CVE-2024-45565 is a high-severity vulnerability classified as a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition (CWE-367) affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, specifically SDM429W, Snapdragon 429 Mobile Platform, WCN3620, and WCN3660B. The vulnerability arises when a blob structure, which is initially verified by the kernel, is subsequently modified by user-space before its use, leading to memory corruption. This race condition occurs because the kernel performs a security check on the data structure, but the data can be altered by user-space processes before the kernel uses it, violating the assumption that the data remains unchanged between check and use. Exploiting this flaw could allow a local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can lead to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device. The affected Snapdragon platforms are commonly used in mobile devices, IoT, and embedded systems, making this a critical issue for devices relying on these chipsets. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have yet been linked, indicating that mitigation efforts should be prioritized to prevent future exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-45565 is significant, especially those relying on mobile devices, embedded systems, or IoT infrastructure powered by affected Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. The vulnerability could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on devices, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, disruption of services, or persistent footholds within organizational networks. Industries such as telecommunications, manufacturing, automotive, and critical infrastructure that deploy Snapdragon-based devices could face operational disruptions or data breaches. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, exploitation could compromise secure communications, device integrity, and availability of critical services. The local attack vector means that attackers would need some level of access to the device, but this is often feasible through social engineering, malicious apps, or insider threats. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score underscores the urgency for European organizations to assess and remediate affected devices to prevent potential exploitation.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy: 1) Inventory and identify all devices using affected Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms (SDM429W, Snapdragon 429 Mobile Platform, WCN3620, WCN3660B). 2) Monitor vendor advisories closely for patches or firmware updates from Qualcomm and device manufacturers, and prioritize timely deployment once available. 3) Restrict local access to devices by enforcing strict endpoint security policies, including application whitelisting, privilege management, and disabling unnecessary local interfaces to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 4) Employ runtime protection mechanisms such as kernel integrity monitoring and exploit mitigation technologies (e.g., Control Flow Integrity, Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization) where supported. 5) Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications or connecting unknown peripherals that could facilitate local attacks. 6) For critical environments, consider network segmentation and device isolation to limit the impact of compromised devices. 7) Engage in continuous monitoring for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, including unusual kernel crashes or privilege escalations.