CVE-2024-56712 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's udmabuf driver, which is responsible for managing user-space DMA buffers. The issue arises in the export_udmabuf() function, where if the dma_buf_fd() call fails due to a full file descriptor (FD) table, the error handling in udmabuf_create() improperly tears down the udmabuf without addressing the already created dma_buf. This results in a memory leak because the dma_buf remains allocated with a dangling pointer, consuming system memory unnecessarily. Although this does not lead to direct security breaches such as data leakage or privilege escalation, it represents a resource management flaw categorized under CWE-401 (Memory Leak). The vulnerability has existed since the introduction of the udmabuf driver and was fixed by restructuring the code to move the dma_buf_fd() call out of export_udmabuf(), allowing for more appropriate error handling and cleanup. The CVSS score assigned is 3.3 (low severity), reflecting the limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with the attack vector being local and requiring low privileges but no user interaction. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is primarily related to system stability and resource exhaustion rather than direct security compromise. Systems running affected Linux kernel versions with udmabuf enabled could experience gradual memory leaks under conditions where file descriptor tables become full, potentially leading to degraded performance or denial of service if the leak is sustained over time. This could affect servers, embedded devices, or specialized hardware platforms relying on DMA buffers for high-performance operations. While the risk of exploitation is low and requires local access with some privileges, organizations with critical infrastructure or high-availability requirements might face operational disruptions if the vulnerability is triggered repeatedly. However, the absence of confidentiality or integrity impact and the low severity rating suggest that this vulnerability is not a high priority for immediate remediation compared to more critical Linux kernel vulnerabilities.

European organizations should ensure that their Linux systems are updated to kernel versions that include the fix for CVE-2024-56712. Specifically, applying the latest stable kernel patches or vendor-provided updates that address the udmabuf memory leak is recommended. System administrators should monitor system logs and resource usage to detect abnormal memory consumption patterns that could indicate the presence of this leak. Additionally, implementing limits on file descriptor usage and enforcing resource quotas can help mitigate the risk of FD table exhaustion, reducing the likelihood of triggering the error condition. For environments where udmabuf is not required, disabling or unloading the udmabuf driver can eliminate exposure. Finally, maintaining good security hygiene by restricting local access and privileges minimizes the risk of exploitation.