CVE-2023-54300
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
Use-After-Free in Linux ath9k WiFi Driver Causes Memory Disclosure

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: avoid referencing uninit memory in ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx For the reasons also described in commit b383e8abed41 ("wifi: ath9k: avoid uninit memory read in ath9k_htc_rx_msg()"), ath9k_htc_rx_msg() should validate pkt_len before accessing the SKB. For example, the obtained SKB may have been badly constructed with pkt_len = 8. In this case, the SKB can only contain a valid htc_frame_hdr but after being processed in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() and passed to ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx() endpoint RX handler, it is expected to have a WMI command header which should be located inside its data payload. Implement sanity checking inside ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx(). Otherwise, uninit memory can be referenced. Tested on Qualcomm Atheros Communications AR9271 802.11n . 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-2023-54300
EUVD
EUVD-2023-60504
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
qualcomm_atheros_communications ar9271 *
linux kernel *
qualcomm atheros ar9271
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Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ath9k wifi driver involves referencing uninitialized memory in the ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx function. Specifically, the function does not properly validate the packet length (pkt_len) before accessing the socket buffer (SKB) data. If the SKB is malformed with a small pkt_len, the code may attempt to read a WMI command header from uninitialized memory, leading to undefined behavior.

Impact Analysis

The impact of this vulnerability is that the system may read uninitialized memory, which can cause crashes, data corruption, or potentially expose sensitive information. It may also lead to instability in the wifi driver or kernel, affecting system reliability.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Linux kernel to a version that includes the fix for this vulnerability, which implements sanity checking inside ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx to avoid referencing uninitialized memory. This fix prevents uninitialized memory reads in the ath9k driver, specifically for Qualcomm Atheros AR9271 devices. Until the update is applied, consider disabling the affected wireless device or driver to mitigate potential exploitation.

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