Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver: memory corruption flaw under attack

What is affected

Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver is found on ordinary personal computers and phones, so this is not only a problem for companies. If you use it and have not updated since the fix was released, you are exposed.

Arm Bifrost and Valhall GPU kernel drivers contain a use-after-free vulnerability that allows a local, non-privileged user to make improper GPU memory processing operations to gain access to already freed memory.

What an attacker can do

This is a memory corruption flaw. It lets an attacker corrupt the program's memory by feeding it specially crafted content: a web page, a file or a network message. The result ranges from a crash to the attacker running their own code.

How it is reached

Needs access to the device or a file opened on it

Access the attacker needs

A basic user account

Does the victim have to do something?

No, works without the victim doing anything

What to do

1. Update Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver now. Open the update or "About" screen, install whatever is offered and restart the app or device, because the fix is not active until you do.
2. Turn on automatic updates so the next fix arrives without you having to look for it.
3. If your device is too old to receive this update, stop using the affected app for anything sensitive and plan a replacement.

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Vendor advisories and fixes

• developer.arm.comdeveloper.arm.com/Arm%20Security%20Center/Mali%20GPU%20Driver%20Vulnerabilities

How urgent is it

CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on June 12, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by July 3, 2024, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.

The EPSS model estimates a 0.8% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 54% of all scored vulnerabilities.

Its CVSS severity score is 7.8 out of 10 (high), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.

Technical description

Use After Free vulnerability in Arm Ltd Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver, Arm Ltd Valhall GPU Kernel Driver allows a local non-privileged user to make improper GPU memory processing operations to gain access to already freed memory.This issue affects Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver: from r34p0 through r40p0; Valhall GPU Kernel Driver: from r34p0 through r40p0.