CVE-2024-57984 is a high-severity use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in the Linux kernel's dw_i3c_master driver, specifically related to the i3c subsystem. The flaw arises from a race condition between the cleanup routine and asynchronous work execution. In detail, the dw_i3c_common_remove function initiates cleanup by unregistering the i3c master device and freeing the associated master->base memory. However, concurrently, the dw_i3c_master_irq_handler can trigger dw_i3c_master_irq_handle_ibis, which schedules dw_i3c_hj_work that accesses master->base. If the work executes after master->base has been freed, it leads to a use-after-free condition. This vulnerability is rooted in improper synchronization and failure to cancel pending work before resource deallocation. The fix involves ensuring that the scheduled work is canceled before proceeding with the removal and cleanup process in dw_i3c_common_remove. The vulnerability is tracked as CWE-416 (Use After Free) and has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, indicating high severity. Exploitation requires local privileges (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact includes full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code, cause system crashes, or escalate privileges by exploiting this race condition. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The affected versions correspond to specific Linux kernel commits, indicating this is a recent patch addressing the issue.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on Linux-based systems in critical infrastructure, industrial control systems, telecommunications, and embedded devices that utilize the i3c interface. Successful exploitation could allow attackers with local access to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, leading to full system compromise. This could result in data breaches, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within networks. Given the kernel-level impact, the vulnerability threatens confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Organizations operating in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government could face severe operational and reputational damage. The requirement for local access somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as attackers could leverage other vulnerabilities or insider threats to gain initial foothold. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive patching and mitigation.

1. Immediate application of the official Linux kernel patches that address CVE-2024-57984 is critical. Organizations should prioritize updating kernels on all affected systems, especially those running custom or embedded Linux distributions. 2. Implement strict access controls and monitoring to limit local user privileges and detect suspicious activities related to kernel module loading/unloading and device driver interactions. 3. Employ kernel hardening techniques such as Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR), Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI), and seccomp filters to reduce the attack surface. 4. For embedded and IoT devices using the i3c interface, coordinate with vendors to ensure firmware updates incorporate the fix. 5. Conduct thorough audits of systems that allow local user access, including virtualized environments and containers, to prevent privilege escalation paths. 6. Establish robust incident response plans to quickly identify and remediate exploitation attempts. 7. Use kernel live patching solutions where possible to apply fixes without downtime, minimizing operational impact. 8. Educate system administrators and developers about race condition vulnerabilities and safe driver/module removal practices to prevent similar issues.