CVE-2023-52827
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ath12k WiFi driver. An attacker could potentially read kernel memory beyond allocated buffers, which could lead to information disclosure or system crashes. This affects Linux systems using the ath12k WiFi driver.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with ath12k WiFi driver
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel memory disclosure leading to privilege escalation or system compromise through information leakage that could be combined with other vulnerabilities.
Likely Case
System instability, kernel panic, or denial of service through crashes when processing malformed WiFi packets.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation preventing buffer overreads.
🎯 Exploit Status
Found during code review, requires WiFi access and ability to send malformed packets to trigger the vulnerable code path.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel with commits 1bc44a505a229bb1dd4957e11aa594edeea3690e and 79527c21a3ce04cffc35ea54f74ee087e532be57
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bc44a505a229bb1dd4957e11aa594edeea3690e
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Check your distribution's security advisories for backported patches. 3. Reboot system after kernel update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable ath12k driver
linuxRemove or blacklist the ath12k driver if not needed
echo 'blacklist ath12k' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ath12k.conf
update-initramfs -u
reboot
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable WiFi interfaces using ath12k driver
- Implement network segmentation to limit WiFi access to trusted devices only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if ath12k module is loaded: lsmod | grep ath12k. Check kernel version against distribution security advisories.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits or check with distribution package manager that security update is installed.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- ath12k driver crash messages in dmesg
- WiFi disconnection events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual WiFi packet patterns targeting ath12k devices
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("ath12k" OR "kernel panic")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bc44a505a229bb1dd4957e11aa594edeea3690e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79527c21a3ce04cffc35ea54f74ee087e532be57
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9e44111da221246efb2e623ae1be40a5cf6542c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bc44a505a229bb1dd4957e11aa594edeea3690e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/79527c21a3ce04cffc35ea54f74ee087e532be57
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9e44111da221246efb2e623ae1be40a5cf6542c
