CVE-2024-56710 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the Ceph distributed storage subsystem. The issue involves a memory leak in the ceph_direct_read_write() function. The root cause is that the bvecs array, allocated by iter_get_bvecs_alloc(), is not properly freed if the subsequent call to ceph_alloc_sparse_ext_map() fails. This results in leaked memory and pinned pages that are not released back to the system. The vulnerability arises because the allocation of the sparse_ext map was delayed until after the bvecs array was set up, which allowed the leak to occur upon failure. The fix involves moving the sparse_ext allocation earlier in the process to ensure proper cleanup and prevent memory leaks. A similar adjustment was made in the __ceph_sync_read() function to address a related leak. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-401 (Improper Release of Memory Before Removing Last Reference) and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.3, indicating low severity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is limited to availability (A:L) with no confidentiality or integrity impact. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The affected versions are specific Linux kernel commits identified by their hashes. This vulnerability primarily affects systems running the Ceph storage stack within the Linux kernel, which is commonly used in large-scale storage deployments and cloud infrastructure environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-56710 is generally low but not negligible. Organizations utilizing Ceph-based storage clusters on Linux servers may experience degraded system availability due to memory leaks causing resource exhaustion over time. This can lead to performance degradation or potential denial of service if the pinned pages accumulate and reduce available memory. While the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact could disrupt critical storage services, especially in data centers or cloud environments relying on Ceph for distributed storage. Enterprises in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and public administration that operate large-scale Linux-based storage infrastructures could face operational interruptions if the vulnerability is exploited or left unpatched. However, the requirement for local access and low privileges limits the risk of remote exploitation, making insider threats or compromised local accounts the primary concern. Since no known exploits exist in the wild, the immediate risk is low but patching is recommended to prevent potential future abuse and maintain system stability.

To mitigate CVE-2024-56710, European organizations should: 1) Apply the latest Linux kernel patches that include the fix for this memory leak in the Ceph subsystem as soon as they become available from their Linux distribution vendors. 2) Monitor Ceph storage nodes for abnormal memory usage patterns or pinned pages that could indicate leakage. 3) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems running Ceph to prevent unauthorized local access, as exploitation requires local privileges. 4) Regularly audit and update kernel versions in production environments to ensure timely remediation of known vulnerabilities. 5) Consider deploying memory and resource monitoring tools tailored for storage nodes to detect early signs of resource exhaustion. 6) In environments where patching is delayed, schedule periodic reboots of affected nodes to clear leaked memory and pinned pages as a temporary workaround. 7) Engage with Ceph and Linux kernel communities for updates and best practices related to secure deployment and maintenance of Ceph storage clusters.