CVE-2023-53540 (GCVE-0-2023-53540)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2025-10-04 15:16 – Updated: 2026-08-05 09:14
VLAI
Title
wifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address If the AP uses our own address as its MLD address or BSSID, then clearly something's wrong. Reject such connections so we don't try and fail later.
Severity
7.1 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
Linux Linux Affected: 19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04 , < 676a423410131d111a264d29aecbe6aadd57fb22 (git)
Affected: 19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04 , < 07added2c6cd63de047bc786b39436322abb67c0 (git)
Affected: 19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04 , < 5d4e04bf3a0f098bd9033de3a5291810fa14c7a6 (git)
Create a notification for this product.
Linux Linux Affected: 2.6.32
Unaffected: 0 , < 2.6.32 (semver)
Unaffected: 6.1.55 , ≤ 6.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.5.5 , ≤ 6.5.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.6 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "net/wireless/mlme.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "676a423410131d111a264d29aecbe6aadd57fb22",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "07added2c6cd63de047bc786b39436322abb67c0",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04",
              "versionType": "git"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "5d4e04bf3a0f098bd9033de3a5291810fa14c7a6",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04",
              "versionType": "git"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "defaultStatus": "affected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "net/wireless/mlme.c"
          ],
          "repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "2.6.32"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "2.6.32",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.1.55",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "6.5.*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.5.5",
              "versionType": "semver"
            },
            {
              "lessThanOrEqual": "*",
              "status": "unaffected",
              "version": "6.6",
              "versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "cpeApplicability": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.1.55",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "2.6.32",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.5.5",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "2.6.32",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "6.6",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "2.6.32",
                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nwifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address\n\nIf the AP uses our own address as its MLD address or BSSID, then\nclearly something\u0027s wrong. Reject such connections so we don\u0027t\ntry and fail later."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 7.1,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:A - The BSS parameters that trigger the bug originate from attacker-transmitted beacon/probe-response frames, which cfg80211 accepts into the scan cache without rejecting a BSSID equal to a local interface address; an attacker in WiFi range can therefore induce the victim\u0027s SME to auth/assoc to a self-addressed BSS. Per WiFi frame-injection guidance this is Adjacent.\nAC:L - The attacker fully controls the beacon\u0027s BSSID/MLD address and SSID, and the victim STA\u0027s MAC address is passively observable from its probe requests; the victim\u0027s connection attempt is routine auto-join behavior that the attacker can force by deauthing it from its real AP.\nPR:N - A rogue AP needs no credentials or prior association with the victim, and the failure occurs in the pre-authentication auth/assoc path before any key exchange.\nUI:N - Automatic reconnection to a known/matching SSID by wpa_supplicant or the kernel SME requires no human action, and the attacker can trigger it on demand with a deauth.\nS:U - The WARN_ON and the corrupted MLME state are entirely within the kernel\u0027s own security authority; no VM, IOMMU, or sandbox boundary is crossed.\nC:N - No out-of-bounds read, uninitialized memory disclosure, or other read primitive is created; the attacker gains no access to kernel or user data.\nI:L - The attacker\u0027s rogue BSS causes mac80211 to tear down the legitimate association and leaves inconsistent state behind (`vif.cfg.ap_addr` set to the interface\u0027s own address, and in the MLO case a link_sta bearing our own address inserted into `local-\u003elink_sta_hash`), a bounded modification of kernel connection state rather than arbitrary write.\nA:H - The path reaches `WARN_ON()` in `sta_info_insert_check()`, which is a kernel panic on the many deployments running `panic_on_warn=1`, and can be triggered repeatedly to persistently deny WiFi connectivity."
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T09:14:43.616Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/676a423410131d111a264d29aecbe6aadd57fb22"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/07added2c6cd63de047bc786b39436322abb67c0"
        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d4e04bf3a0f098bd9033de3a5291810fa14c7a6"
        }
      ],
      "title": "wifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "bippy-1.2.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2023-53540",
    "datePublished": "2025-10-04T15:16:50.079Z",
    "dateReserved": "2025-10-04T15:14:15.919Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-05T09:14:43.616Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2023-53540",
      "date": "2026-08-04",
      "epss": "0.0018",
      "percentile": "0.07842"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2023-53540\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"published\":\"2025-10-04T16:15:49.050\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-06-17T06:45:33.890\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Analyzed\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\\n\\nwifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address\\n\\nIf the AP uses our own address as its MLD address or BSSID, then\\nclearly something\u0027s wrong. Reject such connections so we don\u0027t\\ntry and fail later.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"programFiles\":[\"net/wireless/mlme.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04\",\"lessThan\":\"676a423410131d111a264d29aecbe6aadd57fb22\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04\",\"lessThan\":\"07added2c6cd63de047bc786b39436322abb67c0\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"19957bb399e2722719c0e20c9ae91cf8b6aaff04\",\"lessThan\":\"5d4e04bf3a0f098bd9033de3a5291810fa14c7a6\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]},{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"affected\",\"programFiles\":[\"net/wireless/mlme.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"2.6.32\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"0\",\"lessThan\":\"2.6.32\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.1.55\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.1.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.5.5\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.5.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.6\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"*\",\"versionType\":\"original_commit_for_fix\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H\",\"baseScore\":5.5,\"baseSeverity\":\"MEDIUM\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"integrityImpact\":\"NONE\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":1.8,\"impactScore\":3.6}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"nvd@nist.gov\",\"type\":\"Primary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"NVD-CWE-noinfo\"}]}],\"configurations\":[{\"nodes\":[{\"operator\":\"OR\",\"negate\":false,\"cpeMatch\":[{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"2.6.32\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"6.1.55\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"9F5010F3-A8FF-4EAB-8573-5EF072D03ACE\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"versionStartIncluding\":\"6.2\",\"versionEndExcluding\":\"6.5.5\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"8CF71E85-DA24-4925-95C5-E5C15DA71AE6\"}]}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/07added2c6cd63de047bc786b39436322abb67c0\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5d4e04bf3a0f098bd9033de3a5291810fa14c7a6\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/676a423410131d111a264d29aecbe6aadd57fb22\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"tags\":[\"Patch\"]}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-04T19:18:28+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2023-53540",
      "id": "CVE-2023-53540",
      "initial_release_date": "2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "198",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "76",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: wifi: cfg80211: reject auth/assoc to AP with our address",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2023/cve-2023-53540.json",
      "version": "3"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.