Log in Start free

Vulnerability · Published Dec 30, 2025 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2023-54300wifi: ath9k: avoid referencing uninit memory in ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx

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 14% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS )–Not rated
Exploit odds (30 days)0.2%top 85.6% 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: 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.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:12linux6.1.52-1DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54300
Debian:13linux6.4.4-1DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54300
Debian:14linux6.4.4-1DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux5.15.0-86.96UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws5.15.0-1047.52UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure5.15.0-1049.56UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde5.15.0-1049.56.1UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp5.15.0-1044.52UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gke5.15.0-1044.49UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gkeop5.15.0-1030.35UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm5.15.0-1040.43UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iotg5.15.0-1043.49UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-kvm5.15.0-1044.49UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency5.15.0-86.95UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia5.15.0-1037.37UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra5.15.0-1018.18UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegra-igx5.15.0-1005.5UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle5.15.0-1045.51UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-raspi5.15.0-1040.43UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-xilinx-zynqmp5.15.0-1025.29UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 0bc12e41af4e3ae1f0efecc377f0514459df0707fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 28259ce4f1f1f9ab37fa817756c89098213d2fc0fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 90e3c10177573b8662ac9858abd9bf731d5d98e0fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 250efb4d3f5b32a115ea6bf25437ba44a1b3c04ffb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before ad5425e70789c29b93acafb5bb4629e4eb908296fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before d1c2ff2bd84c3692c9df267a2b991ce92bfca8effb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 8ed572e52714593b209e3aa352406aff84481179fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08 – before 75acec91aeaa07375cd5f418069e61b16d39bbad
Linux Linux 2.6.35

References