CVE-2021-28664 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver is affected by a vulnerability that allows privilege escalation or denial of service due to memory corruption. This CVE impacts various versions of Bifrost, Valhall, and Midgard GPUs.

Understanding CVE-2021-28664

This section will delve into details about CVE-2021-28664.

What is CVE-2021-28664?

The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver vulnerability enables unprivileged users to gain read/write access to read-only pages, leading to privilege escalation or denial of service through memory corruption.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28664

The vulnerability affects Bifrost r0p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Valhall r19p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, and Midgard r8p0 through r30p0 before r31p0, potentially allowing malicious actors to exploit the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28664

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2021-28664.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver permits unauthorized users to manipulate memory operations, potentially leading to serious security implications.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts various versions of Arm Mali GPUs, including Bifrost, Valhall, and Midgard series prior to specific versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the ability to achieve read/write access to read-only memory pages, thereby escalating privileges or causing denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Outlined below are the strategies to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-28664.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to apply security patches provided by Arm and maintain vigilance to detect any potential exploitation attempts leveraging this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong access controls, monitoring memory operations, and conducting regular security assessments can enhance the long-term security posture of systems.

Patching and Updates

Ensuring timely application of security patches released by Arm for the affected Arm Mali GPUs is crucial in addressing the CVE-2021-28664 vulnerability.