Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-53213 is a Linux kernel brcmfmac Wi-Fi driver memory-read flaw. A crafted or faulty USB device can provide oversized association metadata, causing the kernel to read beyond an allocated buffer. Business impact is mainly confidentiality exposure and possible system instability on affected Linux systems using this driver.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for Linux fleets that use Broadcom Wi-Fi or permit USB device attachment. It is not KEV-listed, but the kernel context and high confidentiality and availability impact justify timely patching through normal emergency or accelerated maintenance channels.
Technical view
The flaw is a CWE-125 slab out-of-bounds read in brcmf_get_assoc_ies(), reached through kmemdup(). The vulnerable path trusted assoc_info req_len and resp_len values from a USB URB without checking them against WL_EXTRA_BUF_MAX. Stable kernel fixes add length checks before copying association request and response IEs.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems with affected kernel versions and the Broadcom brcmfmac FullMAC Wi-Fi driver, especially where USB Wi-Fi devices can be attached or controlled. Systems not using this driver, or already running kernels containing the listed stable fixes, are less likely exposed.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show known active exploitation, and KEV status is false. The provided CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality and availability impact. The bug was found by a modified syzkaller, not described as exploited in the wild.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on brcmfmac association event handling and the USB path feeding assoc_info lengths. The record identifies the fix pattern, but exploitability beyond local/USB influence is not established in the provided sources. Avoid assuming remote Wi-Fi exploitation without additional evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Apply a vendor kernel update containing the brcmfmac stable fix commits.
- Check distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
- Restrict untrusted USB Wi-Fi devices until patched.
- Disable or avoid brcmfmac where operationally unnecessary.
- Prioritize systems allowing local or physical peripheral access.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux hosts with brcmfmac loaded or available.
- Map kernel versions against vendor fixed packages or listed stable commits.
- Confirm patched source includes req_len and resp_len bounds checks.
- Review logs for brcmfmac crashes or KASAN-like memory reports.
- Validate USB peripheral control policies on exposed systems.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-53213 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H1.85.2CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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/ac5305e5d227b9af3aae25fa83380d3ff0225b73CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39f9bd880abac6068bedb24a4e16e7bd26bf92daCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/425eea395f1f5ae349fb55f7fe51d833a5324bfeCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/549825602e3e6449927ca1ea1a08fd89868439dfCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/936a23293bbb3332bdf4cdb9c1496e80cb0bc2c8CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e29661611e6e71027159a3140e818ef3b99f32ddCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/228186629ea970cc78b7d7d5f593f2d32fddf9f6CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/21bee3e649d87f78fe8aef6ae02edd3d6f310fd0CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0da40e018fd034d87c9460123fa7f897b69fdee7CVE reference, Linux
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.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.