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CVE-2023-53199

Full vulnerability record from the local CVENow database.

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.

Severity
MEDIUM
CVSS score
5.5 (v3.1)
Vulnerability status
Analyzed
Source identifier
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Published
2025-09-15 15:15:46.277000
Last modified
2026-11-05 21:17:18.923000
View original CVE JSON 
{
  "id": "CVE-2023-53199",
  "sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
  "published": "2025-09-15T15:15:46.277",
  "lastModified": "2026-11-05T21:17:18.923",
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "cveTags": [],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nwifi: ath9k: hif_usb: clean up skbs if ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() fails\n\nSyzkaller detected a memory leak of skbs in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream().\nWhile processing skbs in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(), the already allocated\nskbs in skb_pool are not freed if ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() fails. If we\nhave an incorrect pkt_len or pkt_tag, the input skb is considered invalid\nand dropped. All the associated packets already in skb_pool should be\ndropped and freed. Added a comment describing this issue.\n\nThe patch also makes remain_skb NULL after being processed so that it\ncannot be referenced after potential free. The initialization of hif_dev\nfields which are associated with remain_skb (rx_remain_len,\nrx_transfer_len and rx_pad_len) is moved after a new remain_skb is\nallocated.\n\nFound by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller."
    }
  ],
  "affected": [
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      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "product": "Linux",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "programFiles": [
            "drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
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        },
        {
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "product": "Linux",
          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "programFiles": [
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          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
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              "status": "unaffected"
            },
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              "version": "4.19.276",
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            },
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              "version": "5.4.235",
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              "version": "5.10.173",
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              "version": "5.15.99",
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            },
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              "version": "6.2.3",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.2.*",
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            },
            {
              "version": "6.3",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix",
              "status": "unaffected"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "source": "[email protected]",
        "type": "Primary",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "3.1",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
          "baseScore": 5.5,
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
        "impactScore": 3.6
      }
    ],
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "timestamp": "2026-11-05T20:20:12.413802Z",
          "id": "CVE-2023-53199",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "partial"
            }
          ],
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "version": "2.0.3"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "source": "[email protected]",
      "type": "Primary",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-772"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "configurations": [
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      "nodes": [
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          "operator": "OR",
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
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}