What’s Vulnerable › Vulnerabilities

CVE-2023-53802: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function

• Severity: unknown
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2025-12-09 · updated 2026-06-17

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function It is stated that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees the provided skb or passes its management to another callback function. However, the skb is not freed in case there is no another callback function, and Syzkaller was able to cause a memory leak. Also minor comment fix. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

Affected products

• Linux kernel: 2.6.35 — fixed in 6.3

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 6.3. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/564bc2222bf50eb6cdee715a5431bf4dc9f923c1
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a84e51f72580fc70066b03f3dac38421e702a0b
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/68171c006c8645a3e0293a6c3e6037c6538ac1c5
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9b25e3985477ac3f02eca5fc1e0cc6850a3f7e69
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b11f95f65cc52ee3a756e6f6a88df37a203e25bd
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bbfababb4f899fe1556eac195f9774b6fe675fb6
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0c0614f143b568cd0e9525d53cf12e5dcd11987
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec246dfe006b2a8f36353f7489e4f525114db9a5

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