CVE-2023-53767 wifi: ath12k: fix memory leak in ath12k_qmi_driver_event_work()
A memory leak in the ath12k Wi-Fi driver can lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service, requiring kernel patches.
- 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-2023-53767?
CVE-2023-53767 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 8 Dec 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: ath12k: fix memory leak in ath12k_qmi_driver_event_work()
Currently the buffer pointed by event is not freed in case ATH12K_FLAG_UNREGISTERING bit is set, this causes memory leak.
Add a goto skip instead of return, to ensure event and all the list entries are freed properly.
Tested-on: QCN9274 hw2.0 PCI WLAN.WBE.1.0.1-00029-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53767?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53767?
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-2023-53767 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53767 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53767, GHSA-rw7c-q4g4-f6m7, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2023-53767, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53767.