CVE-2024-53207 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth management subsystem. The issue relates to potential deadlocks occurring within the Bluetooth MGMT (management) interface, specifically triggered by the function hci_cmd_sync_dequeue during the destruction or power-off sequence of Bluetooth devices. The deadlock manifests as a kernel worker thread (kworker) becoming blocked for extended periods (over 120 seconds), as evidenced by hung task warnings in kernel logs. The root cause involves improper locking and synchronization mechanisms within the Bluetooth management code, where mutex locks are held in a manner that can cause circular waits or resource contention, leading to system hangs or degraded responsiveness. The stack trace indicates that the deadlock occurs during synchronous command dequeue operations and power state transitions, such as powering off the Bluetooth device. This vulnerability affects multiple Linux kernel versions identified by specific commit hashes, indicating it is present in recent kernel builds prior to the fix. Although no CVSS score has been assigned, the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and patched as of December 27, 2024. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The issue is primarily a denial-of-service (DoS) condition at the kernel level, potentially impacting system stability and availability when Bluetooth devices are managed or powered down.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-53207 centers on system availability and operational stability, particularly for environments relying on Linux systems with active Bluetooth usage. Organizations utilizing Linux servers, desktops, or embedded devices with Bluetooth capabilities may experience system hangs or degraded performance due to kernel deadlocks. This can disrupt critical workflows, especially in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and IoT deployments where Linux-based devices are prevalent and Bluetooth is used for device communication or control. The deadlock could lead to service interruptions, increased maintenance overhead, and potential cascading failures if automated systems depend on Bluetooth device states. While the vulnerability does not directly expose confidentiality or integrity risks, the availability impact could indirectly affect business continuity and operational reliability. Given the widespread use of Linux in European enterprises and public sector infrastructure, unpatched systems could face increased risk of downtime or require emergency patching efforts.

To mitigate CVE-2024-53207, European organizations should prioritize updating Linux kernel versions to the patched releases that address the Bluetooth MGMT deadlock issue. Kernel upgrades should be tested in staging environments to ensure compatibility and stability before deployment. For environments where immediate kernel updates are not feasible, temporary workarounds include disabling Bluetooth functionality if it is non-essential, thereby eliminating the attack surface for this deadlock. Monitoring kernel logs for hung task warnings related to Bluetooth workqueues can help detect attempts to trigger the deadlock. Organizations should also review and harden system management procedures involving Bluetooth device power state changes to minimize triggering conditions. For embedded or IoT devices with limited update capabilities, coordination with vendors for firmware or kernel patches is critical. Additionally, implementing robust system monitoring and automated recovery mechanisms can reduce downtime impact if deadlocks occur. Network segmentation and access controls limiting Bluetooth device management to trusted administrators can further reduce risk.