CVE-2024-45776 is a vulnerability identified in the GRUB2 bootloader, specifically in the grub_mofile_open() function responsible for reading language .mo files. The issue stems from a failure to properly verify integer overflow conditions when allocating an internal buffer for these files. A crafted .mo file can trigger an integer overflow during buffer size calculation, causing the allocation size to wrap around and become smaller than intended. This leads to out-of-bounds memory reads and writes when the buffer is accessed. Such memory corruption can be exploited by an attacker with local high-level privileges to leak sensitive information from memory or overwrite critical data structures. This manipulation could potentially allow bypassing secure boot protections, undermining system integrity at a fundamental level. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.7, reflecting medium severity, with attack vector local, low attack complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits are known at this time, but the nature of the flaw makes it a significant concern for systems relying on GRUB2 for secure boot and system startup.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-45776 is considerable, especially for those using Linux-based systems that employ GRUB2 as the bootloader. The ability to leak sensitive data or overwrite critical data at the bootloader level can compromise system integrity and confidentiality, potentially allowing attackers to bypass secure boot protections and gain persistent, stealthy control over affected systems. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, disruption of critical services, and increased risk of further compromise. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, energy, and critical infrastructure are particularly at risk due to the high value of their data and the importance of system availability and integrity. The requirement for local high privileges limits remote exploitation but elevates the threat from insider attackers or those who have already gained some level of access. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks.

1. Apply official patches and updates from GRUB2 maintainers or Linux distribution vendors as soon as they become available. 2. Restrict local access to systems, ensuring that only trusted administrators have high-level privileges. 3. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems to detect unauthorized attempts to modify or load malicious .mo files or tamper with the bootloader. 4. Use secure boot configurations and hardware root of trust features to limit the ability to bypass bootloader protections. 5. Regularly audit and verify bootloader integrity using tools that can detect unauthorized changes. 6. Employ system hardening practices to minimize the attack surface and prevent privilege escalation that could enable exploitation. 7. Educate system administrators about the risks associated with local privilege misuse and the importance of maintaining secure boot environments.