high CVSS 7.8

CVE-2023-52594·Kernel vulnerability

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: Fix potential array-index-out-of-bounds read in ath9k_htc_txstatus() Fix an array-index-out-of-bounds read in ath9k_htc_txstatus(). The bug occurs when txs->cnt, data from a URB provided by a USB device, is bigger than the size of the array txs->txstatus, which is HTC_MAX_TX_STATUS. WARN_ON() already checks it, but there is no bug handling code after the check. Make the function return if that is the case. Found by a modified version of syzkaller. UBSAN: array-index-out-of-bounds in htc_drv_txrx.c index 13 is out of range for type '__wmi_event_txstatus [12]' Call Trace: ath9k_htc_txstatus ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet tasklet_action_common __do_softirq irq_exit_rxu sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt

Severity
high
Software
Kernel
Fixed in
6.7.4
Published
2024-03-06

Affected versions

From: 6.7

Until: 6.7.4

Fixed in: 6.7.4

How to fix this CVE

Update your Linux kernel to version 6.7.4 or later to patch an array bounds checking vulnerability in the ath9k WiFi driver. This vulnerability allows out-of-bounds memory reads when processing malformed USB device data. Systems using Qualcomm Atheros 9k WiFi hardware should prioritize this update to prevent potential information disclosure.

sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel

Defensia detects this vulnerability

How to check if you are affected

  1. Step 1: Check your current kernel version with `uname -r` and verify if it falls in the range 6.7.0-6.7.3
  2. Step 2: Confirm ath9k driver is loaded with `lsmod | grep ath9k` and check for connected Qualcomm Atheros USB WiFi devices with `lsusb | grep Atheros`
  3. Step 3: Search system logs for UBSAN warnings with `dmesg | grep -i 'array-index-out-of-bounds\|ath9k_htc_txstatus'` or `journalctl -e | grep -i 'htc_drv_txrx'`
  4. Step 4: After applying kernel updates, reboot and run `uname -r` to confirm version is 6.7.4 or higher, then verify driver still loads with `lsmod | grep ath9k`

FAQ

What is CVE-2023-52594?

This vulnerability is an array bounds checking flaw in the ath9k_htc WiFi driver that permits reading beyond allocated memory when processing untrusted data from USB WiFi devices, potentially exposing kernel memory contents.

Is CVE-2023-52594 being actively exploited?

No, this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are currently available. However, the flaw requires only local access and a malicious USB device to trigger.

What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52594?

Linux kernel versions 6.7.0 through 6.7.3 are vulnerable. The fix was implemented in kernel 6.7.4 and backported to stable branches. Earlier versions (6.6.x and below) are not affected by this specific issue.

How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52594?

Run `uname -r` to check your kernel version; if it shows 6.7.0 through 6.7.3, you are vulnerable. Then verify the affected driver is present with `lsmod | grep ath9k_htc` or `lsmod | grep ath9k`.

Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52594?

Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2023-52594 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.

Related Kernel CVEs

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CVE-2024-38612CVSS 9.8In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: sr: fix invalid unregister error path The error path of seg6_init() is wrong in case CONFIG_IPV6_SEG6_LWTUNNEL is not defined. In that case if seg6_hmac_init() fails, the genl_unregister_family() isn't called. This issue exist since commit 46738b1317e1 ("ipv6: sr: add option to control lwtunnel support"), and commit 5559cea2d5aa ("ipv6: sr: fix possible use-after-free and null-ptr-deref") replaced unregister_pernet_subsys() with genl_unregister_family() in this error path.
CVE-2024-38623CVSS 9.8In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/ntfs3: Use variable length array instead of fixed size Should fix smatch warning: ntfs_set_label() error: __builtin_memcpy() 'uni->name' too small (20 vs 256)
CVE-2021-47548CVSS 9.8In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ethernet: hisilicon: hns: hns_dsaf_misc: fix a possible array overflow in hns_dsaf_ge_srst_by_port() The if statement: if (port >= DSAF_GE_NUM) return; limits the value of port less than DSAF_GE_NUM (i.e., 8). However, if the value of port is 6 or 7, an array overflow could occur: port_rst_off = dsaf_dev->mac_cb[port]->port_rst_off; because the length of dsaf_dev->mac_cb is DSAF_MAX_PORT_NUM (i.e., 6). To fix this possible array overflow, we first check port and if it is greater than or equal to DSAF_MAX_PORT_NUM, the function returns.

References

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