CVE-2023-53721

Kernel service interruption via unchecked Wi-Fi scan allocation

Published Oct 22, 2025 · Updated Oct 22, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.3 through 6.5.4 allows attackers to interrupt service during an ath12k Wi-Fi scan. In ath12k_mac_op_hw_scan(), failed allocation of the extra information buffer leaves arg.extraie.ptr NULL, but memcpy dereferences it without checking. Reachability requires an ath12k-supported Qualcomm device, a scan request containing extra information, and memory-allocation failure; kernel fault handling determines whether the system panics.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.3 through 6.5.4 allows attackers to interrupt service during an ath12k Wi-Fi scan. In ath12k_mac_op_hw_scan(), failed allocation of the extra information buffer leaves arg.extraie.ptr NULL, but memcpy dereferences it without checking. Reachability requires an ath12k-supported Qualcomm device, a scan request containing extra information, and memory-allocation failure; kernel fault handling determines whether the system panics.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53721
Published
Oct 22, 2025
Updated
Oct 22, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 22, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 22, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5a263df398b581189fe632b4ab8440f3dd76c251
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8ad314da54c6dd223a6b6cc85019160aa842f659

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5a263df398b581189fe632b4ab8440f3dd76c251; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8ad314da54c6dd223a6b6cc85019160aa842f659

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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