CVE-2022-50829
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
Use-After-Free and Memory Leak in Linux ath9k USB Driver

Publication date: 2025-12-30

Last updated on: 2025-12-30

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: Fix use-after-free in ath9k_hif_usb_reg_in_cb() It is possible that skb is freed in ath9k_htc_rx_msg(), then usb_submit_urb() fails and we try to free skb again. It causes use-after-free bug. Moreover, if alloc_skb() fails, urb->context becomes NULL but rx_buf is not freed and there can be a memory leak. The patch removes unnecessary nskb and makes skb processing more clear: it is supposed that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees old skb or passes its managing to another callback function. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.
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Meta Information
Published
2025-12-30
Last Modified
2025-12-30
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2025-12-30
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2022-50829
EUVD
EUVD-2022-55869
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *
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Exploitability
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a use-after-free bug in the Linux kernel's ath9k wireless driver, specifically in the hif_usb component. It occurs because a network buffer (skb) may be freed in the function ath9k_htc_rx_msg(), and if usb_submit_urb() fails afterward, the code attempts to free the skb again, causing a use-after-free error. Additionally, if memory allocation for skb fails, a related buffer (rx_buf) is not freed, leading to a potential memory leak. The patch fixes this by clarifying skb processing and removing unnecessary variables to ensure proper memory management.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can lead to memory corruption due to use-after-free, which may cause system instability, crashes, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges on the affected system. The memory leak could also degrade system performance over time.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the patch that fixes the use-after-free bug in the ath9k_hif_usb_reg_in_cb() function of the Linux kernel's ath9k driver. This patch removes unnecessary skb handling and clarifies skb processing to prevent double freeing and memory leaks.

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