Null Pointer Dereference Vulnerability in Linux Kernel's iwlwifi Product

CVE-2023-53251

What is CVE-2023-53251?

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's iwlwifi driver allows for a null pointer dereference in the PCIE handling code. This occurs due to conditions where the reception queue (rxq) may incorrectly be assessed as null. Specifically, if the transmission PCIE instance’s rxq is null while processing a certain entry of the queue, the driver could encounter a critical fault, potentially leading to unexpected behavior or system crashes. The fix involves implementing a proper check ensuring that the rxq is validated only if the entry is not empty, thus improving the stability and security of systems utilizing the iwlwifi driver.

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