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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53808: wifi: mwifiex: fix memory leak in mwifiex_histogram_read()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mwifiex: fix memory leak in mwifiex_histogram_read() Always free the zeroed page on return from 'mwifiex_histogram_read()'.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53808 is a Linux kernel memory leak in the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver. The fix ensures a zeroed memory page is freed when mwifiex_histogram_read() returns. Business urgency depends on whether your Linux systems use affected kernels and this driver. No active exploitation is indicated by the supplied sources.

Executive priority

Treat as a routine kernel maintenance item unless mwifiex-enabled Linux systems are widely deployed or difficult to reboot. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation, but kernel memory leaks should still be remediated through normal patch cycles.

Technical view

The issue is in Linux kernel wifi/mwifiex code: mwifiex_histogram_read() failed to free an allocated zeroed page on all return paths. Linux stable commits correct the cleanup behavior. The CVE record does not provide CVSS, CWE, exploitability details, or impact beyond the memory leak description.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the mwifiex Wi-Fi driver present or enabled. The supplied data lists Linux as affected but does not provide distribution-specific package names or confirmed vulnerable configurations.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show known exploitation, and the CVE is not marked CISA KEV. A memory leak could contribute to resource exhaustion, but the sources do not describe required privileges, trigger path, or real-world attack conditions.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the Linux CVE entry and stable commits. No CVSS, CWE, or detailed exploit preconditions are provided. Analysis should focus on mapping affected kernel trees, confirming the mwifiex driver presence, and verifying whether downstream distributions backported the cleanup fix.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux distribution or kernel vendor advisory for CVE-2023-53808 guidance.
  • Apply a kernel update that includes the referenced stable mwifiex fix.
  • Prioritize systems using mwifiex-capable Wi-Fi hardware or loading the mwifiex driver.
  • If no vendor package exists, assess whether a supported stable kernel contains the fix.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, endpoints, and embedded devices.
  • Check whether the mwifiex driver is built, installed, or loaded.
  • Review kernel package changelogs for CVE-2023-53808 or the referenced commit IDs.
  • Confirm updated systems boot the intended fixed kernel.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
11

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

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

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CVE-2023-53808 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
10Source 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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxcbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73, cbf6e05527a7654ac1c4f4787dfd7a182fcc0c73unaffected
LinuxLinux4.0, 0, 4.14.326, 4.19.295, 5.4.257, 5.10.195, 5.15.132, 6.1.53, 6.4.16, 6.5.3, 6.6affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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