CVE-2023-7042 is a null pointer dereference vulnerability identified in the ath10k wireless driver component of the Linux kernel used by Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Specifically, the flaw is located in the function ath10k_wmi_tlv_op_pull_mgmt_tx_compl_ev() within the source file drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/wmi-tlv.c. A null pointer dereference occurs when the function attempts to access memory through a pointer that has not been properly initialized, leading to a kernel crash and thus a denial of service condition. The vulnerability requires local attacker privileges at a high level (PR:H), meaning the attacker must already have elevated access to the system. No user interaction is needed to trigger the flaw. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the impact being limited to availability (denial of service) without affecting confidentiality or integrity. No known public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported as of the publication date. The affected product is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, which is an older, legacy operating system version but still in use in some enterprise and industrial environments. The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with local high privileges to crash the system, potentially disrupting services that rely on wireless connectivity. Since the flaw is in a wireless driver, it specifically affects systems using ath10k-based wireless hardware. The issue can be remediated by applying patches provided by Red Hat or by disabling the affected wireless driver if patching is not immediately possible.

The primary impact of CVE-2023-7042 is a denial of service condition caused by a kernel crash due to a null pointer dereference in the ath10k wireless driver. For European organizations, this could result in temporary loss of wireless network connectivity and system availability on affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 systems. Critical infrastructure or industrial control systems that rely on legacy RHEL 6 deployments with ath10k wireless hardware may experience operational disruptions. Although the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact could affect business continuity, especially in environments where wireless connectivity is essential. Since exploitation requires local high privileges, the risk is somewhat mitigated by the need for prior system access. However, insider threats or attackers who have escalated privileges could leverage this flaw to disrupt services. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for timely remediation. Organizations running legacy RHEL 6 systems should prioritize patching or mitigating this vulnerability to maintain operational stability.

1. Apply official security patches from Red Hat for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 as soon as they become available to address CVE-2023-7042. 2. If patching is not immediately feasible, consider disabling the ath10k wireless driver module to prevent the vulnerable code from executing. 3. Restrict local access to systems running RHEL 6 to trusted administrators only, minimizing the risk of privilege escalation and exploitation. 4. Monitor system logs and wireless driver behavior for signs of crashes or abnormal activity that could indicate attempted exploitation. 5. For critical environments, consider upgrading from RHEL 6 to a more recent, supported operating system version to reduce exposure to legacy vulnerabilities. 6. Implement strict access controls and use security tools to detect and prevent unauthorized privilege escalation on affected systems. 7. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on wireless drivers and kernel components to identify similar issues proactively.