Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-53251 is a Linux kernel availability issue in the iwlwifi PCIe receive interrupt path. A local authenticated user could potentially trigger a NULL pointer dereference and crash the affected system. The provided sources indicate no confidentiality or integrity impact, but a successful trigger can cause high availability impact.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate operational risk. It is not described as remotely exploitable and has no stated data exposure impact, but it can crash affected Linux systems. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with faster handling for shared workstations, kiosks, or other systems where local user access is common.
Technical view
The kernel fix changes validation in iwl_pcie_irq_rx_msix_handler() to check trans_pcie->rxq rather than only the derived rxq pointer. The flaw is classified as CWE-476 and scored CVSS 5.5, with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions where the iwlwifi PCIe driver path is present. The source bundle lists Linux kernel versions including 5.12, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, and 6.5 as affected, but distro backports may change package-level status.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show known active exploitation, and KEV status is false. CVSS indicates exploitation requires local access and low privileges, with no user interaction. The main realistic impact is local denial of service through a kernel crash, not remote compromise or data theft.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strongest for root cause, CVSS characteristics, and upstream stable fixes. The source bundle does not provide exploit details, distro package mappings, or named mitigations beyond applying fixed kernel code. Validate exposure through kernel version, driver usage, and vendor backport status rather than upstream version numbers alone.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Linux kernel updates that include the referenced stable fixes.
- Check distribution advisories for backported CVE-2023-53251 fixes.
- Prioritize systems where local users can access affected Linux hosts.
- Avoid relying on unsupported workarounds unless vendor guidance names them.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across laptops, workstations, and appliances.
- Confirm whether systems load or depend on the iwlwifi PCIe driver path.
- Verify kernel packages include one of the referenced stable fixes or distro backports.
- Run vulnerability scanning after patching to confirm fixed package status.
- Perform Wi-Fi regression checks after kernel updates on affected hardware.
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-476: 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-2023-53251 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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/3b9de981fe7f1c6e07c7b852421ad69be3d4b6c2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d690495eb2766d58e25c83676f422219c4fcf18CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/390e44efcf4d390b5053ad112553155d2d097c73CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f71d0fc407dd028416bec002ddcc62f5acb0346aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1902f1953b8ba100ee8705cb8a6f1a9795550ecaCVE 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.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.