CVE-2026-53179: Linux Kernel Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2026-53179 Overview

CVE-2026-53179 is a buffer over-read vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rtl8723bs staging Wi-Fi driver. The flaw resides in the rtw_update_protection() function, which receives a pointer offset into the Information Elements (IEs) buffer but is passed the full ie_length. This length mismatch can cause the function to read past the intended buffer boundary. The issue affects systems using the Realtek RTL8723BS wireless chipset driver maintained under the kernel staging tree. Linux kernel maintainers have committed fixes referenced by commits 303f65a, 514ab98, and 735dabd.

Critical Impact
A buffer over-read in rtw_update_protection() can leak adjacent kernel memory contents or trigger out-of-bounds memory access during processing of malformed wireless management frames.

Affected Products

Linux kernel drivers/staging/rtl8723bs wireless driver
Systems using Realtek RTL8723BS Wi-Fi chipsets
Linux distributions shipping affected staging driver versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-25 - CVE-2026-53179 published to NVD
2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-53179

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read [CWE-125] in the rtl8723bs staging driver. The rtw_update_protection() function parses protection-related Information Elements from received 802.11 management frames. The caller passes a pointer that has already been advanced into the ies buffer, but supplies the original full ie_length as the bounds parameter. The function then iterates or accesses memory based on that length starting from the offset pointer, exceeding the actual remaining buffer.

This mismatch between the pointer base and the length argument produces a classic over-read condition. Reading past the end of the IE buffer can disclose adjacent kernel heap contents to driver processing logic or cause kernel memory corruption side effects depending on subsequent parsing behavior.

Root Cause

The root cause is incorrect length accounting at the call site of rtw_update_protection(). When a pointer is advanced into a buffer, the remaining length must be decremented accordingly. The caller failed to subtract the offset from ie_length before passing it, leaving the function to operate on a length that exceeds the valid bytes available after the offset.

Attack Vector

An attacker within wireless range of a vulnerable Linux device can craft malformed 802.11 management frames containing manipulated Information Element fields. When the rtl8723bs driver parses these frames, the over-read occurs in kernel context. The vulnerability requires no authentication to the target network. Successful exploitation depends on the layout of adjacent kernel memory and the attacker's ability to influence frame reception by the wireless interface.

The upstream fix corrects the length argument so that only valid bytes after the offset are processed. See the Kernel Git Commit 735dabd and related patches for the corrected bounds handling.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-53179

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel log entries referencing rtl8723bs or rtw_update_protection with KASAN out-of-bounds read warnings.
Wireless driver crashes or soft lockups correlated with receipt of malformed beacon or probe response frames.
Anomalous 802.11 management frames with malformed Information Element length fields observed in nearby wireless captures.

Detection Strategies

Enable Kernel Address Sanitizer (KASAN) on test or canary systems to surface the over-read at runtime.
Monitor dmesg and journalctl -k output for stack traces involving the rtl8723bs driver's IE parsing path.
Inventory endpoints to identify hosts loading the r8723bs kernel module, prioritizing them for patching.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track kernel version and loaded module inventory across Linux endpoints using endpoint telemetry.
Alert on repeated wireless driver faults or unexpected interface resets, which may indicate exploitation attempts.
Correlate wireless intrusion detection signals with host-level kernel events for the same time window.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-53179

Immediate Actions Required

Apply stable kernel updates that include commits 303f65a, 514ab98, and 735dabd from the kernel.org stable tree.
Identify all hosts loading the r8723bs module and prioritize them for kernel updates.
On systems where the RTL8723BS chipset is not required, blacklist the r8723bs module to remove the attack surface.

Patch Information

Fixes are available in the upstream Linux kernel stable trees. Reference the following commits: Kernel Git Commit 303f65a, Kernel Git Commit 514ab98, and Kernel Git Commit 735dabd. Consume the fix through your distribution's kernel update channel as backports become available.

Workarounds

Blacklist the r8723bs kernel module on systems that do not require the RTL8723BS Wi-Fi chipset.
Disable wireless interfaces on systems where Wi-Fi is not operationally needed.
Restrict physical proximity exposure by limiting where vulnerable devices operate until patches are deployed.

bash

# Blacklist the affected staging driver until the kernel is patched
echo "blacklist r8723bs" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtl8723bs.conf
sudo rmmod r8723bs 2>/dev/null || true
sudo update-initramfs -u