CVE-2023-53570

wifi: nl80211: fix integer overflow in nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems()

Published Oct 4, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

wifi: nl80211: fix integer overflow in nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems()

nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems() uses a u8 variable num_elems to count the
number of MBSSID elements in the nested netlink attribute attrs, which can
lead to an integer overflow if a user of the nl80211 interface specifies
256 or more elements in the corresponding attribute in userspace. The
integer overflow can lead to a heap buffer overflow as num_elems determines
the size of the trailing array in elems, and this array is thereafter
written to for each element in attrs.

Note that this vulnerability only affects devices with the
wiphy->mbssid_max_interfaces member set for the wireless physical device
struct in the device driver, and can only be triggered by a process with
CAP_NET_ADMIN capabilities.

Fix this by checking for a maximum of 255 elements in attrs.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2023-60038 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: nl80211: fix integer overflow in nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems() nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems() uses a u8 variable num_elems to count the number of MBSSID elements in the nested netlink attribute attrs, which can lead to an integer overflow if a user of the nl80211 interface specifies 256 or more elements in the corresponding attribute in userspace. The integer overflow can lead to a heap buffer overflow as num_elems determines the size of the trailing array in elems, and this array is thereafter written to for each element in attrs. Note that this vulnerability only affects devices with the wiphy->mbssid_max_interfaces member set for the wireless physical device struct in the device driver, and can only be triggered by a process with CAP_NET_ADMIN capabilities. Fix this by checking for a maximum of 255 elements in attrs.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-190
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.5:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: nl80211: fix integer overflow in nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems() nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems() uses a u8 variable num_elems to count the number of MBSSID elements in the nested netlink attribute attrs, which can lead to an integer overflow if a user of the nl80211 interface specifies 256 or more elements in the corresponding attribute in userspace. The integer overflow can lead to a heap buffer overflow as num_elems determines the size of the trailing array in elems, and this array is thereafter written to for each element in attrs. Note that this vulnerability only affects devices with the wiphy->mbssid_max_interfaces member set for the wireless physical device struct in the device driver, and can only be triggered by a process with CAP_NET_ADMIN capabilities. Fix this by checking for a maximum of 255 elements in attrs.
Title wifi: nl80211: fix integer overflow in nl80211_parse_mbssid_elems()
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Aug 5, 2026, 9:14 AM
Reserved
Oct 4, 2025, 3:14 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Oct 4, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Aug 4, 2026, 10:19 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 4, 2025, 12:00 AM