CVE-2024-53163 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's cryptographic driver for Intel's QuickAssist Technology (QAT) hardware, specifically in the qat_420xx module. The issue is an off-by-one error in the function uof_get_name(), which is called by uof_get_name_420xx(). The vulnerability arises because the boundary check uses a greater-than (>) comparison instead of a greater-than-or-equal-to (>=) comparison against the number of objects (num_objs) defined by the size of the firmware objects array (fw_objs[]). This off-by-one error can lead to an out-of-bounds memory access when the index equals the array size, potentially causing memory corruption or crashes. Since this vulnerability is in a kernel module that handles cryptographic operations accelerated by QAT hardware, exploitation could affect the integrity and availability of cryptographic functions. However, the vulnerability requires the presence of the specific qat_420xx driver and related hardware, limiting the scope to systems using Intel QAT accelerators with this kernel module. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The fix involves correcting the boundary check to use >=, preventing out-of-bounds access.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53163 depends largely on their use of Linux systems with Intel QAT hardware acceleration. Organizations relying on QAT for cryptographic acceleration in data centers, telecom infrastructure, or cloud services could face risks of kernel crashes or potential privilege escalation if the vulnerability is exploited. This could lead to denial of service or compromise of cryptographic operations, affecting confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data. Given that the vulnerability is a memory safety issue in kernel space, successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, although exploitation complexity is moderate due to hardware and driver requirements. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed promptly to prevent future attacks. European critical infrastructure sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and government agencies using Linux with QAT hardware are particularly sensitive to such kernel-level vulnerabilities.

European organizations should immediately verify if their Linux systems use the qat_420xx driver and Intel QAT hardware. They should apply the official Linux kernel patches that fix the boundary check in uof_get_name() as soon as they become available. If patching is delayed, organizations can consider disabling the QAT driver temporarily to mitigate risk, though this may impact performance of cryptographic operations. System administrators should monitor kernel logs for signs of crashes or unusual behavior related to the QAT driver. Additionally, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit who can load kernel modules or interact with QAT devices, reducing the attack surface. Regular kernel updates and vulnerability scanning should be enforced to detect and remediate similar issues promptly. Finally, organizations should prepare incident response plans for potential exploitation scenarios involving kernel memory corruption.