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CVE-2022-50179

Our Analysis: Embedded

Our model has classified this vulnerability as relevant to Embedded Systems, helping your team prioritize efforts effectively.

Published Date June 18, 2025
Last Modified June 18, 2025
CVSS Vector Not Available

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ath9k: fix use-after-free in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb

Syzbot reported use-after-free Read in ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb() [0]. The
problem was in incorrect htc_handle->drv_priv initialization.

Probable call trace which can trigger use-after-free:

ath9k_htc_probe_device()
/* htc_handle->drv_priv = priv; */
ath9k_htc_wait_for_target() <--- Failed
ieee80211_free_hw() <--- priv pointer is freed

<IRQ>
...
ath9k_hif_usb_rx_cb()
ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream()
RX_STAT_INC() <--- htc_handle->drv_priv access

In order to not add fancy protection for drv_priv we can move
htc_handle->drv_priv initialization at the end of the
ath9k_htc_probe_device() and add helper macro to make
all *_STAT_* macros NULL safe, since syzbot has reported related NULL
deref in that macros [1]