CVE-2023-53532
📋 TL;DR
A logic error in the Linux kernel's ath11k WiFi driver causes a NULL pointer dereference during system shutdown or module removal on certain Qualcomm chipsets. This leads to a kernel panic and system crash, affecting Linux systems using vulnerable ath11k driver versions with specific hardware configurations.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel ath11k 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 →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
System crash and denial of service during reboot or driver unloading, potentially causing data loss or service disruption.
Likely Case
Kernel panic and system crash when rebooting or removing the ath11k module on affected hardware, requiring manual intervention to restore service.
If Mitigated
No impact if patched or using unaffected hardware configurations.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires ability to trigger system reboot or driver unloading, typically requiring local access or privileged operations.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Linux kernel commits: 0324300dce3412d4737b4ec5898d0188495a7caa, 5a78ac33e3cb8822da64dd1af196e83664b332b0, 8faf862d81ab197757761e87d0a99fbb96ab2cf0, a1548363582a8066edd4986f839d785f13dda3aa
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0324300dce3412d4737b4ec5898d0188495a7caa
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. Rebuild kernel if compiling from source. 3. Reboot system to load patched kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable ath11k_ahb module
linuxPrevent loading of vulnerable driver module
echo 'blacklist ath11k_ahb' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-ath11k.conf
rmmod ath11k_ahb
Avoid system reboot
linuxTemporarily avoid triggering the vulnerability by not rebooting or unloading driver
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Monitor system logs for kernel panic indicators related to ath11k_ahb
- Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized users from triggering reboots or module operations
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check kernel version and if ath11k_ahb module is loaded: lsmod | grep ath11k_ahbCheck Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Check kernel version includes fix commits: uname -r and verify with git log📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages with 'ath11k_ahb_fw_resource_deinit' in call trace
- NULL pointer dereference errors during shutdown
Network Indicators:
- Sudden loss of WiFi connectivity during system maintenance
SIEM Query:
kernel.panic OR kernel.oops AND ath11k_ahb