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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50740: wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: fix memory leak of urbs in ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_tx_urbs()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: fix memory leak of urbs in ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_tx_urbs() Syzkaller reports a long-known leak of urbs in ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_tx_urbs(). The cause of the leak is that usb_get_urb() is called but usb_free_urb() (or usb_put_urb()) is not called inside usb_kill_urb() as urb->dev or urb->ep fields have not been initialized and usb_kill_urb() returns immediately. The patch removes trying to kill urbs located in hif_dev->tx.tx_buf because hif_dev->tx.tx_buf is not supposed to contain urbs which are in pending state (the pending urbs are stored in hif_dev->tx.tx_pending). The tx.tx_lock is acquired so there should not be any changes in the list. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2022-50740 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the ath9k USB Wi-Fi driver cleanup path. It can waste kernel memory when transmit URBs are deallocated incorrectly. The available sources do not show active exploitation, a CVSS score, or broad remote exposure.

Executive priority

Treat as routine-to-moderate Linux maintenance unless your environment depends on ath9k USB Wi-Fi. No cited source shows active exploitation. Patch through normal kernel update channels after confirming vendor applicability.

Technical view

The flaw is in ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_tx_urbs(). usb_get_urb() is called, but usb_free_urb() or usb_put_urb() is not reached because usb_kill_urb() returns early when URB fields are uninitialized. The kernel fix stops killing URBs from tx.tx_buf because pending URBs are tracked separately in tx.tx_pending.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the ath9k USB Wi-Fi driver code path. Servers without relevant USB Wi-Fi hardware or driver use are less likely to be affected. Exact distribution package impact must be confirmed with vendor advisories.

Exploitation context

The issue was found by Linux Verification Center using Syzkaller. The source bundle does not identify public exploitation, KEV listing, exploit code, or remote attack conditions. Practical impact is most plausibly resource exhaustion from a kernel memory leak.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Linux stable commit references. No CVSS, CWE, exploitability assessment, or distribution mapping is provided in the source bundle. Avoid assuming impact beyond the ath9k hif_usb memory leak described.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable ath9k hif_usb fix.
  • Check your Linux distribution advisory for backported fixes and package versions.
  • Prioritize systems where ath9k USB Wi-Fi hardware or drivers are in use.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across endpoints and appliances.
  • Identify systems using ath9k USB Wi-Fi driver functionality.
  • Confirm installed kernels include the relevant stable fix or vendor backport.
  • Monitor vendor security trackers for distribution-specific status.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2022-50740 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
10Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux6f0706ef39fecc6bf56d67728fe0c94e26b43e9d, 795d57a558d106b8a5bc2bd7aeaf707d9a099244, df4318440c1568b7dedc5f7d4e617d0e297a1313, a9990ed2d7ca9339d37c7f67d6f5cb298c3f1b34, 03fb92a432ea5abe5909bca1455b7e44a9380480, 03fb92a432ea5abe5909bca1455b7e44a9380480, 03fb92a432ea5abe5909bca1455b7e44a9380480, 03fb92a432ea5abe5909bca1455b7e44a9380480, 03fb92a432ea5abe5909bca1455b7e44a9380480, b92e116ae36f498858dbb18e29a066c3f5348965, 7f5972267295fe49f8da8eb42bc2eb3d140860c0, 2d72d5ce63c92f56b9f978e8befb5838144176b9unaffected
LinuxLinux5.10, 0, 4.9.337, 4.14.303, 4.19.270, 5.4.229, 5.10.163, 5.15.86, 6.0.16, 6.1.2, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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