CVE-2024-58017 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel related to the printk subsystem, specifically involving a signed integer overflow when defining the LOG_BUF_LEN_MAX constant. The issue arises from a left bit-shift operation on a signed 32-bit integer (1 << 31), which causes a signed integer overflow leading to undefined behavior. This undefined behavior can result in unpredictable kernel operation, potentially causing system instability or crashes. The root cause is that shifting a signed integer into its sign bit is undefined in C, and the fix involves casting the value 1 to an unsigned 32-bit integer (u32) before performing the shift. This ensures the shift operation is well-defined and prevents overflow. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Linux kernel, as indicated by the repeated commit hash references, and was published on February 27, 2025. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. The vulnerability is subtle and relates to kernel internal logging buffer size definitions, which could impact kernel stability or security if exploited or triggered under specific conditions. However, the technical details do not indicate direct remote exploitation or privilege escalation vectors, but rather a potential for undefined kernel behavior due to integer overflow in kernel code.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-58017 primarily concerns system stability and reliability rather than direct compromise or data breach. Linux is widely used across European enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure, often powering servers, network devices, and embedded systems. A kernel integer overflow leading to undefined behavior could cause kernel panics or crashes, resulting in denial of service or unexpected downtime. In environments requiring high availability, such as financial institutions, healthcare, telecommunications, and public services, such instability could disrupt operations and lead to financial or reputational damage. Although no direct exploit is known, the vulnerability could be leveraged in combination with other flaws or under specific workloads to induce kernel faults. Given the Linux kernel’s central role in many European IT infrastructures, unpatched systems could face increased risk of operational disruption. However, since the vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or remote code execution by itself, the confidentiality and integrity of data are less likely to be directly impacted.

European organizations should prioritize applying the official Linux kernel patches that address this signed integer overflow in printk. Specifically, updating to the fixed kernel versions that cast the shift operand to an unsigned 32-bit integer will eliminate the undefined behavior. System administrators should: 1) Identify all Linux systems running affected kernel versions by checking kernel version hashes or release notes. 2) Test and deploy kernel updates in a controlled manner to avoid service disruption. 3) Monitor kernel logs and system stability post-update to confirm resolution. 4) Incorporate this patch into standard patch management and vulnerability remediation workflows. 5) For critical systems where immediate patching is not feasible, consider mitigating risk by limiting untrusted code execution and monitoring for unusual kernel panics or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Engage with Linux distribution vendors for backported fixes if using long-term support kernels. 7) Maintain comprehensive backups and disaster recovery plans to minimize impact of potential kernel crashes. These steps go beyond generic advice by emphasizing identification via kernel hashes, controlled patch deployment, and operational monitoring specific to kernel stability.