CVE-2021-29256 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver. This vulnerability allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to potential information disclosure or root privilege escalation. Specifically, this issue impacts Bifrost GPU kernel driver versions r16p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Valhall versions r19p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, and Midgard versions r28p0 through r30p0. Organizations utilizing these components are at significant risk.
The CVSS 3.1 base score for this vulnerability is 8.8, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is network-based, with low complexity and requires low privileges to exploit. The potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is also rated as high, which underscores the urgent need for organizations to address this vulnerability.
Currently, there is no public exploit confirmed for CVE-2021-29256, but the vulnerability has been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog as of July 7, 2023. Organizations should prioritize patching as soon as updates are available to mitigate risks.
Organizations using affected versions of the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver should prioritize remediation. Immediate action is critical to prevent possible exploitation, especially since the impact of a successful attack could be severe.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to information disclosure or root privilege escalation. The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver is the affected component, with the following specific versions impacted: Bifrost r16p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Valhall r19p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, and Midgard r28p0 through r30p0.
The CVSS score of 8.8 indicates high severity, with the vector string reflecting a network attack vector, low attack complexity, and low privileges required. This means that the vulnerability can be exploited without significant difficulty by an attacker with limited access.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-29256 is a use-after-free condition in the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver. This issue arises when the driver fails to properly manage memory, allowing unprivileged users to access memory after it has been freed. This can lead to significant security risks, including the possibility of executing arbitrary code.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the system. The attack complexity is rated low, as it does not require sophisticated techniques, and only low privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability. Furthermore, no user interaction is required, making it more critical.
The potential impacts of a successful exploit include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access and control over affected systems.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential full control over affected systems, leading to severe data breaches or service disruptions. The blast radius for this vulnerability can extend to all systems utilizing the vulnerable Arm Mali GPU kernel driver versions. Given the high CVSS score, organizations should assess their exposure and prioritize patching actions.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The existence of this vulnerability in the KEV catalog indicates that it has been actively monitored for exploitation, which further emphasizes the urgency for remediation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver include:
- Bifrost: r16p0 through r29p0 (before r30p0) - Valhall: r19p0 through r29p0 (before r30p0) - Midgard: r28p0 through r30p0
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must apply updates per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if updates are unavailable. It is crucial to monitor for any patches released by Arm and apply them immediately to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing configuration hardening and network controls to further enhance their security posture.
For more information on effective security testing and vulnerability management strategies, organizations may refer to the following: penetration testing services that can help identify potential weaknesses and validate remediation efforts.
Detection Guidance
To effectively detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for any unusual access patterns. Additionally, behavioral anomalies in system performance and unexpected memory access requests should be flagged for further investigation. Signature-based detection methods can also be implemented to identify malicious activity associated with this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2021-29256 represents a significant risk due to its potential for exploitation and the high impact it can have on organizations. Security teams should be aware of the patterns associated with use-after-free vulnerabilities and implement best practices for secure coding and memory management.
Organizations can benefit from establishing a robust vulnerability management program to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities in their systems. Regular security assessments, such as penetration testing methodology, can further assist in mitigating risks associated with known vulnerabilities.
Additionally, organizations should stay informed about emerging threats and trends in the security landscape by following reputable sources and engaging with the security community.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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