CVE-2023-54300 wifi: ath9k: avoid referencing uninit memory in ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx
A missing length check in the ath9k Wi-Fi driver allows attackers to read uninitialized memory or cause a crash via crafted packets.
- 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-2023-54300?
CVE-2023-54300 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 30 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: ath9k: avoid referencing uninit memory in ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx
For the reasons also described in commit b383e8abed41 ("wifi: ath9k: avoid uninit memory read in ath9k_htc_rx_msg()"), ath9k_htc_rx_msg() should validate pkt_len before accessing the SKB.
For example, the obtained SKB may have been badly constructed with pkt_len = 8. In this case, the SKB can only contain a valid htc_frame_hdr but after being processed in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() and passed to ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx() endpoint RX handler, it is expected to have a WMI command header which should be located inside its data payload.
Implement sanity checking inside ath9k_wmi_ctrl_rx(). Otherwise, uninit memory can be referenced.
Tested on Qualcomm Atheros Communications AR9271 802.11n .
Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54300?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54300?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2023-54300 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54300 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54300, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54300, GHSA-2337-fj37-r35q, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54300.