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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53679: wifi: mt7601u: fix an integer underflow

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mt7601u: fix an integer underflow Fix an integer underflow that leads to a null pointer dereference in 'mt7601u_rx_skb_from_seg()'. The variable 'dma_len' in the URB packet could be manipulated, which could trigger an integer underflow of 'seg_len' in 'mt7601u_rx_process_seg()'. This underflow subsequently causes the 'bad_frame' checks in 'mt7601u_rx_skb_from_seg()' to be bypassed, eventually leading to a dereference of the pointer 'p', which is a null pointer. Ensure that 'dma_len' is greater than 'min_seg_len'. Found by a modified version of syzkaller. KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000008-0x000000000000000f] CPU: 0 PID: 12 Comm: ksoftirqd/0 Tainted: G W O 5.14.0+ #139 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.12.1-0-ga5cab58e9a3f-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:skb_add_rx_frag+0x143/0x370 Code: e2 07 83 c2 03 38 ca 7c 08 84 c9 0f 85 86 01 00 00 4c 8d 7d 08 44 89 68 08 48 b8 00 00 00 00 00 fc ff df 4c 89 fa 48 c1 ea 03 <80> 3c 02 00 0f 85 cd 01 00 00 48 8b 45 08 a8 01 0f 85 3d 01 00 00 RSP: 0018:ffffc900000cfc90 EFLAGS: 00010202 RAX: dffffc0000000000 RBX: ffff888115520dc0 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000001 RSI: ffff8881118430c0 RDI: ffff8881118430f8 RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000e09 R09: 0000000000000010 R10: ffff888111843017 R11: ffffed1022308602 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: 0000000000000e09 R14: 0000000000000010 R15: 0000000000000008 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff88811a800000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000004035af40 CR3: 00000001157f2000 CR4: 0000000000750ef0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 PKRU: 55555554 Call Trace: mt7601u_rx_tasklet+0xc73/0x1270 ? mt7601u_submit_rx_buf.isra.0+0x510/0x510 ? tasklet_action_common.isra.0+0x79/0x2f0 tasklet_action_common.isra.0+0x206/0x2f0 __do_softirq+0x1b5/0x880 ? tasklet_unlock+0x30/0x30 run_ksoftirqd+0x26/0x50 smpboot_thread_fn+0x34f/0x7d0 ? smpboot_register_percpu_thread+0x370/0x370 kthread+0x3a1/0x480 ? set_kthread_struct+0x120/0x120 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 Modules linked in: 88XXau(O) 88x2bu(O) ---[ end trace 57f34f93b4da0f9b ]--- RIP: 0010:skb_add_rx_frag+0x143/0x370 Code: e2 07 83 c2 03 38 ca 7c 08 84 c9 0f 85 86 01 00 00 4c 8d 7d 08 44 89 68 08 48 b8 00 00 00 00 00 fc ff df 4c 89 fa 48 c1 ea 03 <80> 3c 02 00 0f 85 cd 01 00 00 48 8b 45 08 a8 01 0f 85 3d 01 00 00 RSP: 0018:ffffc900000cfc90 EFLAGS: 00010202 RAX: dffffc0000000000 RBX: ffff888115520dc0 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 0000000000000001 RSI: ffff8881118430c0 RDI: ffff8881118430f8 RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: 0000000000000e09 R09: 0000000000000010 R10: ffff888111843017 R11: ffffed1022308602 R12: 0000000000000000 R13: 0000000000000e09 R14: 0000000000000010 R15: 0000000000000008 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff88811a800000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 000000004035af40 CR3: 00000001157f2000 CR4: 0000000000750ef0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 PKRU: 55555554

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53679 is a Linux kernel flaw in the mt7601u Wi-Fi driver. A manipulated receive packet length can make the kernel dereference a null pointer and crash. Business impact appears mainly availability-related, and exposure is likely limited to systems using this specific USB Wi-Fi driver. No provided source shows active exploitation.

Executive priority

Patch through the normal kernel maintenance process, with higher priority for endpoints, appliances, or test systems using MT7601U USB Wi-Fi adapters. This is not supported as an active exploitation emergency by the provided evidence, but kernel crashes can still disrupt availability.

Technical view

The flaw is an integer underflow in mt7601u_rx_process_seg(). If dma_len is not greater than min_seg_len, seg_len can underflow, bypass bad_frame checks in mt7601u_rx_skb_from_seg(), and lead to a null pointer dereference through skb_add_rx_frag. Upstream fixes add validation that dma_len exceeds min_seg_len.

Likely exposure

Likely exposed systems are Linux hosts running affected kernel builds with the mt7601u driver for MediaTek MT7601U USB Wi-Fi hardware. The bundle does not define distribution package status or whether the driver must be actively loaded, so teams should verify against vendor kernel advisories and the referenced upstream stable commits.

Exploitation context

The issue was found by a modified version of syzkaller. The provided sources say dma_len in a URB packet could be manipulated, but do not describe real-world exploitation, public exploit availability, or complete attacker preconditions. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle.

Researcher notes

The source bundle supports a denial-of-service style kernel crash via integer underflow and null pointer dereference. It lacks CVSS, CWE, distribution status, and complete attack preconditions. Avoid assuming remote wireless exploitability without vendor or researcher confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to vendor Linux kernel builds containing the referenced upstream stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using MediaTek MT7601U USB Wi-Fi adapters or loading mt7601u.
  • Check distribution advisories for exact fixed package versions.
  • If updates are unavailable, follow vendor guidance for temporary risk reduction.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions on systems with USB Wi-Fi support.
  • Identify whether mt7601u is present or loaded on those systems.
  • Map installed kernels to vendor advisories or the listed upstream commits.
  • Review kernel crash logs for mt7601u_rx_tasklet or skb_add_rx_frag null dereferences.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

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

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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
7Source 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

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Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc869f77d6abb5d5f9f2f1a661d5c53862a9cad34, c869f77d6abb5d5f9f2f1a661d5c53862a9cad34, c869f77d6abb5d5f9f2f1a661d5c53862a9cad34, c869f77d6abb5d5f9f2f1a661d5c53862a9cad34, c869f77d6abb5d5f9f2f1a661d5c53862a9cad34, c869f77d6abb5d5f9f2f1a661d5c53862a9cad34unaffected
LinuxLinux4.2, 0, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

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