CVE-2024-56567 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the ad7780 driver component, which handles interfacing with the AD7780 analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The vulnerability arises in the function ad7780_write_raw(), which is responsible for writing raw data values to the device. The issue is a division by zero error caused by the variable val2 potentially being zero when passed to the DIV_ROUND_CLOSEST() macro. While val (another parameter) is explicitly allowed to be zero in read mode, val2 is not specified to be non-zero, leading to an unhandled edge case. This division by zero can cause the kernel to crash or behave unpredictably, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability does not appear to have any known exploits in the wild as of the publication date, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The affected versions are identified by a specific commit hash, indicating this is a recent and targeted fix. The ad7780 driver is part of the Industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem in Linux, which is used for interfacing with sensors and ADCs in embedded and industrial systems. This vulnerability is primarily a stability and availability risk rather than a direct confidentiality or integrity compromise. However, in environments where the Linux kernel is used in critical industrial control systems or embedded devices relying on the AD7780 ADC, this could lead to system crashes or interruptions in data acquisition processes.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-56567 depends largely on the deployment of Linux systems utilizing the ad7780 driver, which is common in embedded and industrial environments. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, automotive, and critical infrastructure that rely on Linux-based embedded systems for sensor data acquisition could experience system instability or downtime if this vulnerability is exploited or triggered unintentionally. This could disrupt operational technology (OT) environments, leading to production delays or safety risks. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or allow privilege escalation, the denial of service caused by kernel crashes can have significant operational impacts. European companies with embedded Linux devices in their supply chain or operational infrastructure should be aware of this risk. Additionally, the lack of known exploits suggests that the threat is currently low but could increase if attackers develop methods to trigger the division by zero condition remotely or via crafted inputs.

To mitigate CVE-2024-56567, European organizations should: 1) Apply the Linux kernel patch that fixes the division by zero in ad7780_write_raw() as soon as it is available from their Linux distribution vendors or kernel maintainers. 2) Identify and inventory all systems using the ad7780 driver, particularly embedded and industrial devices running Linux kernels affected by this vulnerability. 3) For critical systems where patching is not immediately feasible, implement monitoring to detect kernel crashes or unusual system behavior that may indicate triggering of this vulnerability. 4) Restrict access to systems running the vulnerable kernel versions to trusted users and networks to reduce the risk of accidental or malicious triggering. 5) Engage with device and system vendors to confirm patch availability and coordinate updates in embedded devices that may not be directly managed by IT teams. 6) Review and test kernel updates in a controlled environment to ensure stability before deployment in production, especially in OT environments where uptime is critical.