CVE-2024-53191

Kernel memory corruption via ath12k double free

Published Dec 27, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Double free in the ath12k wireless driver in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during device teardown after initialization fails. An earlier error path frees each dp->tx_ring[i].tx_status buffer but leaves its pointer set, so ath12k_dp_free releases the same allocation again during ath12k_pci removal. The required gate is an ath12k teardown after firmware-related initialization fails; the reported result is a kernel allocator warning, not demonstrated code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

Double free in the ath12k wireless driver in Linux allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during device teardown after initialization fails. An earlier error path frees each dp->tx_ring[i].tx_status buffer but leaves its pointer set, so ath12k_dp_free releases the same allocation again during ath12k_pci removal. The required gate is an ath12k teardown after firmware-related initialization fails; the reported result is a kernel allocator warning, not demonstrated code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-53191
Published
Dec 27, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-415, T1068
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 <223b546c6222d42147eff034433002ca5e2e7e09
  3. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <90556b96338aa6037cd26dac857327fda7c19732
  4. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <94c9100b600f05a36b33f9ed76dbd6fb0eb25386
  5. Affected versionversion=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <ca68ce0d9f4bcd032fd1334441175ae399642a06

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.3; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <223b546c6222d42147eff034433002ca5e2e7e09; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <90556b96338aa6037cd26dac857327fda7c19732; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <94c9100b600f05a36b33f9ed76dbd6fb0eb25386; version=d889913205cf7ebda905b1e62c5867ed4e39f6c2 <ca68ce0d9f4bcd032fd1334441175ae399642a06

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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-415Double Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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