LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2023-53185: wifi: ath9k: don't allow to overwrite ENDPOINT0 attributes

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: don't allow to overwrite ENDPOINT0 attributes A bad USB device is able to construct a service connection response message with target endpoint being ENDPOINT0 which is reserved for HTC_CTRL_RSVD_SVC and should not be modified to be used for any other services. Reject such service connection responses. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53185 is a Linux kernel Wi-Fi driver flaw in ath9k handling of USB device messages. A malicious or faulty USB Wi-Fi device could try to misuse endpoint zero, a reserved control endpoint. The source confirms a kernel fix, but provides no CVSS score or public impact detail.

Executive priority

Patch through the normal kernel maintenance process, with higher urgency for workstations, test labs, kiosks, or servers where USB devices are frequently attached. There is no source evidence of active exploitation, but device-triggered kernel bugs can affect system stability and trust boundaries.

Technical view

The ath9k code accepted a service connection response targeting ENDPOINT0, which is reserved for HTC_CTRL_RSVD_SVC. The resolved change rejects such responses so endpoint zero attributes cannot be overwritten for other services. The issue was found by Linux Verification Center using Syzkaller.

Likely exposure

Most exposure is on Linux systems using affected kernels with ath9k USB Wi-Fi hardware or where untrusted USB wireless devices can be connected. Systems without this driver path or USB Wi-Fi exposure are less likely affected.

Exploitation context

The bundle describes a bad USB device as the trigger. It does not cite active exploitation, public exploit code, KEV listing, privilege impact, or remote network exploitation. Treat this as local physical or device-supply-chain exposure based on available evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. No CVSS, CWE, exploitability analysis, or distro-specific status is provided in the bundle. Avoid claiming remote exploitability or active attacks without additional cited evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor or distribution kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems that allow USB device attachment or use ath9k USB Wi-Fi adapters.
  • Restrict untrusted USB device use until patched.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for the exact fixed package version.
  • Retire or isolate unsupported kernels that cannot receive the fix.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux hosts for affected kernel versions and ath9k USB Wi-Fi usage.
  • Confirm the running kernel package includes the relevant stable commit for its branch.
  • Review device control policies for untrusted USB Wi-Fi adapters.
  • Check dmesg or asset data for ath9k/ath9k_htc driver loading.
  • Track remediation through normal kernel patch compliance reporting.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

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

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-53185 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
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
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
10Source links

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxfb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.35, 0, 4.14.322, 4.19.291, 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.