CVE-2024-58002 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's uvcvideo driver, which handles USB Video Class devices such as webcams. The issue arises from the handling of asynchronous control operations. When an async control is written, the driver copies a pointer to the file handle that initiated the operation. This pointer is intended to be used when the device completes the operation, which could occur at any time in the future. However, if the user closes the file descriptor before the async operation completes, the associated file handle structure is freed, leaving a dangling pointer in the driver. This dangling pointer is then used by the driver when the device finishes the operation, leading to use-after-free conditions. Such use-after-free scenarios can cause undefined behavior including kernel crashes (denial of service) or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The patch for this vulnerability involves cleaning all dangling pointers during the release() function call to prevent the driver from accessing freed memory. To avoid performance penalties in the common case where no async operations are pending, a counter mechanism was introduced to efficiently track and manage these pointers. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions identified by the commit hash e5225c820c057537dc780244760e2e24c7d27366 and potentially other versions incorporating the same code. No known exploits are reported in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily to systems running Linux kernels with the vulnerable uvcvideo driver, especially those utilizing USB webcams or similar video capture devices. Exploitation could lead to kernel-level code execution or system crashes, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. This is particularly critical for sectors relying heavily on Linux infrastructure such as telecommunications, cloud service providers, research institutions, and government agencies. The ability to execute code at the kernel level could allow attackers to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, and maintain persistent access. Additionally, denial of service conditions could disrupt critical services and operations. Given the widespread use of Linux in European data centers, embedded systems, and desktops, the vulnerability could have broad implications if exploited. However, exploitation requires local access or the ability to interact with the vulnerable device file descriptor, limiting remote exploitation scenarios. Nonetheless, insider threats or malware with local access could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions where this vulnerability is patched. Specifically, applying the patch that cleans dangling pointers during release() in the uvcvideo driver is essential. System administrators should audit systems for the presence of vulnerable kernel versions and USB video devices. As an immediate mitigation, restricting access permissions to video device nodes (e.g., /dev/video*) can reduce the attack surface by limiting which users or processes can interact with the vulnerable driver. Employing mandatory access controls (such as SELinux or AppArmor) to confine processes that require webcam access can further mitigate risk. Monitoring kernel logs for unusual crashes or errors related to uvcvideo may help detect exploitation attempts. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, disabling or unloading the uvcvideo module can be considered if webcam functionality is not critical. Finally, organizations should incorporate this vulnerability into their vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure timely detection and remediation.