Linux Kernel up to 5.15.120/6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3 wifi iwl_pcie_irq_rx_msix_handler null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.120/6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. Affected by this issue is the function iwl_pcie_irq_rx_msix_handler of the component wifi. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53251. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.120/6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. Affected is the function iwl_pcie_irq_rx_msix_handler of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: iwlwifi: pcie: fix NULL pointer dereference in iwl_pcie_irq_rx_msix_handler() rxq can be NULL only when trans_pcie->rxq is NULL and entry->entry is zero. For the case when entry->entry is not equal to 0, rxq won't be NULL even if trans_pcie->rxq is NULL. Modify checker to check for trans_pcie->rxq.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-53251 since 09/15/2025. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3b9de981fe7f1c6e07c7b852421ad69be3d4b6c2/2d690495eb2766d58e25c83676f422219c4fcf18/390e44efcf4d390b5053ad112553155d2d097c73/f71d0fc407dd028416bec002ddcc62f5acb0346a/1902f1953b8ba100ee8705cb8a6f1a9795550eca is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2053). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• F5 F5OS

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.120
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.1.28
• 6.1.29
• 6.1.30
• 6.1.31
• 6.1.32
• 6.1.33
• 6.1.34
• 6.1.35
• 6.1.36
• 6.1.37
• 6.1.38
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1
• 6.3.2
• 6.3.3
• 6.3.4
• 6.3.5
• 6.3.6
• 6.3.7
• 6.3.8
• 6.3.9
• 6.3.10
• 6.3.11
• 6.3.12
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

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Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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