CVE-2024-58020 is a vulnerability identified in the Linux kernel's Human Interface Device (HID) multitouch driver, specifically within the function mt_input_configured(). The issue arises because the function devm_kasprintf(), which is used to allocate and format a string, can return a NULL pointer upon failure. In the affected code, this return value was not checked before use, leading to a potential kernel NULL pointer dereference. This flaw can cause the kernel to crash or become unstable when the NULL pointer is dereferenced, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is rooted in improper error handling and lack of defensive programming practices in the multitouch input configuration code. The patch involves adding a NULL check in mt_input_configured() to safely handle the failure scenario and prevent the kernel from dereferencing a NULL pointer. The affected versions include multiple Linux kernel commits prior to the fix, indicating that this vulnerability could impact a broad range of Linux distributions that have not yet integrated the patch. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no CVSS score has been assigned yet. However, the vulnerability is significant because it affects the kernel, which is a critical component of Linux-based systems, and can be triggered by input device interactions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-58020 primarily concerns system stability and availability. Linux is widely used across Europe in enterprise servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, and workstations. A kernel NULL pointer dereference can cause system crashes or reboots, leading to service interruptions and potential operational downtime. Organizations relying on Linux-based multitouch devices or systems that handle HID input may experience disruptions if the vulnerability is triggered. While this vulnerability does not directly lead to privilege escalation or data breaches, the denial of service could affect critical services, especially in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and public administration where Linux is prevalent. Additionally, embedded Linux devices in industrial control systems or IoT deployments could be impacted, potentially affecting operational technology environments. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability's presence in the kernel means that attackers with local access or the ability to simulate HID input could exploit it to cause denial of service.

European organizations should prioritize updating their Linux kernels to versions that include the patch for CVE-2024-58020. Since the vulnerability is fixed by adding a NULL pointer check, applying the official kernel updates from trusted Linux distribution vendors is the most effective mitigation. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should restrict access to systems with multitouch HID devices to trusted users only and monitor for unusual input device activity. Additionally, disabling multitouch input devices or the HID multitouch driver temporarily can reduce exposure, though this may impact device functionality. Organizations should also implement robust monitoring and alerting for kernel crashes or reboots that could indicate exploitation attempts. For embedded or IoT devices running vulnerable Linux kernels, vendors should be contacted for firmware updates or mitigations. Finally, organizations should ensure that their incident response teams are aware of this vulnerability and prepared to handle potential denial of service incidents related to kernel crashes.