CVE-2024-40997 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the cpufreq subsystem's amd-pstate driver, which manages CPU performance states for AMD processors. The issue involves a memory leak caused by improper handling of dynamically allocated memory during the CPU Energy Performance Preference (EPP) exit process. In the amd_pstate_epp_cpu_init() function, memory is allocated using kzalloc() for cpudata, but this allocated memory is not freed in the corresponding exit function, leading to a memory leak. Over time, this leak could cause increased memory consumption, potentially degrading system performance or leading to resource exhaustion. The vulnerability does not appear to allow direct code execution, privilege escalation, or data corruption but impacts system stability and resource management. The flaw was addressed by ensuring that the allocated memory is properly freed on CPU EPP exit, preventing the leak. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the specified commit hashes, which correspond to recent kernel builds incorporating the amd-pstate driver. This issue is relevant for systems running AMD processors with Linux kernels that utilize the amd-pstate driver for CPU frequency scaling and power management.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-40997 is primarily related to system stability and resource management on Linux servers and workstations using AMD processors with the affected kernel versions. Organizations with large-scale deployments of Linux systems in data centers, cloud environments, or critical infrastructure could experience gradual degradation in system performance due to memory leaks, potentially leading to increased maintenance overhead or unexpected system restarts if memory exhaustion occurs. While this vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability of affected systems could be impacted, especially in environments where uptime and performance are critical. This could affect sectors such as finance, telecommunications, government, and manufacturing, where Linux servers are commonly deployed. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation or operational issues.

To mitigate CVE-2024-40997, European organizations should: 1) Apply the latest Linux kernel updates that include the patch fixing the memory leak in the amd-pstate driver. This is the most effective and direct mitigation. 2) Monitor system memory usage on AMD-based Linux systems, especially those running workloads sensitive to resource exhaustion, to detect abnormal memory consumption patterns indicative of leaks. 3) Implement proactive system maintenance practices such as scheduled reboots or service restarts in environments where immediate patching is not feasible, to temporarily alleviate memory pressure. 4) For critical systems, consider isolating or limiting the use of the amd-pstate driver if possible, or switch to alternative CPU frequency scaling drivers until patches are applied. 5) Maintain an inventory of Linux systems with AMD processors and track kernel versions to prioritize patch deployment. 6) Engage with Linux distribution vendors or kernel maintainers for timely updates and advisories. These steps go beyond generic advice by emphasizing monitoring, inventory management, and alternative driver usage as interim controls.