In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: ath9k: avoid uninit memory read in ath9k_htc_rx_msg()
syzbot is reporting uninit value at ath9k_htc_rx_msg() [1], for ioctl(USB_RAW_IOCTL_EP_WRITE) can call ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() with pkt_len = 0 but ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() uses __dev_alloc_skb(pkt_len + 32, GFP_ATOMIC) based on an assumption that pkt_len is valid. As a result, ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream() allocates skb with uninitialized memory and ath9k_htc_rx_msg() is reading from uninitialized memory.
Since bytes accessed by ath9k_htc_rx_msg() is not known until ath9k_htc_rx_msg() is called, it would be difficult to check minimal valid pkt_len at "if (pkt_len > 2 * MAX_RX_BUF_SIZE) {" line in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream().
We have two choices. One is to workaround by adding __GFP_ZERO so that ath9k_htc_rx_msg() sees 0 if pkt_len is invalid. The other is to let ath9k_htc_rx_msg() validate pkt_len before accessing. This patch chose the latter.
Note that I'm not sure threshold condition is correct, for I can't find details on possible packet length used by this protocol.
Covered by Rapid7
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | — | Upgrade linux | Dec 29, 2025 | Dec 29, 2025 |
| Huawei Euleros 2_0_sp13 | — | Upgrade kernel-tools-libsUpgrade kernelUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernel-abi-stablelistsUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade python3-perf | Mar 10, 2026 | Mar 10, 2026 |
| Redhat_linux | — | No solution exists | Jul 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2025 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-aws-hweUpgrade linux-realtimeUpgrade linux-raspiUpgrade linux-oracle-5.4Upgrade linux-awsUpgrade linux-aws-5.15Upgrade linux-aws-5.4Upgrade linuxUpgrade linux-ibm-5.4Upgrade linux-gkeUpgrade linux-bluefieldUpgrade linux-raspi-5.4Upgrade linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15Upgrade linux-hweUpgrade linux-hwe-5.4Upgrade linux-iotUpgrade linux-azure-fde-5.15Upgrade linux-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-gkeopUpgrade linux-azure-5.15Upgrade linux-azure-5.4Upgrade linux-intel-iotg-5.15Upgrade linux-xilinx-zynqmpUpgrade linux-aws-fipsUpgrade linux-azure-fipsUpgrade linux-oracle-5.15Upgrade linux-oracleUpgrade linux-gcp-5.15Upgrade linux-nvidiaUpgrade linux-azure-4.15Upgrade linux-gcp-fipsUpgrade linux-gcpUpgrade linux-riscv-5.15Upgrade linux-hwe-5.15Upgrade linux-azureUpgrade linux-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-gcp-4.15Upgrade linux-fipsUpgrade linux-kvmUpgrade linux-ibmUpgrade linux-gcp-5.4 | Jan 6, 2026 | Dec 24, 2025 |
| Vmware Photon_os | — | Use 'tdnf update' to upgrade all packages to the latest version. | May 27, 2026 | Dec 24, 2025 |
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