CVE DATABASE / CVE-2021-28663
CVE-2021-28663
Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Use-After-Free Vulnerability
CVSS 8.8 · HIGH
⚠ CISA KEV — ACTIVELY EXPLOITED
On the CISA KEV catalog
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2021-11-03.
Federal remediation due 2021-11-17.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
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.
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 8.8 (HIGH) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | NETWORK |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | LOW |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Weakness type (CWE)
Affected products
Arm bifrost gpu kernel driverArm midgard gpu kernel driverArm valhall gpu kernel driver
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References
- https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates
- https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates/mali-gpu-kernel-driver
- https://github.com/lntrx/CVE-2021-28663
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-28663
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2025-11-03. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.