CVE-2024-24855 is a race condition vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's SCSI device driver, specifically within the lpfc_unregister_fcf_rescan() function. The issue stems from improper synchronization when multiple threads or processes concurrently access shared resources, leading to a null pointer dereference. This flaw can trigger a kernel panic, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions starting from v2.6.34-rc2, indicating a long-standing codebase exposure. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.0, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The impact is primarily on availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity loss reported. No public exploits have been observed, but the vulnerability poses a risk in environments where untrusted local users or processes can trigger the race condition. The race condition is classified under CWE-362, highlighting concurrent execution issues due to improper synchronization. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for systems using Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) SCSI adapters, common in enterprise storage networks. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting necessitates close monitoring of vendor advisories and proactive mitigation steps. Given the kernel-level nature, exploitation can cause system-wide instability, requiring reboots and potentially impacting critical services.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-24855 is on system availability. Enterprises relying on Linux servers with SCSI or Fibre Channel storage devices may experience kernel panics leading to service outages. This can disrupt business operations, especially in data centers, cloud providers, and critical infrastructure sectors such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk is elevated in multi-user environments or where insider threats exist. The denial of service could also affect high-availability clusters or storage networks, causing cascading failures. Although confidentiality and integrity are not directly compromised, the operational disruption can lead to indirect security risks, such as delayed incident response or loss of data availability. Organizations with stringent uptime requirements and those operating legacy Linux kernels are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat levels but does not eliminate the risk of future weaponization.

1. Monitor Linux kernel vendor advisories and apply security patches promptly once available to address the race condition. 2. Audit all Linux systems to identify those running affected kernel versions, especially in environments using SCSI or Fibre Channel devices. 3. Restrict local user access to trusted personnel and minimize the number of users with permissions to interact with kernel-level device drivers. 4. Implement strict access controls and user activity monitoring on systems with multi-user access to detect suspicious behavior that could trigger the vulnerability. 5. Consider upgrading to newer, supported Linux kernel versions where this vulnerability is fixed or mitigated. 6. For critical systems, deploy kernel live patching solutions if available to reduce downtime during patch application. 7. Conduct regular backups and ensure disaster recovery plans are tested to mitigate potential service disruptions caused by kernel panics. 8. Use security tools to monitor kernel logs and system stability indicators to detect early signs of exploitation attempts or instability.