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CVE Record

CVE-2023-54141: wifi: ath11k: Add missing hw_ops->get_ring_selector() for IPQ5018

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: Add missing hw_ops->get_ring_selector() for IPQ5018 During sending data after clients connected, hw_ops->get_ring_selector() will be called. But for IPQ5018, this member isn't set, and the following NULL pointer exception will be occurred: [ 38.840478] 8<--- cut here --- [ 38.840517] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000000 ... [ 38.923161] PC is at 0x0 [ 38.927930] LR is at ath11k_dp_tx+0x70/0x730 [ath11k] ... [ 39.063264] Process hostapd (pid: 1034, stack limit = 0x801ceb3d) [ 39.068994] Stack: (0x856a9a68 to 0x856aa000) ... [ 39.438467] [<7f323804>] (ath11k_dp_tx [ath11k]) from [<7f314e6c>] (ath11k_mac_op_tx+0x80/0x190 [ath11k]) [ 39.446607] [<7f314e6c>] (ath11k_mac_op_tx [ath11k]) from [<7f17dbe0>] (ieee80211_handle_wake_tx_queue+0x7c/0xc0 [mac80211]) [ 39.456162] [<7f17dbe0>] (ieee80211_handle_wake_tx_queue [mac80211]) from [<7f174450>] (ieee80211_probereq_get+0x584/0x704 [mac80211]) [ 39.467443] [<7f174450>] (ieee80211_probereq_get [mac80211]) from [<7f178c40>] (ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb+0x1f8/0x248 [mac80211]) [ 39.479334] [<7f178c40>] (ieee80211_tx_prepare_skb [mac80211]) from [<7f179e28>] (__ieee80211_subif_start_xmit+0x32c/0x3d4 [mac80211]) [ 39.491053] [<7f179e28>] (__ieee80211_subif_start_xmit [mac80211]) from [<7f17af08>] (ieee80211_tx_control_port+0x19c/0x288 [mac80211]) [ 39.502946] [<7f17af08>] (ieee80211_tx_control_port [mac80211]) from [<7f0fc704>] (nl80211_tx_control_port+0x174/0x1d4 [cfg80211]) [ 39.515017] [<7f0fc704>] (nl80211_tx_control_port [cfg80211]) from [<808ceac4>] (genl_rcv_msg+0x154/0x340) [ 39.526814] [<808ceac4>] (genl_rcv_msg) from [<808cdb74>] (netlink_rcv_skb+0xb8/0x11c) [ 39.536446] [<808cdb74>] (netlink_rcv_skb) from [<808ce1d0>] (genl_rcv+0x28/0x34) [ 39.544344] [<808ce1d0>] (genl_rcv) from [<808cd234>] (netlink_unicast+0x174/0x274) [ 39.551895] [<808cd234>] (netlink_unicast) from [<808cd510>] (netlink_sendmsg+0x1dc/0x440) [ 39.559362] [<808cd510>] (netlink_sendmsg) from [<808596e0>] (____sys_sendmsg+0x1a8/0x1fc) [ 39.567697] [<808596e0>] (____sys_sendmsg) from [<8085b1a8>] (___sys_sendmsg+0xa4/0xdc) [ 39.575941] [<8085b1a8>] (___sys_sendmsg) from [<8085b310>] (sys_sendmsg+0x44/0x74) [ 39.583841] [<8085b310>] (sys_sendmsg) from [<80300060>] (ret_fast_syscall+0x0/0x40) ... [ 39.620734] Code: bad PC value [ 39.625869] ---[ end trace 8aef983ad3cbc032 ]---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash Wi-Fi handling on systems using the ath11k driver with IPQ5018 hardware. The failure happens after clients connect and traffic is sent, due to a missing driver operation pointer. Business impact is likely service disruption on affected wireless devices, not confirmed data theft or code execution.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted availability risk for affected Wi-Fi infrastructure. Prioritize asset identification first, then patch exposed or operationally important devices once vendor-supported fixes are available.

Technical view

In ath11k for IPQ5018, hw_ops->get_ring_selector() is not set. During transmit processing after client connection, ath11k_dp_tx calls it and hits a NULL pointer dereference, causing a kernel exception. The CVE references stable kernel fixes, but provides no CVSS, CWE, or detailed exploitability assessment.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using Qualcomm ath11k Wi-Fi support for IPQ5018. The version metadata in the source bundle is incomplete and should be checked against vendor kernel packages and the linked stable commits.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is stated in the provided sources, and KEV is false. The described trigger is normal Wi-Fi client connection and transmit activity, which makes accidental or local network-triggered denial of service plausible on affected hardware.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a NULL pointer dereference in the ath11k transmit path for IPQ5018. The bundle does not establish privilege requirements, remote exploitability, CVSS, or broad hardware impact. Avoid extrapolating beyond IPQ5018 ath11k systems.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor-supported Linux kernel containing the linked ath11k stable fixes.
  • Prioritize wireless infrastructure or embedded devices using IPQ5018 and ath11k.
  • Check vendor firmware or distribution advisories for backported fixes.
  • If patching is delayed, reduce exposure of affected wireless services where operationally feasible.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux devices using ath11k with IPQ5018 hardware.
  • Compare running kernel builds against the linked stable commit history.
  • Review kernel logs for ath11k NULL pointer dereference traces during Wi-Fi client activity.
  • After updating, test client connection and traffic paths for stability.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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.

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CVE-2023-54141 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
4Source 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
LinuxLinuxba60f2793d3a37a00da14bb56a26558a902d2831, ba60f2793d3a37a00da14bb56a26558a902d2831, ba60f2793d3a37a00da14bb56a26558a902d2831, d0ca5aa0fe7e3a43797ed1bf8b144c59863fd65c, 6.1.175unaffected
LinuxLinux6.3, 0, 6.3.13, 6.4.4, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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