CVE-2022-50179 ath9k: fix use-after-free in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb
A use-after-free vulnerability in the ath9k USB driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted USB packets.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2022-50179?
CVE-2022-50179 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Jun 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ath9k: fix use-after-free in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb
Syzbot reported use-after-free Read in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb() [0]. The problem was in incorrect htc_handle->drv_priv initialization.
Probable call trace which can trigger use-after-free:
ath9k_htc_probe_device() /* htc_handle->drv_priv = priv; */ ath9k_htc_wait_for_target() <--- Failed ieee80211_free_hw() <--- priv pointer is freed
<IRQ> ... ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb() ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() RX_STAT_INC() <--- htc_handle->drv_priv access
In order to not add fancy protection for drv_priv we can move htc_handle->drv_priv initialization at the end of the ath9k_htc_probe_device() and add helper macro to make all *_STAT_* macros NULL safe, since syzbot has reported related NULL deref in that macros [1]
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-50179?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2022-50179?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2022-50179 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-50179 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2022-50179, GHSA-92cx-cg65-38vh, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-50179.