CVE-2024-41074 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's cachefiles subsystem, specifically related to the handling of open requests in the copen function. The vulnerability arises when copen is called with an ondemand_id less than zero (ondemand_id < 0) from user mode. In this scenario, the function may delete a request associated with a random negative id before the request has been read. This leads to a state where the object is set to reopen, but the open request remains in a 'reopen' state. Consequently, the select_req function consistently skips the request tied to this object, causing the read request to never complete. This results in a blocking condition that can stall other processes waiting on the read operation. The root cause is improper handling of negative ondemand_id values in copen, which the patch addresses by ensuring that objects with id < 0 are set to close immediately, preventing the request from being skipped and blocking other processes. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash c8383054506c77b814489c09877b5db83fd4abf2. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running vulnerable Linux kernel versions with the cachefiles feature enabled. The impact is mainly a denial-of-service (DoS) condition where legitimate read requests can be indefinitely blocked, potentially causing application stalls or system resource exhaustion. This can degrade service availability, especially in environments relying on cachefiles for performance optimization, such as file servers, network-attached storage, or systems using cachefiles for network caching. Critical infrastructure, cloud service providers, and enterprises with Linux-based servers could experience operational disruptions. While it does not appear to allow privilege escalation or direct data compromise, the blocking behavior can be exploited to disrupt services or cause cascading failures in multi-tenant or high-availability environments. The lack of requirement for elevated privileges to trigger the vulnerability (user mode call) increases the attack surface, although exploitation complexity depends on the ability to invoke copen with crafted parameters.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the fix for CVE-2024-41074. Since the vulnerability is related to the cachefiles subsystem, administrators should audit whether cachefiles is enabled and in use. If cachefiles is not required, disabling it can reduce exposure. For systems where patching is delayed, monitoring for unusual blocking or stalled read operations related to cachefiles can help detect exploitation attempts. Implementing strict user privilege controls to limit who can invoke kernel interfaces related to cachefiles may reduce risk. Additionally, incorporating kernel-level security modules (e.g., SELinux, AppArmor) to restrict access to vulnerable kernel functions can provide defense-in-depth. Regularly reviewing kernel logs for anomalies and integrating these checks into SIEM solutions will improve detection capabilities. Finally, coordinating with Linux distribution vendors for timely patch deployment and testing patches in staging environments before production rollout is recommended.