wifi: cfg80211: Fix use after free for wext
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: Fix use after free for wext Key information in wext.connect is not reset on (re)connect and can hold data from a previous connection. Reset key data to avoid that drivers or mac80211 incorrectly detect a WEP connection request and access the freed or already reused memory. Additionally optimize cfg80211_sme_connect() and avoid an useless schedule of conn_work.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.32 and later | 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.32 and later Fixed in 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.32 to before 4.14.308; 4.15 to before 4.19.276; 4.20 to before 5.4.235; 5.5 to before 5.10.173; 5.11 to before 5.15.99; 5.16 to before 6.1.16; 6.2 to before 6.2.3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.32 to before 4.14.308; 4.15 to before 4.19.276; 4.20 to before 5.4.235; 5.5 to before 5.10.173; 5.11 to before 5.15.99; 5.16 to before 6.1.16; 6.2 to before 6.2.3 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-53153
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mmx3-2qhv-f4x6
- 2026-11-05 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/66af4a2ab1d65d556d638cb9555a3b823c2557a9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a2a92b3e9d8e03ee3f9ee407fc46a9b4bd02d8b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f1959c17d4cb5b74af6fc31dc787e1dc3e4f6e2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2cfe78619b0de6d2da773978bc2d22797212eaa7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fd081afd21eb35b968b0330700c43ec94986e1c4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/22dfb21bf1cd876616d45cda1bc6daa89eec6747
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f4b6a138efb8a32507b8946104e32cb926308da7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/015b8cc5e7c4d7bb671f1984d7b7338c310b185b
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2023-53153 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-53153 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mmx3-2qhv-f4x6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-53153 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences