CVE-2023-53153
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
BaseFortify

Publication date: 2025-09-15

Last updated on: 2025-11-24

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: Fix use after free for wext Key information in wext.connect is not reset on (re)connect and can hold data from a previous connection. Reset key data to avoid that drivers or mac80211 incorrectly detect a WEP connection request and access the freed or already reused memory. Additionally optimize cfg80211_sme_connect() and avoid an useless schedule of conn_work.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-09-15
Last Modified
2025-11-24
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2025-09-15
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2023-53153
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 7 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.15.160 (inc) to 5.16 (inc)
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-416 The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a use-after-free issue in the Linux kernel's wifi component, specifically in the cfg80211 subsystem related to wireless extensions (wext). The problem occurs because key information in wext.connect is not reset during (re)connect, causing it to retain data from a previous connection. This can lead to drivers or the mac80211 subsystem incorrectly detecting a WEP connection request and accessing memory that has already been freed or reused, potentially causing instability or security issues.

Impact Analysis

The vulnerability can cause the system to access freed or reused memory incorrectly, which may lead to crashes, instability, or unintended behavior in the wireless networking stack. This could potentially be exploited to cause denial of service or other security issues related to wireless connections.

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