CVE-2024-53188 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the ath12k wireless driver, which supports certain Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chipsets. The flaw arises during the device unbinding process when an error occurs in firmware initialization. Normally, if initialization fails, the function ath12k_dp_cc_cleanup is called to release allocated resources. However, the vulnerability occurs because these resources are released twice: once during the error handling and again during the device unbinding (ath12k_pci_remove). This double release leads to a NULL pointer dereference at a specific kernel instruction pointer (RIP) within the ath12k_dp_cc_cleanup function. The dereference of a NULL pointer causes a kernel crash (BUG), resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The issue is reliably reproducible in virtual machine environments due to MSI (Message Signaled Interrupts) addressing initialization failures. The fix involves setting the released structure pointer to NULL at the end of ath12k_dp_cc_cleanup to prevent double freeing and subsequent crashes. This vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication to be triggered, as it occurs during device unbinding which can be initiated by the system or administrator. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running Linux kernels with the vulnerable ath12k driver enabled, especially those using Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chipsets supported by this driver. The impact is mainly a local denial of service due to kernel crashes, which can disrupt network connectivity and potentially affect critical services relying on wireless communication. Systems operating in virtualized environments are particularly susceptible since the issue is reproducible in VMs, which are widely used in enterprise data centers and cloud infrastructures across Europe. While this vulnerability does not directly lead to privilege escalation or remote code execution, repeated crashes could degrade system availability, interrupt business operations, and increase operational costs due to downtime and recovery efforts. Additionally, if exploited in targeted attacks, it could be used as a vector to cause disruption in sensitive environments such as government, finance, and critical infrastructure sectors prevalent in Europe.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernel to the latest patched versions that include the fix for CVE-2024-53188. Specifically, ensure that the ath12k driver is updated to the version where the double free issue is resolved by setting the released structure pointer to NULL after cleanup. System administrators should audit their environments to identify systems using the affected Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi chipsets and verify kernel versions. In virtualized environments, extra caution should be taken to monitor and restrict device unbinding operations that could trigger this vulnerability. Implementing kernel crash monitoring and automated recovery mechanisms can help minimize downtime. Additionally, organizations should consider isolating critical systems from unnecessary wireless device changes and maintain robust backup and recovery plans to quickly restore service in case of crashes. Network segmentation and limiting administrative privileges can reduce the risk of accidental or malicious triggering of the vulnerability.