# CVE-2023-52594: wifi: ath9k: Fix potential array-index-out-of-bounds read in ath9k_htc_txstatus()

> A local attacker with physical access can cause a kernel crash via an out-of-bounds read in the ath9k WiFi driver.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Mar 2024
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2023-52594, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-52594, GHSA-cgjr-9g5g-88j4, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-52594

## What is CVE-2023-52594?

CVE-2023-52594 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 6 Mar 2024. 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:

wifi: ath9k: Fix potential array-index-out-of-bounds read in ath9k_htc_txstatus()

Fix an array-index-out-of-bounds read in ath9k_htc_txstatus(). The bug
occurs when txs->cnt, data from a URB provided by a USB device, is
bigger than the size of the array txs->txstatus, which is
HTC_MAX_TX_STATUS. WARN_ON() already checks it, but there is no bug
handling code after the check. Make the function return if that is the
case.

Found by a modified version of syzkaller.

UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in htc_drv_txrx.c
index 13 is out of range for type '__wmi_event_txstatus [12]'
Call Trace:
 ath9k_htc_txstatus
 ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet
 tasklet_action_common
 __do_softirq
 irq_exit_rxu
 sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt

Weakness: CWE-129 (Improper Validation of Array Index)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-52594?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-52594?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-52594 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52594 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-52594 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-52594 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 6 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-52594 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52594/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52594/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-52594
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52594
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-52594

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-52594/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.