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Unscored CVE-2023-54036 EUVD-2025-205126GHSA-j3w7-7qhh-rrr2

wifi: rtl8xxxu: Fix memory leaks with RTL8723BU, RTL8192EU

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated May 11, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

Vendor: Linux Product: Linux Package: linux Package: linux Package: linux-allwinner-5.19 Package: linux-aws Package: linux-aws-5.0 Package: linux-aws-5.11 Package: linux-aws-5.13 Package: linux-aws-5.15 Package: linux-aws-5.19 Package: linux-aws-5.3 Package: linux-aws-5.4 Package: linux-aws-5.8 Package: linux-aws-6.2 Package: linux-aws-6.5 Package: linux-aws-fips Package: linux-aws-hwe Package: linux-azure Package: linux-azure-4.15 Package: linux-azure-5.11 Package: linux-azure-5.13 Package: linux-azure-5.15 Package: linux-azure-5.19 Package: linux-azure-5.3 Package: linux-azure-5.4 Package: linux-azure-5.8 Package: linux-azure-6.11 Package: linux-azure-6.2 Package: linux-azure-6.5 Package: linux-azure-edge Package: linux-azure-fde Package: linux-azure-fde-5.19 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.2 Package: linux-azure-fips Package: linux-bluefield Package: linux-fips Package: linux-gcp Package: linux-gcp-4.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.11 Package: linux-gcp-5.13 Package: linux-gcp-5.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.19 Package: linux-gcp-5.3 Package: linux-gcp-5.4 Package: linux-gcp-5.8 Package: linux-gcp-6.11 Package: linux-gcp-6.2 Package: linux-gcp-6.5 Package: linux-gcp-fips Package: linux-gke Package: linux-gke-4.15 Package: linux-gke-5.15 Package: linux-gke-5.4 Package: linux-gkeop Package: linux-gkeop-5.15 Package: linux-gkeop-5.4 Package: linux-hwe Package: linux-hwe-5.11 Package: linux-hwe-5.13 Package: linux-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-hwe-5.4 Package: linux-hwe-5.8 Package: linux-hwe-6.11 Package: linux-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-hwe-edge Package: linux-ibm Package: linux-ibm-5.4 Package: linux-intel-5.13 Package: linux-intel-iot-realtime Package: linux-intel-iotg Package: linux-intel-iotg-5.15 Package: linux-iot Package: linux-kvm Package: linux-lowlatency Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-nvidia Package: linux-nvidia-6.11 Package: linux-nvidia-6.2 Package: linux-nvidia-6.5 Package: linux-nvidia-tegra Package: linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 Package: linux-oem Package: linux-oem-5.10 Package: linux-oem-5.13 Package: linux-oem-5.14 Package: linux-oem-5.17 Package: linux-oem-5.6 Package: linux-oem-6.0 Package: linux-oem-6.1 Package: linux-oem-6.11 Package: linux-oem-6.5 Package: linux-oem-6.8 Package: linux-oracle Package: linux-oracle-5.0 Package: linux-oracle-5.11 Package: linux-oracle-5.13 Package: linux-oracle-5.15 Package: linux-oracle-5.3 Package: linux-oracle-5.4 Package: linux-oracle-5.8 Package: linux-oracle-6.5 Package: linux-raspi Package: linux-raspi-5.4 Package: linux-raspi-realtime Package: linux-raspi2 Package: linux-realtime Package: linux-riscv Package: linux-riscv-5.11 Package: linux-riscv-5.15 Package: linux-riscv-5.19 Package: linux-riscv-5.8 Package: linux-riscv-6.14 Package: linux-riscv-6.5 Package: linux-starfive-5.19 Package: linux-starfive-6.2 Package: linux-starfive-6.5 Package: linux-vmware Package: linux-xilinx-zynqmp Platform: Linux Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

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.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Linux Linux 5.5 5.10.173

Fixed in Linux distributions

Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 linux 6.1.20-1 —
Debian 13 linux 6.1.20-1 —
Debian 12 linux 6.1.20-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS linux-bluefield 5.15.0-1019.21 —
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-riscv +10 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux +1 5.15.0-75.82 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-aws 5.15.0-1038.43 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-azure 5.15.0-1040.47 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-azure-fde 5.15.0-1041.48.1 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gcp 5.15.0-1036.44 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gke 5.15.0-1036.41 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gkeop 5.15.0-1022.27 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-ibm +1 5.15.0-1032.35 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-intel-iotg 5.15.0-1033.38 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-kvm 5.15.0-1035.40 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-nvidia 5.15.0-1027.27 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-nvidia-tegra 5.15.0-1015.15 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-oracle 5.15.0-1037.43 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-riscv +32 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-aws-5.15 5.15.0-1038.43~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure-5.15 5.15.0-1040.47~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gcp-5.15 5.15.0-1036.44~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gke +28 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.15 +1 5.15.0-75.82~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-intel-iotg-5.15 5.15.0-1033.38~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 5.15.0-1015.15~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-oracle-5.15 5.15.0-1037.43~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-riscv-5.15 5.15.0-1035.39~20.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp +14 No fix yet —
Show 11 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS linux-hwe-edge No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-intel-iot-realtime 5.15.0-1033.35 —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-realtime 5.15.0-1040.45 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS linux +10 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux +12 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux-gcp +4 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux-azure No fix yet —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
RHEL 9 bpftool 7.2.0-362.8.1.el9_3 RHSA-2023:6583
RHEL 9 rv +64 5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 RHSA-2023:6583
RHEL 8 perf +26 4.18.0-513.5.1.el8_9 RHSA-2023:7077
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES for SAP 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP5 kernel-docs +4 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-docs +4 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150500.13.118.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0263-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-source +1 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0411-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0411-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_34 1-150500.11.3.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_48 1-150400.9.7.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE HPC 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +5 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLE HPC 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +5 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1

Advisories 7

References