Overview
This post aims to provide a detailed analysis of the recently discovered Use After Free vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-0427, which affects several versions of Arm Ltd’s GPU kernel drivers. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to both individual and business users, as it paves the way for local non-privileged user processes to gain access to already freed memory, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
The vulnerability is concerning because of its scope and potential fallout. It affects a broad range of GPU kernel drivers, each integral to the operation of millions of devices worldwide. Addressing this vulnerability swiftly is crucial in order to maintain the security and integrity of these systems.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-0427
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Non-privileged
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver | r8p0 through r49p3, r50p0 through r51p0
Valhall GPU Kernel Driver | r19p0 through r49p3, r50p0 through r53p0
Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver | r41p0 through r49p3, r50p0 through r53p0
How the Exploit Works
The Use After Free vulnerability occurs when the GPU kernel drivers mishandle the memory allocation and deallocation, allowing a local non-privileged user process to re-use the memory space that has already been freed. This could allow the attacker to insert malicious code or manipulate data in volatile memory, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data corruption or system crashes.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a simplified example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This pseudocode illustrates a malicious process attempting to access and manipulate freed memory:
# Pseudocode illustrating the exploit
def exploit():
allocate_memory() # Allocates memory
free_memory() # Frees allocated memory
use_freed_memory() # Attempts to reuse freed memoryThe actual exploitation would be much more complex and would require intimate knowledge of the specific GPU kernel driver’s memory management implementation. Nonetheless, this pseudocode should give an idea of the general exploitation process.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as it’s available. In the meantime, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. These tools can help detect and block suspicious activities that might be indicative of an attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Regular system monitoring and prompt patch application are key to maintaining robust cybersecurity.