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Vulnerability · Published Dec 9, 2025 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2023-53802wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function

Unrated

In plain English

A security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 9% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS )–Not rated
Exploit odds (30 days)0.2%top 90.7% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsnot in CISA KEV
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function It is stated that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees the provided skb or passes its management to another callback function. However, the skb is not freed in case there is no another callback function, and Syzkaller was able to cause a memory leak. Also minor comment fix. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:12linux6.1.20-1DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802
Debian:13linux6.1.20-1DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802
Debian:14linux6.1.20-1DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux5.15.0-75.82UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws5.15.0-1038.43UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure5.15.0-1040.47UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde5.15.0-1041.48.1UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp5.15.0-1036.44UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gke5.15.0-1036.41UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gkeop5.15.0-1022.27UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm5.15.0-1032.35UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iotg5.15.0-1033.38UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-kvm5.15.0-1035.40UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency5.15.0-75.82UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia5.15.0-1027.27UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra5.15.0-1015.15UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle5.15.0-1037.43UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-raspi5.15.0-1032.35UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before b11f95f65cc52ee3a756e6f6a88df37a203e25bdfb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 68171c006c8645a3e0293a6c3e6037c6538ac1c5fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 564bc2222bf50eb6cdee715a5431bf4dc9f923c1fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before ec246dfe006b2a8f36353f7489e4f525114db9a5fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before c0c0614f143b568cd0e9525d53cf12e5dcd11987fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 5a84e51f72580fc70066b03f3dac38421e702a0bfb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before bbfababb4f899fe1556eac195f9774b6fe675fb6fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 9b25e3985477ac3f02eca5fc1e0cc6850a3f7e69
Linux Linux 2.6.35

References