CVE-2024-53128 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the handling of kernel address sanitizer (KASAN) tagged pointers within the function object_is_on_stack(). Specifically, when the kernel is configured with CONFIG_KASAN_SW_TAGS and CONFIG_KASAN_STACK enabled, the object_is_on_stack() function may incorrectly determine whether an object resides on the stack. This is due to a mismatch between tagged pointers (which include metadata tags for memory safety) and untagged stack pointers. The discrepancy causes the function to produce false negatives in stack object detection, which can trigger warnings if CONFIG_DEBUG_OBJECTS is also enabled. The warnings manifest as kernel debug messages indicating that an object is not on the stack despite being annotated, accompanied by kernel stack traces. This issue arises from the internal kernel debugging and memory safety instrumentation rather than a direct memory corruption or privilege escalation vulnerability. The problem affects Linux kernel versions containing the specified commit hashes, and it has been resolved by fixing the object_is_on_stack() logic to correctly handle tagged pointers. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned to this vulnerability as of the publication date.

The impact of CVE-2024-53128 is primarily on kernel debugging and memory safety instrumentation rather than on direct security properties such as confidentiality, integrity, or availability. The incorrect detection of stack objects can lead to spurious kernel warnings and debug messages, which may complicate kernel debugging and development efforts. For production systems, this may result in noisy logs or potential false alarms but does not directly enable privilege escalation, code execution, or denial of service. However, in environments where kernel debugging and KASAN are actively used—such as development, testing, or security research—this flaw could hinder accurate memory safety analysis and debugging. For European organizations relying on Linux-based infrastructure, particularly those using advanced kernel debugging features or custom kernel builds with KASAN enabled, this could delay vulnerability detection or complicate incident response. The vulnerability does not appear to affect standard production deployments without these debugging configurations enabled, thus limiting its broader operational impact.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53128, organizations should apply the official Linux kernel patch that corrects the object_is_on_stack() function to properly handle KASAN tagged pointers. This involves updating to a kernel version that includes the fix or backporting the patch to existing kernels if feasible. Since the vulnerability is tied to specific kernel configurations (CONFIG_KASAN_SW_TAGS and CONFIG_KASAN_STACK), disabling these options in production environments where kernel debugging is not required can also avoid the issue. Additionally, ensuring that CONFIG_DEBUG_OBJECTS is disabled in production kernels will prevent the triggering of the debug warnings related to this flaw. For development and testing environments where KASAN is necessary, applying the patch promptly is critical to maintain accurate memory safety instrumentation. Monitoring kernel logs for related warnings can help identify systems running vulnerable kernel versions. Finally, maintaining a robust kernel update and patch management process will help ensure timely remediation of such vulnerabilities.