CVE-2021-29256. The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to information disclosure or root privilege escalation.
Updated under an hour ago ()
Does this affect you?
It affects arm bifrost_gpu_kernel_driver and 2 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
CISA lists it as known exploited since Jul 7, 2023; federal agencies had to remediate by Jul 28, 2023. Treat that date as your deadline.
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Free account, 1 product
. The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to information disclosure or root privilege escalation. This affects Bifrost r16p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Valhall r19p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, and Midgard r28p0 through r30p0.
- CVSS
- 8.8 HIGH (v3.1, CISA ADP)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-416
- Known exploited
- Added to CISA KEV Jul 7, 2023; federal remediation due Jul 28, 2023Apply updates per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if updates are unavailable.
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- 2.99% (percentile 87)
- Assigned by
- mitre
- NVD analysis
- Analyzed
- Record last updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
arm bifrost_gpu_kernel_driver arm:bifrost_gpu_kernel_driver | from r16p0 before r30p0 | NVD |
arm midgard_gpu_kernel_driver arm:midgard_gpu_kernel_driver | from r28p0 before r31p0 | NVD |
arm valhall_gpu_kernel_driver arm:valhall_gpu_kernel_driver | from r19p0 before r30p0 | NVD |
References
- https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates/mali-gpu-kernel-driverx-refsource-confirm, vendor-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-29256us-government-resource
The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry
The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.