Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-52832 is a Linux kernel wireless-stack flaw where an unset transmit-power value can trigger an integer overflow warning path. The published record rates it critical, but the provided sources do not show active exploitation. Business urgency is highest for Linux endpoints, appliances, or embedded systems using Wi-Fi/mac80211 on affected kernels.
Executive priority
Treat as a prioritized kernel maintenance issue for Wi-Fi-capable Linux fleets. It does not currently have cited active exploitation, but the high CVSS score and kernel context justify timely remediation during the next approved patch window, sooner for exposed endpoints or appliances.
Technical view
In mac80211, ieee80211_get_tx_power() could return INT_MIN as an internal “unset power level.” nl80211 later multiplies that value, causing signed integer overflow detected by UBSAN. The kernel fix changes behavior to return an error when no transmit-power data is available. The source lists Linux kernel versions and multiple stable commit references.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the cfg80211/mac80211 wireless stack in use. Typical headless servers without Wi-Fi hardware are less likely exposed, but distribution backports may affect version-based checks. Validate against vendor kernel advisories and installed package changelogs.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle marks KEV as false and includes no cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector claims network, low-complexity, no-auth impact, but the public description mainly documents a kernel UBSAN integer-overflow condition during wireless interface registration or reporting.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Linux stable commits. The affected-version data is broad and may not reflect distribution backports. Avoid assuming practical remote exploitability from the CVSS vector alone; validate whether the vulnerable wireless code path is reachable in your environment.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel or distribution updates that include the referenced mac80211 fix.
- Prioritize Wi-Fi-capable Linux endpoints, embedded devices, and appliances.
- Check vendor guidance for backported fixes before relying on version strings.
- Reboot systems if required for the updated kernel to load.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux systems with Wi-Fi hardware or mac80211/cfg80211 modules.
- Compare running kernels with vendor advisories and fixed stable commits.
- Review kernel package changelogs for the CVE or referenced commit IDs.
- Confirm the updated kernel is active after reboot.
- Monitor kernel logs for related UBSAN wireless-stack warnings.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-920: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-52832 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H3.95.2CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.1CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/717de20abdcd1d4993fa450e28b8086a352620eaCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/21a0f310a9f3bfd2b4cf4f382430e638607db846CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2be24c47ac19bf639c48c082486c08888bd603c6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/adc2474d823fe81d8da759207f4f1d3691aa775aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a94cffe90e20e8fade0b9abd4370bd671fe87c7CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e160ab85166e77347d0cbe5149045cb25e83937fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1571120c44dbe5757aee1612c5b6097cdc42710fCVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/298e767362cade639b7121ecb3cc5345b6529f62CVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/efeae5f4972f75d50002bc50eb112ab9e7069b18CVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.