CVE-2024-53070 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically related to the USB controller driver for the DesignWare Core USB3 (dwc3) hardware. The issue arises during system suspend operations when the USB device is already in a runtime suspended state. Under these conditions, attempts to access device registers during system suspend can cause the kernel to crash. This is because the device registers should not be accessed once the device is runtime suspended, as doing so leads to faults. Additionally, on some platforms, accessing registers after the dwc3_core_exit() function has been called is unsafe. The fix involves reordering the call to dwc3_enable_susphy() to occur earlier in the suspend sequence to avoid accessing invalid registers. This vulnerability is rooted in improper handling of device power states and register access synchronization during suspend/resume cycles in the USB controller driver. The affected versions are various Linux kernel commits prior to the patch, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability could cause system instability or crashes during suspend operations, potentially leading to denial of service (DoS) conditions on affected systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily poses a risk of system instability or crashes on Linux-based systems that utilize the affected dwc3 USB controller driver, especially those that rely on suspend/resume functionality. This could impact servers, embedded devices, or workstations running Linux kernels with the vulnerable code. The denial of service caused by kernel crashes during suspend could disrupt operations, particularly in environments where devices frequently enter low-power states to conserve energy, such as in data centers or IoT deployments. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or data compromise directly, the resulting system crashes could interrupt critical services or workflows. Organizations with Linux-based infrastructure that includes hardware using the DesignWare USB3 controller are most at risk. The impact is more pronounced in sectors with high reliance on Linux systems for operational continuity, including telecommunications, manufacturing, and cloud service providers in Europe.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the patch for CVE-2024-53070 as soon as they become available. Kernel maintainers have addressed the issue by correcting the order of register access calls during suspend sequences. Until patches are applied, organizations should consider disabling system suspend features on affected devices if feasible, especially on critical systems where stability is paramount. Additionally, system administrators should audit their hardware inventory to identify devices using the DesignWare Core USB3 controller and verify kernel versions in use. For embedded or specialized Linux distributions, coordination with vendors to obtain patched kernel releases is essential. Monitoring system logs for suspend/resume related crashes can help detect if the vulnerability is being triggered. Finally, organizations should implement robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize operational impact in case of unexpected system crashes.