CVE-2024-24259 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in freeglut, an open-source alternative to the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) used for managing windows with OpenGL contexts and handling user input in graphical applications. The vulnerability is a memory leak occurring through the menuEntry variable within the glutAddMenuEntry function. Specifically, when this function is called to add a menu entry, the memory allocated for menuEntry is not properly released, leading to a gradual increase in memory consumption over time. Although this vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, it impacts availability by causing resource exhaustion, potentially leading to application crashes or degraded performance. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 (High) reflects that the vulnerability is remotely exploitable (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N), with a scope unchanged (S:U). The impact is solely on availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-401 (Improper Release of Memory Before Removing References), indicating a classic memory management flaw. Given freeglut's role in graphical applications, this memory leak could affect software stability and reliability, especially in long-running or menu-intensive applications that use glutAddMenuEntry frequently.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-24259 lies in the potential degradation of availability and stability of applications relying on freeglut for graphical user interface management. Industries such as engineering, scientific research, CAD/CAM software development, and any sectors using OpenGL-based visualization tools could experience application crashes or performance issues due to memory exhaustion. This could disrupt workflows, delay project timelines, and increase operational costs. While the vulnerability does not lead to data breaches or unauthorized access, the denial-of-service-like effects could impact critical systems that depend on graphical rendering, including simulation platforms or real-time monitoring dashboards. The lack of required privileges or user interaction for exploitation increases the risk profile, as attackers or malfunctioning processes could trigger the leak remotely. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the specialized nature of freeglut usage somewhat limit widespread impact. Organizations with custom or legacy software that embed freeglut are particularly at risk if they have not audited or updated their dependencies recently.

To mitigate CVE-2024-24259, European organizations should first identify all software components and applications that incorporate freeglut, especially versions up to 3.4.0. Since no patch links are currently available, organizations should monitor official freeglut repositories and security advisories for updates or patches addressing this memory leak. In the interim, developers should review and audit the usage of glutAddMenuEntry in their codebases to ensure proper memory management, potentially implementing manual memory release or refactoring menu handling logic to minimize repeated calls that exacerbate the leak. Employing runtime monitoring tools to detect abnormal memory growth in affected applications can provide early warning signs. Additionally, sandboxing or isolating vulnerable applications can limit the impact of crashes on broader systems. Organizations should also consider migrating to alternative, actively maintained GUI toolkits if feasible. Finally, integrating this vulnerability into vulnerability management and patching workflows will ensure timely response once fixes are released.