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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53641: wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: fix memory leak of remain_skbs

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: hif_usb: fix memory leak of remain_skbs hif_dev->remain_skb is allocated and used exclusively in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(). It is implied that an allocated remain_skb is processed and subsequently freed (in error paths) only during the next call of ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(). So, if the urbs are deallocated between those two calls due to the device deinitialization or suspend, it is possible that ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() is not called next time and the allocated remain_skb is leaked. Our local Syzkaller instance was able to trigger that. remain_skb makes sense when receiving two consecutive urbs which are logically linked together, i.e. a specific data field from the first skb indicates a cached skb to be allocated, memcpy'd with some data and subsequently processed in the next call to ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(). Urbs deallocation supposedly makes that link irrelevant so we need to free the cached skb in those cases. Fix the leak by introducing a function to explicitly free remain_skb (if it is not NULL) when the rx urbs have been deallocated. remain_skb is NULL when it has not been allocated at all (hif_dev struct is kzalloced) or when it has been processed in next call to ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(). Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel memory leak in the ath9k USB Wi-Fi receive path. Under device deinitialization or suspend timing, cached receive data may not be freed. The public record does not provide a CVSS score, confirmed exploitation, or business-impact details.

Executive priority

Treat as a patch-management item, not an emergency, unless affected Linux hosts rely on ath9k USB Wi-Fi in sensitive or highly available environments. Urgency is constrained by missing severity scoring and no cited exploitation.

Technical view

The issue is in ath9k hif_usb handling of hif_dev->remain_skb. If RX URBs are deallocated between linked ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() calls, remain_skb may never be processed and freed. Stable fixes add explicit freeing when RX URBs are deallocated.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the ath9k USB Wi-Fi driver path in use. The source bundle lists Linux as affected but does not identify distributions, hardware models, or default configurations.

Exploitation context

The source says a local Syzkaller instance triggered the leak. CISA KEV is false, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation, public exploit use, or a reliable attacker path.

Researcher notes

The useful evidence is the kernel commit description: remain_skb can leak when RX URBs are deallocated before the next receive-stream call. Research should focus on affected kernel lineage, driver reachability, and whether vendor backports include the explicit free path.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify systems using affected Linux kernels and ath9k USB Wi-Fi support.
  • Prioritize vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for package-specific fixed kernel versions.
  • Reduce exposure where practical by disabling unused ath9k USB Wi-Fi hardware.
  • Monitor kernel logs and memory pressure on systems awaiting updates.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm running kernel versions against vendor fixed-version advisories.
  • Inventory whether ath9k USB Wi-Fi modules or devices are present.
  • Review package changelogs for the referenced stable commit IDs.
  • Verify patched systems load an updated kernel after reboot.
  • Check operational monitoring for recurring memory pressure or suspend-related instability.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

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CVE-2023-53641 mapping review

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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
9Source 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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxfb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.35, 0, 4.19.283, 5.4.243, 5.10.180, 5.15.111, 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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