CVE-2024-55626 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-680 (Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow) affecting the Suricata network security monitoring engine prior to version 7.0.8. Suricata uses Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) files to filter network traffic for intrusion detection and prevention. When Suricata starts, it processes the BPF filter file provided. If this file is excessively large, an integer overflow can occur during the calculation of buffer sizes, which then leads to a buffer overflow condition. This buffer overflow can cause Suricata to crash or behave unpredictably, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability requires local access to the system running Suricata and user interaction to supply the malicious BPF filter file at startup. The CVSS v3.1 score is 3.3, reflecting low severity primarily due to the limited impact scope (availability only), the need for local access, and user interaction. There is no indication that confidentiality or integrity of data can be compromised through this vulnerability. The issue was addressed and fixed in Suricata version 7.0.8 by correcting the integer overflow and ensuring proper buffer size validation. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but organizations using vulnerable versions should upgrade to mitigate potential risks.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-55626 is the potential disruption of network security monitoring and intrusion detection capabilities due to Suricata crashing or failing to start. This can reduce visibility into network threats and delay incident response, increasing the risk of undetected attacks. Critical infrastructure operators, financial institutions, and government agencies relying on Suricata for real-time network defense could experience temporary loss of monitoring coverage, which may have regulatory and operational consequences. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, data breaches are unlikely directly from this flaw. However, the reduced availability of Suricata could indirectly increase exposure to other threats. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or compromised local accounts could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt security operations.

European organizations should immediately upgrade Suricata to version 7.0.8 or later to eliminate this vulnerability. Until upgrades are applied, restrict local access to systems running Suricata to trusted administrators only and enforce strict access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized attempts to supply malicious BPF filter files. Implement application whitelisting or integrity checks on configuration files, including BPF filters, to prevent unauthorized modifications. Regularly audit startup scripts and configuration management processes to ensure only validated filters are used. Additionally, consider deploying redundant or failover network monitoring systems to maintain visibility if Suricata becomes unavailable. Security teams should also monitor for unusual Suricata crashes or startup failures that could indicate exploitation attempts. Finally, maintain up-to-date incident response plans that include scenarios involving loss of network monitoring capabilities.