Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel memory leak in the mt76 Wi-Fi driver cleanup path. A local low-privileged user could potentially cause availability impact if the vulnerable driver and hardware path are present. The public record points to upstream stable fixes, but does not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate availability risk for Linux fleets with affected Wi-Fi driver exposure. Prioritize normal kernel patching, with faster action for shared workstations, edge devices, or appliances where local users can exercise Wi-Fi paths.
Technical view
CVE-2023-53430 is a CWE-401 memory leak in Linux mt76 DMA cleanup. The fix changes mt76_dma_tx_cleanup to clean all configured RX queues during device unregister. CVSS is 5.5 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using affected 6.2/6.3-era kernel entries with MediaTek mt76 Wi-Fi driver support. Actual risk depends on kernel configuration, hardware presence, and distro backports. The source bundle provides no CPEs.
Exploitation context
No KEV listing is present, and the provided sources do not report active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates local, low-privileged exploitation potential focused on availability, not data theft or integrity compromise.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE text and two kernel stable commits. The record identifies a memory leak fixed by cleaning all configured RX queues, but does not describe a public proof of concept, active exploitation, or detailed trigger conditions.
Mitigation direction
- Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced upstream stable fixes.
- Check Linux distribution advisories for backported mt76 fixes.
- Prioritize systems with MediaTek mt76 Wi-Fi hardware or loaded driver support.
- If patching is unavailable, follow vendor guidance for operational workarounds.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernels against the affected 6.2 and 6.3-era entries in the CVE record.
- Confirm whether mt76 Wi-Fi driver support is present or loaded.
- Verify the running kernel includes one of the referenced stable commits or a distro backport.
- Review resource telemetry for memory growth during Wi-Fi device unregister or cleanup paths.
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-401: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-53430 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/604990fee0a6d608a6cca179ae474f2a1c6add8aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f7dda36e0b6dfa2cd26191f754ba061ab8191f2CVE 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.
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.