CVE-2023-52688

Kernel resource leak via ath12k rfkill error path

Published May 17, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A resource leak in the ath12k driver in Linux 6.7 leaves core pdev resources allocated when rfkill configuration fails. The core rfkill error handler returns without calling the pdev destroy path for resources created earlier in drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c. Exposure requires ath12k hardware and a failing core rfkill WMI configuration; the issue was found by code review and was only compile-tested, so no runtime consequence or attacker-controlled trigger is published.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A resource leak in the ath12k driver in Linux 6.7 leaves core pdev resources allocated when rfkill configuration fails. The core rfkill error handler returns without calling the pdev destroy path for resources created earlier in drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c. Exposure requires ath12k hardware and a failing core rfkill WMI configuration; the issue was found by code review and was only compile-tested, so no runtime consequence or attacker-controlled trigger is published.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52688
Published
May 17, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-415
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 17, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=004ccbc0dd49c63576a4c60a663a38dd3cb6bee5 <898d8b3e1414cd900492ee6a0b582f8095ba4a1a
  2. Affected versionversion=004ccbc0dd49c63576a4c60a663a38dd3cb6bee5 <b4e593a7a22fa3c7d0550ef51c90b5c21f790aa8
  3. Affected versionversion=6.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=004ccbc0dd49c63576a4c60a663a38dd3cb6bee5 <898d8b3e1414cd900492ee6a0b582f8095ba4a1a; version=004ccbc0dd49c63576a4c60a663a38dd3cb6bee5 <b4e593a7a22fa3c7d0550ef51c90b5c21f790aa8; version=6.7

Published CVSS scores

7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-415Double Free

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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