CVE-2023-53232 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mt76: mt7921: fix kernel panic by accessing unallocated eeprom.data
The MT7921 driver no longer uses eeprom.data, but the relevant code has not been removed completely since commit 16d98b548365 ("mt76: mt7921: rely on mcu_get_nic_capability"). This could result in potential invalid memory access.
To fix the kernel panic issue in mt7921, it is necessary to avoid accessing unallocated eeprom.data which can lead to invalid memory access.
Furthermore, it is possible to entirely eliminate the mt7921_mcu_parse_eeprom function and solely depend on mt7921_mcu_parse_response to divide the RxD header.
[2.702735] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000550
[2.702740] #PF: supervisor write access in kernel mode
[2.702741] #PF: error_code(0x0002) - not-present page
[2.702743] PGD 0 P4D 0
[2.702747] Oops: 0002 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI
[2.702755] RIP: 0010:mt7921_mcu_parse_response+0x147/0x170 [mt7921_common]
[2.702758] RSP: 0018:ffffae7c00fef828 EFLAGS: 00010286
[2.702760] RAX: ffffa367f57be024 RBX: ffffa367cc7bf500 RCX: 0000000000000000
[2.702762] RDX: 0000000000000550 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffffa367cc7bf500
[2.702763] RBP: ffffae7c00fef840 R08: ffffa367cb167000 R09: 0000000000000005
[2.702764] R10: 0000000000000000 R11: ffffffffc04702e4 R12: ffffa367e8329f40
[2.702766] R13: 0000000000000000 R14: 0000000000000001 R15: ffffa367e8329f40
[2.702768] FS: 000079ee6cf20c40(0000) GS:ffffa36b2f940000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
[2.702769] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
[2.702775] CR2: 0000000000000550 CR3: 00000001233c6004 CR4: 0000000000770ee0
[2.702776] PKRU: 55555554
[2.702777] Call Trace:
[2.702782] mt76_mcu_skb_send_and_get_msg+0xc3/0x11e [mt76 <HASH:1bc4 5>]
[2.702785] mt7921_run_firmware+0x241/0x853 [mt7921_common <HASH:6a2f 6>]
[2.702789] mt7921e_mcu_init+0x2b/0x56 [mt7921e <HASH:d290 7>]
[2.702792] mt7921_register_device+0x2eb/0x5a5 [mt7921_common <HASH:6a2f 6>]
[2.702795] ? mt7921_irq_tasklet+0x1d4/0x1d4 [mt7921e <HASH:d290 7>]
[2.702797] mt7921_pci_probe+0x2d6/0x319 [mt7921e <HASH:d290 7>]
[2.702799] pci_device_probe+0x9f/0x12a
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-53232 affects the Linux kernel's mt7921 wireless driver, specifically within the mt76 wireless subsystem. This issue manifests as a kernel panic caused by attempting to access unallocated memory through the eeprom.data structure, representing a classic case of invalid memory access that can lead to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The root cause stems from incomplete code cleanup following a previous commit that changed how the driver handles EEPROM data retrieval, leaving behind references to memory that is no longer allocated or utilized. The error occurs during firmware initialization when the driver attempts to process EEPROM data through the mt7921_mcu_parse_eeprom function, which has been superseded by the mt7921_mcu_parse_response function that properly handles the RxD header parsing without requiring the deprecated eeprom.data access.
The technical flaw directly corresponds to CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and more specifically relates to improper handling of memory allocation states. The kernel panic occurs at the mt7921_mcu_parse_response function where the system attempts to write to address 0x0000000000000550, indicating that the eeprom.data pointer is either NULL or points to invalid memory. This memory access violation triggers a page fault error code 0x0002, indicating a supervisor write access to a non-present page, which is characteristic of attempting to access unmapped memory regions. The call trace demonstrates that the issue originates during firmware loading when mt76_mcu_skb_send_and_get_msg attempts to communicate with the wireless device's MCU, leading to the execution path that ultimately accesses the unallocated eeprom.data structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple kernel panics to potentially compromise entire system stability, particularly in environments where wireless connectivity is critical or where automated recovery mechanisms may not be sufficient to handle the system crash. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service conditions, forcing system administrators to reboot affected devices or potentially leading to more severe consequences in embedded systems or network infrastructure where wireless connectivity is essential. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with the mt7921 driver, particularly those using MediaTek MT7921 wireless chipsets, making it relevant to a wide range of devices including routers, access points, and embedded systems that rely on this specific wireless hardware. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks, as the kernel panic can effectively render the wireless interface unusable.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the kernel patch that removes the unused eeprom.data access from the driver code, ensuring that the mt7921_mcu_parse_eeprom function is completely eliminated and that all references to the unallocated memory are removed. System administrators should prioritize updating their kernel versions to include the fix, which addresses the immediate memory access violation by ensuring proper code cleanup following the transition to the mcu_get_nic_capability approach. Additionally, monitoring for kernel panic events and implementing proper system recovery mechanisms can help detect and respond to similar memory access violations, though the most effective solution remains the complete removal of the problematic code paths. Organizations using affected hardware should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of kernel updates and maintain system security posture against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.