linux — security advisory
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function It is stated that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees the provided skb or passes its management to another callback function. However, the skb is not freed in case there is no another callback function, and Syzkaller was able to cause a memory leak. Also minor comment fix. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.
- Products
- linux
- Affected versions
- Not specified
- Fixed versions
- 6.1.20-1
- CVEs
- CVE-2023-53802
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 1 Nov 2026, 15:12 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function It is stated that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees the provided skb or passes its management to another callback function. However, the skb is not freed in case there is no another callback function, and Syzkaller was able to cause a memory leak. Also minor comment fix. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.
osv:DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802
linux
Fixed versions: 6.1.20-1
linux
Fixed versions: 6.1.20-1
linux
Fixed versions: 6.1.20-1
Complete source record
{
"id": "2d35df2142544eee142bc5fcc42464b75ef5538ee18e5dc61e5eb67627a3cac7",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802",
"summary": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: ath9k: htc_hst: free skb in ath9k_htc_rx_msg() if there is no callback function It is stated that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() either frees the provided skb or passes its management to another callback function. However, the skb is not freed in case there is no another callback function, and Syzkaller was able to cause a memory leak. Also minor comment fix. Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.",
"evidence": "osv:DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802",
"products": [
{
"name": {
"value": "linux",
"evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [
{
"value": "6.1.20-1",
"evidence": "/affected/0/ranges"
}
],
"affected_versions": []
},
{
"name": {
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"evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
},
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"fixed_versions": [
{
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}
],
"affected_versions": []
},
{
"name": {
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},
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"fixed_versions": [
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"evidence": "/affected/2/ranges"
}
],
"affected_versions": []
}
],
"severity": "unknown",
"structured": {
"id": "DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802",
"aliases": [
"DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802"
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "6.1.20-1"
}
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}
],
"package": {
"name": "linux",
"purl": "pkg:deb/debian/linux?arch=source&distro=bookworm",
"ecosystem": "Debian:12"
},
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/debian-osv/debian-cve-osv/DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"urgency": "not yet assigned"
}
},
{
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"events": [
{
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{
"fixed": "6.1.20-1"
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],
"package": {
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"purl": "pkg:deb/debian/linux?arch=source&distro=trixie",
"ecosystem": "Debian:13"
},
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/debian-osv/debian-cve-osv/DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"urgency": "not yet assigned"
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
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{
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{
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],
"package": {
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"purl": "pkg:deb/debian/linux?arch=source&distro=forky",
"ecosystem": "Debian:14"
},
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/debian-osv/debian-cve-osv/DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53802.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"urgency": "not yet assigned"
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-26T17:47:35.670325404Z",
"provider": "osv",
"upstream": [
"CVE-2023-53802"
],
"references": [
"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-53802"
]
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2023-53802",
"evidence": "/upstream"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": null
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 454722,
"published_at": "2025-12-09T01:16:51.997+00:00"
}