CVE-2023-52776

Kernel memory corruption via unprotected ath12k RCU lookup

Published May 21, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel ath12k 6.3 through 6.5.12 and 6.6 through 6.6.2 allows physically proximate attackers to corrupt kernel memory. The DFS-radar and temperature handlers call ath12k_mac_get_ar_by_pdev_id() without an RCU read-side critical section, so concurrent pdev removal can leave a stale pointer. Exploitation requires ath12k wireless hardware and attacker-controlled radar-like RF input; a successful race can crash the host or alter kernel state.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.85%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux kernel ath12k 6.3 through 6.5.12 and 6.6 through 6.6.2 allows physically proximate attackers to corrupt kernel memory. The DFS-radar and temperature handlers call ath12k_mac_get_ar_by_pdev_id() without an RCU read-side critical section, so concurrent pdev removal can leave a stale pointer. Exploitation requires ath12k wireless hardware and attacker-controlled radar-like RF input; a successful race can crash the host or alter kernel state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52776
Published
May 21, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <69bd216e049349886405b1c87a55dce3d35d1ba7
  3. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <774de37c147fea81f2c2e4be5082304f4f71d535
  4. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <d7a5f7f76568e48869916d769e28b9f3ca70c78e

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <69bd216e049349886405b1c87a55dce3d35d1ba7; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <774de37c147fea81f2c2e4be5082304f4f71d535; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <d7a5f7f76568e48869916d769e28b9f3ca70c78e

Published CVSS scores

8.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.9CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After 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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