CVEs / CVE-2021-28663
CVE-2021-28663: Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Use-After-Free Vulnerability
- Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 3 Nov 2021
- high 8.8 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
- EPSS 12% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 96% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
- Last changed at its sources
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Summary
Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) kernel driver contains a use-after-free vulnerability that may allow a non-privileged user to make improper operations on GPU memory to gain root privilege, and/or disclose information.
Description
The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or information disclosure because GPU memory operations are mishandled, leading to a use-after-free. This affects Bifrost r0p0 through r28p0 before r29p0, Valhall r19p0 through r28p0 before r29p0, and Midgard r4p0 through r30p0.
Affected and fixed versions
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| n/a n/a | n/a | — |
| arm bifrost_gpu_kernel_driver | up to and including r28p0 | — |
| arm valhall_gpu_kernel_driver | up to and including r28p0 | — |
| arm midgard_gpu_kernel_driver | up to and including r30p0 | — |
Exploitation
| In CISA KEV since | 3 Nov 2021 |
|---|---|
| Due date for US federal agencies | 17 Nov 2021 |
| Used in ransomware campaigns | Unknown |
| Required action | Apply updates per vendor instructions. |
Severity
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 highCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HScored by NVD |
|---|---|
| Weakness | CWE-416 |
References
- CVE-2021-28663 on NVD
- CVE-2021-28663 in the CISA KEV catalog
- https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates Vendor Advisory
- https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates/mali-gpu-kernel-driver Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/lntrx/CVE-2021-28663 Exploit
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-28663 US Government Resource
Sources
Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.