CVE-2023-53532

Kernel crash via unmatched firmware memory unmap

Published Oct 1, 2025 · Updated Oct 1, 2025

A NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernels allows local users to crash the kernel through ath11k AHB resource teardown. ath11k_ahb_fw_resource_deinit calls iommu_unmap for non-fixed-memory chipsets even though initialization never created that mapping. The fault requires an AHB chipset without fixed firmware memory and is reached during reboot or ath11k module removal, limiting impact to availability.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A NULL pointer dereference in affected Linux kernels allows local users to crash the kernel through ath11k AHB resource teardown. ath11k_ahb_fw_resource_deinit calls iommu_unmap for non-fixed-memory chipsets even though initialization never created that mapping. The fault requires an AHB chipset without fixed firmware memory and is reached during reboot or ath11k module removal, limiting impact to availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53532
Published
Oct 1, 2025
Updated
Oct 1, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-908, T1529
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 1, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 1, 2025Record 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=5.19
  2. Affected versionversion=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <0324300dce3412d4737b4ec5898d0188495a7caa
  3. Affected versionversion=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <5a78ac33e3cb8822da64dd1af196e83664b332b0
  4. Affected versionversion=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <8faf862d81ab197757761e87d0a99fbb96ab2cf0
  5. Affected versionversion=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <a1548363582a8066edd4986f839d785f13dda3aa

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.19; version=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <0324300dce3412d4737b4ec5898d0188495a7caa; version=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <5a78ac33e3cb8822da64dd1af196e83664b332b0; version=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <8faf862d81ab197757761e87d0a99fbb96ab2cf0; version=f9eec4947add999e1251bf14365a48a655b786a4 <a1548363582a8066edd4986f839d785f13dda3aa

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
T1529System Shutdown/Reboot

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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