Linux Kernel up to 6.1.27/6.2.14/6.3.1 wifi ath11k_ahb_fw_resources_init null pointer dereference

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Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.27/6.2.14/6.3.1. This impacts the function ath11k_ahb_fw_resources_init of the component wifi. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2023-53532. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.27/6.2.14/6.3.1. This issue affects the function ath11k_ahb_fw_resources_init of the component wifi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: fix deinitialization of firmware resources Currently, in ath11k_ahb_fw_resources_init(), iommu domain mapping is done only for the chipsets having fixed firmware memory. Also, for such chipsets, mapping is done only if it does not have TrustZone support. During deinitialization, only if TrustZone support is not there, iommu is unmapped back. However, for non fixed firmware memory chipsets, TrustZone support is not there and this makes the condition check to true and it tries to unmap the memory which was not mapped during initialization. This leads to the following trace - [ 83.198790] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000008 [ 83.259537] Modules linked in: ath11k_ahb ath11k qmi_helpers .. snip .. [ 83.280286] pstate: 20000005 (nzCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 83.287228] pc : __iommu_unmap+0x30/0x140 [ 83.293907] lr : iommu_unmap+0x5c/0xa4 [ 83.298072] sp : ffff80000b3abad0 .. snip .. [ 83.369175] Call trace: [ 83.376282] __iommu_unmap+0x30/0x140 [ 83.378541] iommu_unmap+0x5c/0xa4 [ 83.382360] ath11k_ahb_fw_resource_deinit.part.12+0x2c/0xac [ath11k_ahb] [ 83.385666] ath11k_ahb_free_resources+0x140/0x17c [ath11k_ahb] [ 83.392521] ath11k_ahb_shutdown+0x34/0x40 [ath11k_ahb] [ 83.398248] platform_shutdown+0x20/0x2c [ 83.403455] device_shutdown+0x16c/0x1c4 [ 83.407621] kernel_restart_prepare+0x34/0x3c [ 83.411529] kernel_restart+0x14/0x74 [ 83.415781] __do_sys_reboot+0x1c4/0x22c [ 83.419427] __arm64_sys_reboot+0x1c/0x24 [ 83.423420] invoke_syscall+0x44/0xfc [ 83.427326] el0_svc_common.constprop.3+0xac/0xe8 [ 83.430974] do_el0_svc+0xa0/0xa8 [ 83.435659] el0_svc+0x1c/0x44 [ 83.438957] el0t_64_sync_handler+0x60/0x144 [ 83.441910] el0t_64_sync+0x15c/0x160 [ 83.446343] Code: aa0103f4 f9400001 f90027a1 d2800001 (f94006a0) [ 83.449903] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- This can be reproduced by probing an AHB chipset which is not having a fixed memory region. During reboot (or rmmod) trace can be seen. Fix this issue by adding a condition check on firmware fixed memory hw_param as done in the counter initialization function. Tested-on: IPQ8074 hw2.0 AHB WLAN.HK.2.7.0.1-01744-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-53532 since 10/01/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 269634 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53532), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.28, 6.2.15 or 6.3.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0324300dce3412d4737b4ec5898d0188495a7caa/8faf862d81ab197757761e87d0a99fbb96ab2cf0/a1548363582a8066edd4986f839d785f13dda3aa/5a78ac33e3cb8822da64dd1af196e83664b332b0 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 databases at Tenable (269634) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2187). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 269634
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-53532

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.28/6.2.15/6.3.2
Patch: 0324300dce3412d4737b4ec5898d0188495a7caa/8faf862d81ab197757761e87d0a99fbb96ab2cf0/a1548363582a8066edd4986f839d785f13dda3aa/5a78ac33e3cb8822da64dd1af196e83664b332b0

Timelineinfo

10/01/2025 Advisory disclosed
10/01/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
10/01/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/27/2026 +118 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-53532 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-53532
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-326621
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2187 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 10/01/2025 15:23
Updated: 01/27/2026 20:05
Changes: 10/01/2025 15:23 (59), 10/12/2025 00:10 (2), 11/29/2025 06:03 (7), 01/27/2026 20:05 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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