CVE-2024-58077 addresses a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ALSA System on Chip (ASoC) subsystem, specifically within the soc-pcm driver component. The issue revolves around the improper use of the soc_pcm_ret() function during the .prepare callback phase of audio PCM operations. The soc_pcm_ret() function is designed to handle error codes, including -EINVAL, which indicates invalid parameters typically originating from userspace. Previously, the kernel code ignored the -EINVAL error in many contexts to prevent excessive logging that could be exploited for denial-of-service (DoS) attacks against syslog or disk space. However, this blanket ignoring of -EINVAL was overly broad and led to improper error handling during the .prepare callback. The patch commits a change to avoid using soc_pcm_ret() in the .prepare callback, thereby preventing the suppression of legitimate error signals and improving the robustness of error handling in the audio subsystem. This fix reduces the risk of silent failures or misbehavior in audio device preparation and mitigates potential indirect DoS vectors related to logging. Although the vulnerability does not appear to be actively exploited in the wild, it affects multiple versions of the Linux kernel identified by specific commit hashes. The vulnerability is subtle and technical, impacting kernel-level audio driver behavior rather than user-facing applications directly.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-58077 is primarily relevant to environments running Linux-based systems with audio hardware relying on the ASoC soc-pcm driver. This includes servers, desktops, embedded devices, and IoT systems using Linux kernels with the affected versions. The vulnerability could lead to improper error handling during audio device preparation, potentially causing audio subsystem instability or failures. While this does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, it may affect system availability or reliability, particularly in environments where audio functionality is critical (e.g., telephony systems, multimedia processing, or industrial control systems with audio interfaces). Additionally, the previous error logging behavior could have been abused to generate excessive log entries, potentially leading to disk space exhaustion and indirect denial-of-service conditions. European organizations with strict operational continuity requirements or those deploying Linux in embedded or industrial contexts should be aware of this risk. However, the lack of known exploits and the technical nature of the vulnerability suggest a moderate risk level. The impact is more operational than security-critical, but ignoring the patch could allow attackers to exploit logging behavior for resource exhaustion or cause subtle audio subsystem issues.

European organizations should apply the Linux kernel patch that addresses CVE-2024-58077 as soon as it becomes available from their Linux distribution vendors or kernel maintainers. Specifically, updating to a kernel version that includes the fix avoiding the use of soc_pcm_ret() in the .prepare callback is essential. Organizations running custom or embedded Linux kernels should backport the patch to their kernel versions. Additionally, monitoring syslog and disk usage for unusual spikes related to audio subsystem errors can help detect attempts to exploit logging behavior. Implementing rate limiting on kernel logging or configuring log rotation policies to prevent disk exhaustion can mitigate indirect denial-of-service risks. For critical systems relying on audio functionality, thorough testing of the updated kernel to ensure audio subsystem stability is recommended. Finally, maintaining a robust patch management process for Linux kernels and related drivers is crucial to promptly address such vulnerabilities.