CVE-2023-53717 wifi: ath9k: Fix potential stack-out-of-bounds write in ath9k_wmi_rsp_callback()
A stack-out-of-bounds write in the ath9k Wi-Fi driver allows attackers with local access or proximity to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to code execution or system crashes.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53717?
CVE-2023-53717 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 22 Oct 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:
wifi: ath9k: Fix potential stack-out-of-bounds write in ath9k_wmi_rsp_callback()
Fix a stack-out-of-bounds write that occurs in a WMI response callback function that is called after a timeout occurs in ath9k_wmi_cmd(). The callback writes to wmi->cmd_rsp_buf, a stack-allocated buffer that could no longer be valid when a timeout occurs. Set wmi->last_seq_id to 0 when a timeout occurred.
Found by a modified version of syzkaller.
BUG: KASAN: stack-out-of-bounds in ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx Write of size 4 Call Trace: memcpy ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx ath9k_htc_rx_msg ath9k_hif_usb_reg_in_cb __usb_hcd_giveback_urb usb_hcd_giveback_urb dummy_timer call_timer_fn run_timer_softirq __do_softirq irq_exit_rcu sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53717?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53717?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2023-53717 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53717 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53717, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53717, GHSA-qfvg-x2cj-cf5g, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53717.