CVE-2024-52336 is a vulnerability in the Tuned package version 2.23.0, specifically in the D-Bus interface function instance_create(). Tuned is a Linux system tuning daemon that adjusts system settings dynamically. The vulnerability allows any locally logged-in user to invoke the instance_create() function without authentication. This function accepts script_pre and script_post parameters, which specify scripts to run before or after tuning operations. Because these scripts can be specified with absolute paths and are executed with root privileges by Tuned, an attacker can supply arbitrary executable scripts or programs. This leads to local privilege escalation from a non-privileged user to root. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has a low attack complexity, but requires local access. The flaw stems from improper privilege management and lack of authentication on the D-Bus method. Although no public exploits are reported yet, the potential for full system compromise is significant. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is particularly relevant in multi-user Linux environments where local access is possible. The absence of patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate mitigation steps to limit exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a serious risk especially in environments where multiple users have local access to Linux systems running Tuned 2.23.0. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain root privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, unauthorized changes, and disruption of services. Critical infrastructure, government agencies, and enterprises relying on Linux servers for sensitive operations are at heightened risk. The ability to escalate privileges locally could facilitate lateral movement within networks, undermining network segmentation and security controls. Confidentiality of sensitive data can be compromised, integrity of system configurations and logs can be altered, and availability of critical services can be disrupted. The threat is amplified in shared hosting, development, or testing environments common in European organizations. Although remote exploitation is not possible, insider threats or compromised user accounts increase the risk profile. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate widespread impact but does not reduce the urgency of mitigation.

1. Apply official patches or updates from the Tuned package maintainers as soon as they become available. 2. Until patches are released, restrict local user access to systems running Tuned 2.23.0 by enforcing strict user account management and limiting login permissions. 3. Use Linux security modules (e.g., SELinux, AppArmor) to confine the Tuned daemon and restrict its ability to execute arbitrary scripts. 4. Monitor D-Bus calls and audit logs for unusual usage of the instance_create() function or execution of unexpected scripts. 5. Disable or restrict the Tuned service on systems where it is not essential. 6. Implement multi-factor authentication and strong access controls to reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. 7. Educate system administrators and users about the risk of local privilege escalation and the importance of minimizing local access. 8. Conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on local privilege escalation vectors. 9. Consider deploying host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to detect anomalous root-level script executions. 10. Review and harden system configurations to reduce the attack surface related to D-Bus and script execution.