Memory Corruption Vulnerability in Linux Kernel's Iwlwifi Driver

CVE-2023-53589

What is CVE-2023-53589?

The vulnerability within the Linux kernel's Iwlwifi driver arises from improper handling of firmware responses, specifically concerning the 'n_channels' parameter. When the firmware returns a corrupted Multiple Channel Capability (MCC) response, it can specify an 'n_channels' value that exceeds the expected limit. This leads to the copying of excessive uninitialized memory, posing a risk of system instability or crash, especially if the value of 'n_channels' is significantly large. The solution involves implementing stringent checks on response lengths, ensuring the integrity of firmware data and safeguarding against potential runtime errors.

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