CVE-2021-29256
Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
. The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to information disclosure or root privilege escalation. This affects Bifrost r16p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Valhall r19p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, and Midgard r28p0 through r30p0.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 7 July 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 28 July 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 3%, which is higher than 86.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2021-29256 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2021-29256.
What does CVE-2021-29256 affect?
CVE-2021-29256 affects Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). . The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to information disclosure or root privilege escalation. This affects Bifrost r16p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Valhall r19p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, and Midgard r28p0 through r30p0.
How severe is CVE-2021-29256?
CVE-2021-29256 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3%, higher than 86.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 28 July 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2021-29256?
Apply the vendor patch for Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.