CVE-2024-53188

Kernel crash via repeated ath12k cleanup

Published Dec 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux 6.3 and later ath12k code allows local users to crash the kernel during PCI device unbinding. The ath12k_dp_cc_cleanup function frees dp->spt_info after a firmware-related initialization error but leaves the pointer non-NULL, so ath12k_pci_remove frees it again. Reachability requires the earlier initialization failure; failed MSI address setup in a virtual machine makes the teardown crash consistently reproducible.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.24%
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 6.3 and later ath12k code allows local users to crash the kernel during PCI device unbinding. The ath12k_dp_cc_cleanup function frees dp->spt_info after a firmware-related initialization error but leaves the pointer non-NULL, so ath12k_pci_remove frees it again. Reachability requires the earlier initialization failure; failed MSI address setup in a virtual machine makes the teardown crash consistently reproducible.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-53188
Published
Dec 27, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 27, 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=6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <1304446f67863385dc4c914b6e0194f6664ee764
  3. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <2eec88c0fa63f8ad35704a8c9df0b5bd8694fcda
  4. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <488d2959c28621e52b3cce118a813a4bc18bb3d1
  5. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <81da9c0854545c3188ca2a09afe7cb65f9c012b5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <1304446f67863385dc4c914b6e0194f6664ee764; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <2eec88c0fa63f8ad35704a8c9df0b5bd8694fcda; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <488d2959c28621e52b3cce118a813a4bc18bb3d1; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <81da9c0854545c3188ca2a09afe7cb65f9c012b5

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA ADPCVSS: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

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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-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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