CVE-2024-38563 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the mt76 wireless driver for the mt7996 chipset. The issue arises when reading the chip temperature, which can cause a memory leak due to improper handling of memory allocation or release in the driver code. This vulnerability does not directly lead to code execution or privilege escalation but results in a resource leak that, if exploited repeatedly or over time, could degrade system performance or stability. The vulnerability was resolved by a patch that fixes the memory management flaw when accessing the chip temperature. The affected component is the wireless driver mt76 for the mt7996 chipset, which is part of the Linux kernel's wireless networking stack. The vulnerability was published on June 19, 2024, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The affected versions are identified by specific commit hashes, indicating the issue is present in certain kernel builds prior to the fix. No CVSS score has been assigned to this vulnerability yet.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is generally low to medium. The memory leak could lead to gradual degradation of system resources, potentially causing wireless network instability or crashes on devices using the affected mt7996 chipset under Linux. This could disrupt network connectivity, impacting business operations reliant on wireless communications. However, the vulnerability does not appear to allow remote code execution or privilege escalation, limiting the severity of direct attacks. Organizations with large deployments of Linux-based systems using the mt7996 wireless chipset, such as in embedded devices, IoT, or enterprise wireless infrastructure, might experience operational disruptions if the vulnerability is exploited or triggered frequently. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation or denial-of-service conditions caused by resource exhaustion.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should promptly apply the Linux kernel patch that addresses the memory leak in the mt76 driver for the mt7996 chipset. System administrators should identify devices running affected kernel versions and update them to the fixed kernel release or apply vendor-provided patches. Monitoring system logs and wireless device performance can help detect abnormal behavior indicative of memory leaks or instability. For critical infrastructure, consider isolating or limiting access to affected devices until patched. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date inventories of hardware and software to quickly identify vulnerable systems. Since this vulnerability relates to a specific wireless chipset driver, organizations using custom or embedded Linux distributions should coordinate with their vendors or maintainers to ensure timely patch integration. Regular kernel updates and security audits will help prevent similar issues.