CVE-2023-4295 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-4295 was published by Arm on November 7, 2023. It involves the Mali GPU Kernel Driver, impacting users by allowing improper GPU memory processing operations.

Understanding CVE-2023-4295

This vulnerability in the Mali GPU Kernel Driver enables a local non-privileged user to exploit improper GPU memory processing operations to gain unauthorized access to already freed memory.

What is CVE-2023-4295?

CVE-2023-4295 is a vulnerability that specifically affects the Mali GPU Kernel Driver. It allows local non-privileged users to manipulate GPU memory processing operations, potentially leading to unauthorized access to freed memory.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4295

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system memory through improper GPU memory processing operations. This could potentially lead to sensitive data leaks or system instability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4295

This vulnerability is classified under two problem types: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound) and CWE-416 (Use After Free). It was discovered by Jann Horn at Google and disclosed on November 7, 2023.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows local non-privileged users to exploit improper GPU memory processing operations to access already freed memory within the Mali GPU Kernel Driver.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected products include:

Valhall GPU Kernel Driver version r29p0 (up to, but not including, r43p0)
Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver version r41p0 (up to, but not including, r43p0)

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation involves a local non-privileged user manipulating GPU memory processing operations to access memory that has already been freed, potentially leading to unauthorized system access.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4295 and protect systems from exploitation, the following measures should be taken:

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade to Valhall GPU Kernel Driver version r43p0 or higher.
Upgrade to Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver version r43p0 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and drivers to ensure the latest security patches are applied promptly. Implement strong access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.

Patching and Updates

Arm has released a fix for this vulnerability in Valhall and Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver version r43p0. It is recommended for affected users to update their systems to this patched version to prevent exploitation of the CVE-2023-4295 vulnerability.