CVE-2024-27056 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's wireless driver stack, specifically within the iwlwifi driver that manages Intel wireless hardware. The flaw arises in the handling of the offloading TID (Traffic Identifier) queue during system suspend and resume operations. The Linux kernel's resume code path assumes that the TX queue for the offloading TID has been properly configured and allocated. During resume, the kernel attempts to synchronize the write pointer of this queue, which may have been updated by the firmware while the system was suspended. However, in an unusual edge case where no packets have been sent on TID 0 prior to suspend, this queue is never allocated. As a result, the resume code attempts to access a non-existent queue, leading to a kernel crash (likely a NULL pointer dereference or similar fault). This causes a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing the kernel during resume. The fix implemented ensures that the offloading TID queue is always allocated at suspend time, preventing the crash on resume. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 and presumably other versions containing the same code pattern. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and the vulnerability requires specific conditions related to wireless traffic patterns and system suspend/resume cycles to be triggered. It does not appear to allow privilege escalation or remote code execution but results in system instability and availability loss due to kernel crashes.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-27056 is a potential denial of service caused by kernel crashes during system suspend/resume cycles on affected Linux systems using Intel wireless hardware with the iwlwifi driver. This could disrupt operations on laptops, embedded devices, or servers that rely on suspend/resume functionality, particularly in environments where wireless connectivity is critical. Organizations with large deployments of Linux-based endpoints or infrastructure that utilize Intel Wi-Fi chipsets may experience unexpected system reboots or downtime, impacting productivity and availability of services. While the vulnerability does not appear to compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact could be significant in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, or government where Linux systems are widely used. Additionally, the disruption could complicate remote work scenarios where suspend/resume is common. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to accidental or targeted triggering of the crash.

To mitigate CVE-2024-27056, European organizations should: 1) Apply the latest Linux kernel updates that include the patch ensuring the offloading TID queue is allocated at suspend time. This is the definitive fix and should be prioritized. 2) For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling suspend/resume functionality temporarily to avoid triggering the vulnerability, especially on critical systems. 3) Monitor system logs for kernel crashes related to iwlwifi or wireless subsystem during resume operations to detect potential triggering events. 4) Test wireless driver behavior in controlled environments after updates to confirm stability. 5) Coordinate with hardware vendors and Linux distribution maintainers to ensure timely deployment of patched kernels. 6) Educate IT staff about this vulnerability to recognize symptoms and respond quickly to incidents. 7) Implement robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize impact from unexpected system crashes. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on operational controls around suspend/resume and driver-specific monitoring.