CVE-2021-28663
The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or information disclosure because GPU...
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.8
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.
- Record
CVE-2021-28663- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 9.0 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List
8.8
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.
- Record
CVE-2021-28663- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-15327
8.8
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.
- Record
EUVD-2021-15327- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-2rc2-892p-6hc2
8.8
The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or information disclosure because GPU...
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.
- Record
GHSA-2rc2-892p-6hc2- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CISA KEV No score
Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Use-After-Free Vulnerability
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.
- Record
CVE-2021-28663- Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVASB-A-174259860 No score
In kbase_mem_from_user_buffer of mali_kbase_mem_linux.c, there is a possible remapping of shared read-only memory as write-able due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
- Record
ASB-A-174259860- Updated
- 2026-11-05
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
:unknown:Android |
SoCVersion:0 up to SoCVersion:2021-05-05, plus listed versions SoCVersion |
SoCVersion:2021-05-05 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | lntrx/CVE-2021-28663 | 2021-09-01 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| exploitation | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-28663 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver, published May 1, 2021. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since November 3, 2021. EUVD reports exploitation since November 3, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 12.1%, the 96th percentile. Fixed in :unknown: SoCVersion:2021-05-05.
References
developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates
developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates/mali-gpu-kernel-driver
github.com/lntrx/CVE-2021-28663
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-28663
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28663
github.com/advisories/GHSA-2rc2-892p-6hc2
source.android.com/security/bulletin/2021-05-01