BlackTreeCVE Intelligence
← Back to the CVE catalogue
Full vulnerability report · 2025
CVE-2023-54036High confidence

wifi: rtl8xxxu: Fix memory leaks with RTL8723BU, RTL8192EU

Linux · Linux

…UnscoredAssess manually
Recommended action
Patch only the product branches with a verified fix

No CVSS base score is available from the CNA, CISA ADP or NIST. Absence of a score is not evidence of low risk; review the vendor advisory, affected exposure and exploit evidence. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 9 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Fix availability varies by product
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityUnscoredOperational priority:Needs assessment, manual assessment needed.unscored

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • EPSS is 0.19% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Linux Linux and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Manual assessmentRemediation target: Manual assessment

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Cross-source reconciliation

Remediation availability differs by product scope

Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 9 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Debian, ubuntu findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

13 package states
Package result overrides the generic status

BlackTree has verified remediation for at least one product or source, but the relevant distribution still reports no fixed package for 9 affected package states shown here. Treat those rows as affected with no fix until that distribution publishes a fixed version.

Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Debian trixietrixie · sourcelinuxVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.6.1.20-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcelinuxVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.6.1.20-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcelinuxVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.6.1.20-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcelinuxVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.6.1.20-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 6 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-azure-6.11Affected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-gcp-6.11Affected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-hwe-6.11Affected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11Affected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-nvidia-6.11Affected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-oem-6.11Affected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-raspi-realtimeAffected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-realtimeAffected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · standard archivelinux-riscvAffected, no fix publishedCanonical OVAL identifies this running kernel flavour as affected and does not publish a fixed package version in this definition.Not published in this feedCanonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 5 Oct 2026
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2025-205126

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch only the product branches with a verified fix

No CVSS base score is available from the CNA, CISA ADP or NIST. Absence of a score is not evidence of low risk; review the vendor advisory, affected exposure and exploit evidence. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 9 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Fix availability varies by product
01

What, why and how

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: rtl8xxxu: Fix memory leaks with RTL8723BU, RTL8192EU The wifi + bluetooth combo chip RTL8723BU can leak memory (especially?) when it's connected to a bluetooth audio device. The busy bluetooth traffic generates lots of C2H (card to host) messages, which are not freed correctly. To fix this, move the dev_kfree_skb() call in rtl8xxxu_c2hcmd_callback() inside the loop where skb_dequeue() is called. The RTL8192EU leaks memory because the C2H messages are added to the queue and left there forever. (This was fine in the past because it probably wasn't sending any C2H messages until commit e542e66b7c2e ("wifi: rtl8xxxu: gen2: Turn on the rate control"). Since that commit it sends a C2H message when the TX rate changes.) To fix this, delete the check for rf_paths > 1 and the goto. Let the function process the C2H messages from RTL8192EU like the ones from the other chips. Theoretically the RTL8188FU could also leak like RTL8723BU, but it most likely doesn't send C2H messages frequently enough. This change was tested with RTL8723BU by Erhard F. I tested it with RTL8188FU and RTL8192EU.

