5.1

CVE-2023-53802: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function

Deferred
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2023-53802DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802
Published 09-12-2025Last modified 11-05-2026

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2023-53802 is a medium (CVSS 5.1) vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 9.3% of scored vulnerabilities.

Priority
Routine

Not severe (CVSS 5.1, physical access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources

Source freshness unavailable

How is this decided?
CVSS score
5.1/10
010
Medium · v4.0 (OSV · Ubuntu), selected by version preference
EPSS score
0.19%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedNot listed by any tracked catalog.
RansomwareNot flaggedNo ransomware use recorded.
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Advisory lineage

Upstream 0 · Downstream 5 · Related 5
SUSE-SU-2026:0263-1SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1SUSE-SU-2026:0411-1SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1SUSE-SU-2026:1078-1

Timeline

  1. 09-12-2025
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 11-05-2026
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function It is stated that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees the provided skb or passes its management to another callback function. However, the skb is not freed in case there is no another callback function, and Syzkaller was able to cause a memory leak. Also minor comment fix. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.

CVSS metrics

1 score · 1 source · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.19%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

9%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

No change 0.00 pp

From 0.19% on 04-10-2026

04-10-202603-11-2026

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEV

Not in the CISA KEV catalog.

ENISA CNW

Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.

CIRCL

Not in the CIRCL catalog.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

No weakness data has been published for this record.

Affected systems

Version check

Known conditions: physical access, no authentication, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.

Ubuntu122 products
  • linuxAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 5.4.0-152.169 | < 5.15.0-75.82
  • linux-allwinner-5.19All versions (No fix recorded)
  • linux-awsAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 5.4.0-1104.112 | < 5.15.0-1038.43
  • linux-aws-5.0All versions (No fix recorded)
  • linux-aws-5.11All versions (No fix recorded)
Debian1 product
  • linux< 6.1.20-1
Linux1 product
  • linux≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < b11f95f65cc52ee3a756e6f6a88df37a203e25bd | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < 68171c006c8645a3e0293a6c3e6037c6538ac1c5 | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < 564bc2222bf50eb6cdee715a5431bf4dc9f923c1 | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < ec246dfe006b2a8f36353f7489e4f525114db9a5 | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < c0c0614f143b568cd0e9525d53cf12e5dcd11987 | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < 5a84e51f72580fc70066b03f3dac38421e702a0b | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < bbfababb4f899fe1556eac195f9774b6fe675fb6 | ≥ fb9987d0f748c983bb795a86f47522313f701a08, < 9b25e3985477ac3f02eca5fc1e0cc6850a3f7e69 | 2.6.35

3 vendors · 124 products

References

12 links
Show all 12 references