CVE-2024-53109 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting nommu (no memory management unit) configurations. The issue arises from an incorrect argument being passed to the function vma_iter_prealloc() during the deletion of a virtual memory area (VMA) entry from a maple tree data structure. The maple tree is used internally by the kernel to manage VMAs efficiently. When a VMA entry is deleted, the kernel must pass a NULL argument to vma_iter_prealloc() to correctly calculate the internal state of the tree. However, due to a coding error, a wrong argument was passed instead. This flaw leads to kernel crashes when accessing a VMA iterator, for example, during the execution of acct_collect(), which reads the size of VMA entries after the do_munmap() system call. The vulnerability specifically impacts nommu kernels, which are typically used in embedded or specialized environments without hardware memory management units. The issue has been fixed by correcting the argument passed to the preallocation call, ensuring stable operation of VMA iterators and preventing kernel crashes. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53109 is primarily relevant to those running Linux kernels configured without MMU support, which is uncommon in mainstream desktop, server, or cloud environments but more prevalent in embedded systems, IoT devices, and specialized industrial equipment. A kernel crash caused by this vulnerability can lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions, potentially disrupting critical embedded applications or industrial control systems. This could affect sectors such as manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, and critical infrastructure where embedded Linux devices are deployed. Although this vulnerability does not directly lead to privilege escalation or data leakage, the resulting instability and crashes can cause operational downtime, loss of monitoring or control capabilities, and increased maintenance costs. European organizations relying on embedded Linux devices without MMU support should be particularly vigilant, as these devices may be less frequently updated and harder to patch promptly.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53109, organizations should: 1) Identify all Linux systems running nommu kernels, especially embedded and IoT devices, through asset inventory and configuration management. 2) Apply the vendor-provided patch or kernel update that corrects the argument passed to vma_iter_prealloc() as soon as it becomes available. 3) For devices where patching is not immediately feasible, implement monitoring to detect kernel crashes or abnormal system behavior related to memory management. 4) Consider isolating or segmenting affected devices within the network to limit the impact of potential denial of service. 5) Engage with device vendors or maintainers to ensure timely updates and support for nommu kernel configurations. 6) Review and test kernel updates in a controlled environment before deployment to avoid unintended disruptions. 7) Document and automate patch management processes for embedded Linux systems to improve response times for future vulnerabilities.