CVE-2023-4211 is a medium-severity vulnerability that affects the Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver. This vulnerability allows a local non-privileged user to make improper GPU memory processing operations to gain access to already freed memory. The CVSS score assigned to this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a medium level of risk to organizations.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information due to improper memory handling. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to exploit the system, leading to potential data breaches. Therefore, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, the vulnerability has been analyzed, and it is included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, which indicates that it should be treated with high urgency. Organizations must take immediate action to apply mitigation measures or discontinue use of the affected products if patches are unavailable.
The vulnerability was published on October 1, 2023, and has been assigned a CWE-416 classification, which is associated with use-after-free vulnerabilities. This reinforces the need for organizations to assess their systems for exposure to this vulnerability.
In light of the potential impacts, organizations should schedule remediation as soon as possible to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2023-4211 states that it allows a local non-privileged user to perform improper GPU memory processing operations that can lead to access to already freed memory.
The vulnerability affects several components of Arm's GPU driver, specifically the 5th generation GPU architecture kernel driver, Bifrost GPU kernel driver, Midgard GPU kernel driver, and Valhall GPU kernel driver.
The CVSS score of 5.5 indicates a medium severity, as it has a low attack complexity and requires low privileges. The attacker does not need any user interaction, making this vulnerability particularly concerning in environments where local access is possible.
The vulnerability was published on October 1, 2023, and is classified under CWE-416, indicating a use-after-free issue.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-4211 lies in improper memory handling within the GPU driver, allowing a local user to access freed memory. This can be exploited through local access to the affected system.
The attack vector is classified as local, meaning that an attacker must have local access to the system. The attack complexity is low, and only low privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability. User interaction is not necessary for the exploitation to succeed.
In terms of impact, the vulnerability has a high confidentiality impact, meaning that sensitive information may be exposed. However, there is no impact on integrity or availability, which suggests that while data may be compromised, the overall system remains operational.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations using the affected versions of Arm's GPU drivers are at risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches. Given that the attack complexity is low and can be executed by a local user with minimal privileges, the risk exposure is significant.
The confidentiality impact is rated high, indicating that attackers may gain access to sensitive information, which can lead to further exploitation within the organization’s network.
As CVE-2023-4211 is included in the KEV catalog, organizations should prioritize remediation in their patch management processes. The urgency is further underscored by the CVSS score of 5.5, indicating that this vulnerability should be addressed promptly.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of the Arm Mali GPU Kernel Drivers include the following components:
1. 5th generation GPU architecture kernel driver (versions r41p0 to r43p0 excluded) 2. Bifrost GPU kernel driver (versions r0p0 to r43p0 excluded) 3. Midgard GPU kernel driver (versions r12p0 to r32p0 included) 4. Valhall GPU kernel driver (versions r19p0 to r43p0 excluded)
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the vendor's patches for the Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver immediately. If patches are unavailable, organizations should consider discontinuing the use of the affected products.
For further guidance on securing systems against vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor for unusual GPU memory access patterns and log indicators associated with memory operations.
Behavioral anomalies that deviate from standard GPU processing should also be flagged for further investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-4211 lies in the increasing complexity of kernel vulnerabilities, particularly those associated with memory management. This trend indicates a need for enhanced security measures in GPU driver development and deployment.
Organizations should take lessons from this incident to strengthen their security posture, especially around privilege management and user access in local environments.
For additional insights into vulnerability management and security best practices, consider exploring our resources on vulnerability management programs and engaging in our penetration testing methodology training sessions.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)