CVE-2024-56572 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically within the media platform component allegro-dvt. The issue arises in the function allocate_buffers_internal(), where a memory leak can occur if the buffer allocation fails. The root cause is that buffers allocated in a loop are not properly released when an exception or error path is taken, leading to unreleased memory. This can cause the system to consume increasing amounts of memory over time, potentially degrading performance or causing denial of service conditions due to resource exhaustion. The fix involves ensuring that any allocated buffers are freed immediately when allegro_alloc_buffer fails, thereby preventing the leak. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-401 (Improper Release of Memory Before Removing Last Reference or Pointer), indicating a classic memory management flaw. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, reflecting a low severity primarily because the impact is limited to availability (memory leak) without affecting confidentiality or integrity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash f20387dfd065693ba7ea2788a2f893bf653c9cb8, and the patch has been published to address this issue.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is generally low but not negligible. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with the allegro-dvt media platform component could experience gradual memory exhaustion if the vulnerability is triggered repeatedly. This could lead to degraded system performance or crashes, potentially disrupting services that rely on media processing or platform-specific hardware acceleration. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, availability issues could affect critical infrastructure or services, especially in environments where uptime and reliability are paramount, such as telecommunications, media companies, or embedded systems in industrial control. Given the local attack vector and requirement for low privileges, exploitation would typically require an attacker to have some level of access to the system, limiting the risk from remote attackers but posing a concern for insider threats or compromised accounts.

European organizations should ensure that their Linux kernel versions are updated to include the patch that fixes CVE-2024-56572. Specifically, kernel maintainers and system administrators should verify that the allegro-dvt platform component has been updated to free buffers correctly on allocation failure. Beyond applying the patch, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges, reducing the risk of exploitation by low-privilege users. Monitoring system memory usage patterns on hosts running affected kernels can help detect abnormal memory consumption indicative of exploitation attempts. For embedded or specialized systems using the allegro-dvt platform, thorough testing after patch application is recommended to ensure stability. Additionally, organizations should incorporate this vulnerability into their vulnerability management and patching cycles, prioritizing systems where media platform components are actively used. Employing runtime memory leak detection tools during development and testing phases can help prevent similar issues in custom or derivative Linux kernel builds.