if exploited. Organizations using freeglut 3.4.0, especially in environments where graphical user interfaces or OpenGL-based rendering are critical, should assess their exposure and prepare for remediation once patches become available.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-24258 is the risk of denial of service due to memory exhaustion in applications using freeglut 3.4.0. This can disrupt critical graphical applications, user interfaces, or visualization tools, potentially affecting sectors such as manufacturing, automotive design, scientific research, and media production that rely heavily on OpenGL-based rendering. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk of remote attacks, possibly from opportunistic attackers or automated scanning tools. While confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected, service availability degradation can lead to operational downtime, loss of productivity, and increased incident response costs. Organizations with exposed services or software components incorporating freeglut should consider the threat significant, especially if these systems are part of customer-facing platforms or internal critical infrastructure. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks once exploit code becomes available.

1. Monitor official freeglut repositories and security advisories closely for patches addressing CVE-2024-24258 and apply them promptly upon release. 2. Conduct an inventory of all software and systems using freeglut 3.4.0 to identify vulnerable instances. 3. Limit network exposure of applications using freeglut where possible, employing network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to trusted users and systems. 4. Implement resource monitoring on affected systems to detect abnormal memory consumption patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Where feasible, consider upgrading to alternative libraries or versions not affected by this vulnerability until an official patch is available. 6. Employ application-level mitigations such as input validation or usage restrictions on the glutAddSubMenu function if source code access and modification are possible. 7. Educate development and operations teams about the vulnerability to ensure rapid response and awareness. 8. Prepare incident response plans that include steps for memory leak exploitation scenarios to minimize downtime.