CVE-2023-52832·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: mac80211: don't return unset power in ieee80211_get_tx_power() We can get a UBSAN warning if ieee80211_get_tx_power() returns the INT_MIN value mac80211 internally uses for "unset power level". UBSAN: signed-integer-overflow in net/wireless/nl80211.c:3816:5 -2147483648 * 100 cannot be represented in type 'int' CPU: 0 PID: 20433 Comm: insmod Tainted: G WC OE Call Trace: dump_stack+0x74/0x92 ubsan_epilogue+0x9/0x50 handle_overflow+0x8d/0xd0 __ubsan_handle_mul_overflow+0xe/0x10 nl80211_send_iface+0x688/0x6b0 [cfg80211] [...] cfg80211_register_wdev+0x78/0xb0 [cfg80211] cfg80211_netdev_notifier_call+0x200/0x620 [cfg80211] [...] ieee80211_if_add+0x60e/0x8f0 [mac80211] ieee80211_register_hw+0xda5/0x1170 [mac80211] In this case, simply return an error instead, to indicate that no data is available.
- Severity
- critical
- 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 resolve this integer overflow vulnerability in the mac80211 wireless subsystem. The vulnerability occurs when the power management function attempts to return an uninitialized internal value, triggering undefined behavior during integer multiplication. Kernel updates should be applied promptly and systems should be rebooted to activate the patched kernel.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Run 'uname -r' to check the currently running kernel version and compare against 6.6.3
- Execute 'cat /proc/cmdline' to verify which kernel was booted at system startup
- Check 'dmesg | grep -i ubsan' to look for any UBSAN warnings related to signed integer overflow in nl80211
- After patching, reboot the system with 'sudo reboot' and confirm the new kernel version with 'uname -r' to ensure the fix is active
FAQ
What is CVE-2023-52832?
CVE-2023-52832 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mac80211 wireless driver where the ieee80211_get_tx_power() function returns an uninitialized sentinel value that causes signed integer overflow when multiplied during netlink communication, triggering undefined behavior.
Is CVE-2023-52832 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2023-52832 is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and no public exploits are available. However, the critical CVSS score of 9.1 indicates significant impact potential.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52832?
Linux kernel versions 6.6 through 6.6.2 are affected. Kernel 6.6.3 and later versions contain the patch that properly handles unset power level values.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52832?
Run 'uname -r' and check if the output shows a version number starting with 6.6 but less than 6.6.3 (e.g., 6.6.0, 6.6.1, 6.6.2). If so, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52832?
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-2023-52832 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/21a0f310a9f3bfd2b4cf4f382430e638607db846
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2be24c47ac19bf639c48c082486c08888bd603c6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a94cffe90e20e8fade0b9abd4370bd671fe87c7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/717de20abdcd1d4993fa450e28b8086a352620ea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/adc2474d823fe81d8da759207f4f1d3691aa775a
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