High‑Severity Use‑After‑Free in Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver (CVE‑2021‑29256) Threatens Device Integrity
What It Is
A use‑after‑free flaw in the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver can be triggered by a non‑privileged user to execute arbitrary code in kernel space. Successful exploitation may grant root privileges on the host device and enable unauthorized disclosure of memory contents.
Exploitability
Public proof‑of‑concept code has been released by independent researchers, but no widespread active exploitation has been reported to date. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (High), reflecting the ease of triggering the flaw and the severity of potential impact.
Affected Products
- Vendor: Arm Ltd.
- Product: Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) kernel driver, across all platforms that integrate the Mali GPU (e.g., smartphones, tablets, embedded IoT devices, automotive infotainment systems).
Why It Matters for Compliance & Audit Readiness
Privilege‑escalation vulnerabilities intersect directly with access‑control and vendor‑management controls required by frameworks such as NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and industry‑specific regulations (e.g., automotive safety standards). Demonstrating that you have:
- Continuous control monitoring – regular firmware and driver inventory, automated vulnerability scanning, and timely patch validation.
- Defensible audit evidence – documented risk assessments, remediation tickets, and verification logs showing the driver version has been updated or mitigated.
These artifacts satisfy audit expectations for due‑diligence and provide a clear, traceable control‑assurance trail.
Recommended Actions
- Map the control – Align the driver version check to your “Secure Configuration” and “Vendor‑Managed Software” controls.
- Capture evidence – Record current Mali GPU driver versions across assets; store screenshots or automated inventory reports in your compliance repository.
- Validate posture – Apply the latest Arm‑provided patches or, where patches are unavailable, implement mitigations such as kernel hardening (e.g., SELinux/AppArmor policies) and restrict GPU access to trusted users only.
- Monitor for indicators – Enable logging for abnormal GPU driver calls and integrate alerts into your SIEM.
- Document remediation – Log remediation steps, dates, and responsible owners to maintain a defensible audit trail.
Source: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29256