CVE-2024-44970 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's networking subsystem, specifically within the Mellanox mlx5 Ethernet driver (net/mlx5e). The issue arises in the handling of Work Queue Elements (WQEs) in the SHAMPO (Shared Memory Packet Offload) context. Normally, when all strides (segments) of a WQE have been consumed, the WQE is unlinked from the Work Queue (WQ) linked list via the mlx5_wq_ll_pop() function. However, due to a flaw, it is possible for Completion Queue Entries (CQEs) to be received with zero consumed strides for the same WQE even after it has been fully consumed and unlinked. This results in an additional unlink operation on the same WQE, which corrupts the linked list structure. Such corruption can lead to undefined behavior in the kernel, including potential memory corruption, crashes (kernel panic), or other stability issues. The fix involves modifying the logic to accept zero-sized consumed strides without attempting to unlink the WQE again, thereby preventing the double unlink and linked list corruption. This vulnerability affects certain versions of the Linux kernel containing the vulnerable mlx5e driver code and is relevant to systems using Mellanox network adapters with SHAMPO enabled or in use. 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 servers and infrastructure running Linux kernels with Mellanox network adapters, especially in data centers, cloud providers, and enterprises relying on high-performance networking hardware. The linked list corruption can cause kernel crashes leading to denial of service (DoS), potentially disrupting critical services and applications. In environments where high availability is crucial, such as financial institutions, telecommunications, and government infrastructure, such instability can have significant operational and financial consequences. Although no direct remote code execution or privilege escalation is indicated, the kernel instability could be exploited by attackers with local access or through crafted network traffic to cause service outages. This is particularly impactful for organizations using advanced networking features or offloading capabilities provided by Mellanox hardware. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to maintain system integrity and availability.

Organizations should promptly identify Linux systems using Mellanox mlx5 network adapters and verify if they run kernel versions containing the vulnerable mlx5e driver code. Applying the official Linux kernel patches that fix CVE-2024-44970 is the primary mitigation step. If immediate patching is not feasible, temporarily disabling SHAMPO or related offload features on affected network interfaces may reduce exposure. Monitoring kernel logs for anomalies or crashes related to mlx5e can help detect exploitation attempts or instability. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be enforced to limit local access to critical systems. Additionally, organizations should maintain updated backups and implement robust incident response plans to quickly recover from potential service disruptions caused by this vulnerability.