CVE-2023-52798·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath11k: fix dfs radar event locking The ath11k active pdevs are protected by RCU but the DFS radar event handling code calling ath11k_mac_get_ar_by_pdev_id() was not marked as a read-side critical section. Mark the code in question as an RCU read-side critical section to avoid any potential use-after-free issues. Compile tested only.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.6.3
- Published
- 2024-05-21
Affected versions
From: 6.6
Until: 6.6.3
Fixed in: 6.6.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.6.3 or later to patch the DFS radar event handling race condition in ath11k WiFi driver. This vulnerability affects systems running kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.2 and can lead to use-after-free memory corruption when DFS radar events are processed. Apply the kernel update through your distribution's package manager and reboot the system to complete the remediation.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your current kernel version with `uname -r` — if the output shows 6.6.0, 6.6.1, or 6.6.2, your system is vulnerable
- Step 2: Verify if ath11k WiFi driver is loaded by running `lsmod | grep ath11k` — if it returns results, the vulnerable component is active
- Step 3: Search system logs for DFS radar event processing errors using `sudo journalctl -u kernel | grep -i 'dfs\|radar\|ath11k' | tail -50`
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel is running with `uname -r` and verify it shows version 6.6.3 or higher
FAQ
What is CVE-2023-52798?
CVE-2023-52798 is a race condition in the Linux kernel's ath11k WiFi driver that fails to properly protect DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) radar event handling with RCU read-side locking, potentially allowing use-after-free memory corruption.
Is CVE-2023-52798 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2023-52798 is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are currently available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52798?
Linux kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.2 are vulnerable; the fix is included in kernel 6.6.3 and later.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52798?
Run `uname -r` to check your kernel version — if it displays 6.6.0, 6.6.1, or 6.6.2, and `lsmod | grep ath11k` returns results, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52798?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2023-52798 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fd878e1750190a612b5de2af357cca422ec0822
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/21ebb0aba580d347e12f01ce5f6e75044427b3d5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b6c14833165f689cc5928574ebafe52bbce5f1e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/426e718ce9ba60013364a54233feee309356cb82
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ca420ac4f9451f22347bae44b18ab47ba2c267ec
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