CVE-2023-53767

Kernel memory consumption via skipped unregistering cleanup

Published Dec 8, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026

A memory leak in the ath12k Wi-Fi driver in Linux 6.3 consumes kernel memory when the driver enters its unregistering state. In ath12k_qmi_driver_event_work(), the ATH12K_FLAG_UNREGISTERING branch returns before freeing the current event buffer and queued list entries. Reachability requires an ath12k device and the unregistering state; published sources provide no attacker-controlled trigger or demonstrated service interruption.

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

A memory leak in the ath12k Wi-Fi driver in Linux 6.3 consumes kernel memory when the driver enters its unregistering state. In ath12k_qmi_driver_event_work(), the ATH12K_FLAG_UNREGISTERING branch returns before freeing the current event buffer and queued list entries. Reachability requires an ath12k device and the unregistering state; published sources provide no attacker-controlled trigger or demonstrated service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53767
Published
Dec 8, 2025
Updated
May 11, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 11, 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=6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <960412bee0ea75f6b3c2dca4a3535795ee84c47a
  3. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <a87f59041a7f77b4bdab05cea60ac6adc69dc5d2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <960412bee0ea75f6b3c2dca4a3535795ee84c47a; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <a87f59041a7f77b4bdab05cea60ac6adc69dc5d2

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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