CVE-2024-53117 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel, specifically within the virtio/vsock subsystem. The virtio/vsock component facilitates communication between virtual machines and the host system using the virtio framework, which is commonly employed in virtualization environments. The vulnerability pertains to improper error handling of the MSG_ZEROCOPY flag, which is used to optimize data transfers by avoiding unnecessary copying of data buffers. The issue arises from a missing call to kfree_skb(), a kernel function responsible for freeing socket buffers, leading to memory leaks when errors occur during zerocopy message processing. Memory leaks in kernel space can degrade system performance over time and potentially lead to denial of service conditions if the kernel runs out of memory resources. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the flaw represents a reliability and availability risk in systems running affected Linux kernel versions. The vulnerability was reserved on November 19, 2024, and published on December 2, 2024. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no patches or exploit indicators are currently linked to this CVE. The affected versions are identified by specific commit hashes, indicating that this is a recent code-level fix. This vulnerability is relevant primarily to environments utilizing virtio/vsock, such as virtualized infrastructures and cloud platforms running Linux kernels with the affected code.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53117 centers on the stability and availability of virtualized Linux environments. Enterprises and service providers that rely heavily on virtualization technologies, including cloud service providers, hosting companies, and large-scale data centers, may experience degraded performance or potential denial of service if the memory leak is triggered repeatedly. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity risks, the resulting resource exhaustion could disrupt critical services and workloads. This is particularly significant for sectors with high virtualization adoption such as finance, telecommunications, and public administration in Europe. Organizations running Linux-based virtual machines with virtio/vsock enabled should be aware that prolonged exploitation could lead to kernel memory exhaustion, impacting uptime and service reliability. Given the absence of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate; however, the vulnerability should be addressed promptly to prevent potential escalation or exploitation in complex virtualized environments.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the fix for CVE-2024-53117 as soon as patches become available from their Linux distribution vendors. In the interim, administrators can mitigate risk by auditing and potentially disabling virtio/vsock functionality if it is not required for their workloads, thereby reducing the attack surface. Monitoring kernel logs for unusual memory allocation patterns or socket buffer leaks can help detect early signs of exploitation or system degradation. Implementing resource limits and kernel memory monitoring tools can also prevent system-wide impact from memory leaks. Organizations should maintain robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of kernel updates. Additionally, virtualization platform administrators should review configuration settings related to virtio/vsock and consider isolating critical workloads from virtual machines that might be exposed to this vulnerability. Collaboration with Linux distribution maintainers and virtualization vendors will be essential to receive timely updates and guidance.