What

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: rtl8xxxu: Fix memory leaks with RTL8723BU, RTL8192EU The wifi + bluetooth combo chip RTL8723BU can leak memory (especially?) when it's connected to a bluetooth audio device. The busy bluetooth traffic generates lots of C2H (card to host) messages, which are not freed correctly. To fix this, move the dev_kfree_skb() call in rtl8xxxu_c2hcmd_callback() inside the loop where skb_dequeue() is called. The RTL8192EU leaks memory because the C2H messages are added to the queue and left there forever. (This was fine in the past because it probably wasn't sending any C2H messages until commit e542e66b7c2e ("wifi: rtl8xxxu: gen2: Turn on the rate control"). Since that commit it sends a C2H message when the TX rate changes.) To fix this, delete the check for rf_paths > 1 and the goto. Let the function process the C2H messages from RTL8192EU like the ones from the other chips. Theoretically the RTL8188FU could also leak like RTL8723BU, but it most likely doesn't send C2H messages frequently enough. This change was tested with RTL8723BU by Erhard F. I tested it with RTL8188FU and RTL8192EU.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through the affected interface may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: rtl8xxxu: Fix memory leaks with RTL8723BU, RTL8192EU The wifi + bluetooth combo chip RTL8723BU can leak memory (especially?) when it's connected to a bluetooth audio device. The busy bluetooth traffic generates lots of C2H (card to host) messages, which are not freed correctly. To fix this, move the dev_kfree_skb() call in rtl8xxxu_c2hcmd_callback() inside the loop where skb_dequeue() is called. The RTL8192EU leaks memory because the C2H messages are added to the queue and left there forever. (This was fine in the past because it probably wasn't sending any C2H messages until commit e542e66b7c2e ("wifi: rtl8xxxu: gen2: Turn on the rate control"). Since that commit it sends a C2H message when the TX rate changes.) To fix this, delete the check for rf_paths > 1 and the goto. Let the function process the C2H messages from RTL8192EU like the ones from the other chips. Theoretically the RTL8188FU could also leak like RTL8723BU, but it most likely doesn't send C2H messages frequently enough. This change was tested with RTL8723BU by Erhard F. I tested it with RTL8188FU and RTL8192EU.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through the affected interface may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
the affected interface → vulnerable operation → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Unspecified
Privileges required
Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
User interaction
Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
Attack complexity
Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
Security boundary
Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration.
CWE not yet assigned
CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
Not available from the selected scoring authority.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

BSI · German · WID-SEC-2025-2920Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen im Linux-Kernel ausnutzen, um nicht näher spezifizierte Angriffe durchzuführen, die möglicherweise zu einer Denial-of-Service- Bedingung führen oder eine Speicherbeschädigung verursachen können.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20251231Security Bulletin 31 Dec 2025

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 31 Dec 2025, published on 31 December 2025. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-0225Multiples vulnérabilités dans le noyau Linux de SUSE

d?id=CVE-2023-54024 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54025 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54025 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54026 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54026 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54027 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54027 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54028 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54028 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54030 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54030 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54031 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54031 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54032 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54032 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54035 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54035 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54036 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54036 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54037 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54037 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54038 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54038 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54039 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54039 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54040 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54040 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54042 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54042 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54045 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54045 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54046 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54046 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54048 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-0170Multiples vulnérabilités dans le noyau Linux de SUSE

d?id=CVE-2023-54015 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54018 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54018 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54019 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54019 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54020 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54020 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54021 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54021 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54024 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54024 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54025 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54025 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54026 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54026 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54028 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54028 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54036 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54036 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54039 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54039 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54040 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54040 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54042 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54042 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54045 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54045 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54046 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54046 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54047 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54047 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54048 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54048 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54049 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-0108Multiples vulnérabilités dans le noyau Linux de SUSE

d?id=CVE-2023-54024 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54025 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54025 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54026 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54026 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54027 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54027 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54028 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54028 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54030 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54030 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54031 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54031 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54032 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54032 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54035 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54035 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54036 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54036 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54037 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54037 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54038 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54038 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54039 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54039 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54040 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54040 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54041 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54041 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54042 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54042 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54044 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54044 Référence CVE CVE-2023-54045 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Fix availability varies by product
Affected
Linux: e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 < 430f9f9bec53a75f9ccc53e156a66f13fc098b83, e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 < 35fb0e275af1aa1ca0a9784417e90f988aaf8e78, e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 < 93c3f34ec02fc81188d328287d4fddd498ccddea, e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 < f39a86b4efd270947ee252cc32a30b0aef492d65, e542e66b7c2ee2adeefdbb7f259f2f60cadf2819 < b39f662ce1648db0b9de32e6a849b098480793cb, 5.5
Fixed
Linux: < 5.5, 5.10.173 ≤ 5.10.*, 5.15.99 ≤ 5.15.*, 6.1.16 ≤ 6.1.*, 6.2.3 ≤ 6.2.*, 6.3 ≤ *
Action
Use the product-specific evidence above. Patch only products with a verified fixed release, and keep every affected or under-investigation state without a matching fix in the remediation queue.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 24 Dec 2025 · Last source change 11 May 2026, 19:54 UTC · CWE not yet assigned

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceUnavailable
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2025-205126
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceUnavailable
NVD statusNVD not scheduled

Missing structured fields: CVSS base score, CWE classification. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗

No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.

Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2023-54036 · cve.blacktree.nl