CVE-2023-54053
NULL Pointer Dereference in Linux iwlwifi PCI Driver Causes Crash
Publication date: 2025-12-24
Last updated on: 2025-12-24
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| intel | iwlwifi | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-UNKNOWN |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a possible NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's iwlwifi driver for Intel wireless devices. Specifically, if the function iwl_pci_probe() fails and frees a resource called 'trans', the subsequent call to iwl_pci_remove() may try to access this already freed 'trans' pointer, causing a crash.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can cause the system to crash due to a NULL pointer dereference in the wireless driver, potentially leading to denial of service or instability in systems using affected Intel wireless hardware.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
Detection can be done by monitoring system logs for kernel NULL pointer dereference crashes related to the iwlwifi driver. Look for log entries mentioning 'iwlwifi', 'iwl_pci_remove', or messages like 'BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference' and specific identifiers such as 'crf-id 0xa5a5a5a2'. Commands such as 'dmesg | grep iwlwifi' or 'journalctl -k | grep iwlwifi' can help identify these issues.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Immediate mitigation involves updating the Linux kernel to a version where this iwlwifi NULL pointer dereference issue is fixed. Until then, avoid unloading or removing the iwlwifi driver module to prevent triggering the crash. Monitoring system stability and avoiding operations that unload the iwlwifi driver can reduce risk.