# CVE-2022-50179: ath9k: fix use-after-free in ath9k\_hif\_usb\_rx\_cb

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2025-06-18 · Updated: 2026-05-11

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 2.6.35

## 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]

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
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## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/62bc1ea5c7401d77eaf73d0c6a15f3d2e742856e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab7a0ddf5f1cdec63cb21840369873806fc36d80
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e9e21206b8ea62220b486310c61277e7ebfe7cec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eccd7c3e2596b574241a7670b5b53f5322f470e5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/03ca957c5f7b55660957eda20b5db4110319ac7a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b14ab47937ba441e75e8dbb9fbfc9c55efa41c6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b66ebac40f64336ae2d053883bee85261060bd27
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ac4827f78c7ffe8eef074bc010e7e34bc22f533

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