CVE-2023-53199

wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: clean up skbs if ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() fails

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 15, 2025 at 02:21 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 06:44 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: clean up skbs if ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() fails Syzkaller detected a memory leak of skbs in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(). While processing skbs in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(), the already allocated skbs in skb_pool are not freed if ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() fails. If we have an incorrect pkt_len or pkt_tag, the input skb is considered invalid and dropped. All the associated packets already in skb_pool should be dropped and freed. Added a comment describing this issue. The patch also makes remain_skb NULL after being processed so that it cannot be referenced after potential free. The initialization of hif_dev fields which are associated with remain_skb (rx_remain_len, rx_transfer_len and rx_pad_len) is moved after a new remain_skb is allocated. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

2.6.38 ≤ v < 4.19.2762.6.38 ≤ v < 5.10.1732.6.38 ≤ v < 5.15.992.6.38 ≤ v < 5.4.2352.6.38 ≤ v < 6.1.162.6.38 ≤ v < 6.2.32.6.38 ≤ v < 6.34.20 ≤ v < 5.4.2355.11 ≤ v < 5.15.995.16 ≤ v < 6.1.165.5 ≤ v < 5.10.1736.2 ≤ v < 6.2.32.6.3844b23b488d44e56d467764ecb661830e5b02b308
Vendor states this is fixed in 0af54343a76263a12dbae7fafb64eb47c4a6ad38 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 3fc6401fafde11712a83089fa2cc874cfd10e2cd (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 61490d2710277e8a55009b7682456ae22f8087cf (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 9acdec72787af1bc8ed92711b52118c8e3e638a2 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in c766e37fccd5a5c5059be7efcd9618bf8a2c17c3 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in cd8316767099920a5d41feed1afab0c482a43e9f (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f26dd69f61eff2eedf5df2d199bdd23108309947 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2.6.38 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.19.276 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.173 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.99 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.4.235 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.2.3 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.3 (unaffected)

References (7)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0af54343a76263a12dbae7fafb64eb47c4a6ad38
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3fc6401fafde11712a83089fa2cc874cfd10e2cd
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61490d2710277e8a55009b7682456ae22f8087cf
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9acdec72787af1bc8ed92711b52118c8e3e638a2
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c766e37fccd5a5c5059be7efcd9618bf8a2c17c3
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd8316767099920a5d41feed1afab0c482a43e9f
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f26dd69f61eff2eedf5df2d199bdd23108309947

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-772

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