CVE-2024-57909 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel specifically affecting the Industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem's light sensor driver for the BH1745 device. The vulnerability arises from improper initialization of a local structure named 'scan' used in the triggered buffer mechanism. This structure is responsible for pushing sensor data from kernel space to user space. The flaw is that the 'scan' struct is only populated for active channels using the iio_for_each_active_channel() macro, leaving inactive channels uninitialized. Because the struct is not zero-initialized before use, this can lead to uninitialized kernel memory being inadvertently leaked to user space when the triggered buffer is read. The issue is a classic information leak vulnerability caused by the kernel exposing residual data from memory that should remain confidential. The fix involves explicitly zero-initializing the 'scan' struct before populating it, thereby preventing any uninitialized or sensitive data from being exposed. Although this vulnerability does not have any known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, it represents a potential risk for confidentiality breaches. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash eab35358aae705b779a7c8b405474d1290175196, and it was publicly disclosed on January 19, 2025. Since the vulnerability relates to a kernel driver for a specific sensor device, exploitation would require local access to a system running the affected kernel and having the BH1745 light sensor driver enabled. No CVSS score is assigned yet, but the nature of the flaw suggests a moderate risk primarily impacting confidentiality with limited scope and exploitation complexity.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-57909 is primarily related to confidentiality breaches on Linux systems that utilize the BH1745 light sensor driver. Such systems could be embedded devices, IoT devices, or specialized hardware running Linux kernels with this driver enabled. The information leak could expose sensitive kernel memory contents to local users or processes, potentially revealing sensitive data or aiding further privilege escalation attacks. However, since exploitation requires local access and the presence of the specific sensor driver, the overall risk to large-scale enterprise infrastructure is limited. Nonetheless, organizations in sectors with extensive use of embedded Linux devices—such as manufacturing, automotive, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure—should be cautious. If these devices are deployed in sensitive environments or handle confidential data, the leak could undermine data privacy and security compliance requirements under regulations like GDPR. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone in multi-stage attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. Therefore, European organizations with Linux-based IoT or embedded systems should assess their exposure and prioritize patching to maintain confidentiality and system integrity.

To mitigate CVE-2024-57909, organizations should: 1) Identify all Linux systems running kernels with the affected commit hash or versions that include the vulnerable BH1745 driver. 2) Apply the official Linux kernel patches or updates that zero-initialize the 'scan' struct in the iio light sensor driver as soon as they become available. 3) For embedded or IoT devices where kernel updates are challenging, consider disabling the BH1745 driver if the sensor is not in use or restrict access to the triggered buffer interfaces to trusted users only. 4) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on local user accounts to prevent unauthorized local access that could exploit this vulnerability. 5) Conduct security audits on embedded Linux devices to verify the absence of uninitialized data leaks and ensure kernel drivers are up to date. 6) Incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and patching workflows, especially for operational technology (OT) environments common in European industries. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on device inventory, kernel patching, access control, and operational security tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.