CVE-2024-41080 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's io_uring subsystem, specifically related to a potential deadlock condition in the function io_register_iowq_max_workers(). The io_uring interface is a modern asynchronous I/O framework in the Linux kernel designed to improve performance by allowing applications to submit and complete I/O operations efficiently. The vulnerability arises because io_register_iowq_max_workers() calls io_put_sq_data(), which acquires the sqd->lock without first releasing the uring_lock. This lock acquisition order is problematic because holding uring_lock while acquiring sqd->lock can lead to a circular wait condition, resulting in a deadlock. The issue is similar to a previously addressed problem (commit 009ad9f0c6ee) where the context's uring_lock was dropped before acquiring sqd->lock to prevent deadlocks. The fix implemented for CVE-2024-41080 involves releasing the uring_lock before calling io_put_sq_data() and then re-acquiring it afterward, ensuring locks are acquired in the correct order and eliminating the deadlock risk. This vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash 2b188cc1bb857a9d4701ae59aa7768b5124e262e. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability is primarily a concurrency control flaw that could cause system hangs or degraded performance due to deadlocks in the kernel's asynchronous I/O subsystem.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-41080 could be significant in environments relying heavily on Linux servers for critical workloads, especially those utilizing io_uring for high-performance asynchronous I/O operations such as database servers, web servers, and cloud infrastructure. A deadlock in the kernel can cause processes to hang indefinitely, leading to application stalls, degraded system responsiveness, or even system-wide freezes requiring reboots. This can disrupt business operations, cause downtime, and potentially lead to data processing delays. While this vulnerability does not directly enable privilege escalation or data leakage, the availability impact could affect service continuity and reliability. Organizations with large-scale Linux deployments, particularly in sectors like finance, telecommunications, and cloud service providers, may experience operational disruptions if the vulnerable kernel versions are in use and the io_uring subsystem is actively utilized. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the potential for denial-of-service conditions means that attackers or faulty applications could trigger deadlocks intentionally or inadvertently.

To mitigate CVE-2024-41080, European organizations should: 1) Apply the official Linux kernel patches that address the lock ordering issue in io_register_iowq_max_workers() as soon as they are released and tested in their environments. 2) Monitor kernel updates from their Linux distribution vendors closely and prioritize updates for systems running kernel versions affected by this vulnerability. 3) Audit and limit the use of io_uring in production environments where possible until patches are applied, especially in critical systems. 4) Implement robust monitoring and alerting for system hangs, kernel deadlocks, or unusual I/O stalls that could indicate triggering of this vulnerability. 5) Conduct thorough testing of kernel updates in staging environments to ensure compatibility and stability before deployment. 6) For environments using containerized or virtualized Linux instances, ensure underlying host kernels are patched to prevent propagation of deadlock conditions. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on patch management, usage auditing of io_uring, and proactive detection of deadlock symptoms.