CVE-2021-28663

CVE-2021-28663 is a high-severity vulnerability in Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2021-11-03). The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
• CVSS v2: 9.0
• EPSS exploit prediction: 12% (96th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2021-11-03)
• EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2021-15327
• EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2021-11-03)
• Weakness: CWE-416
• Affected product: Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver
• Published: 2021-05-10
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or information disclosure because GPU memory operations are mishandled, leading to a use-after-free. This affects Bifrost r0p0 through r28p0 before r29p0, Valhall r19p0 through r28p0 before r29p0, and Midgard r4p0 through r30p0.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-28663?

The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or information disclosure because GPU memory operations are mishandled, leading to a use-after-free. This affects Bifrost r0p0 through r28p0 before r29p0, Valhall r19p0 through r28p0 before r29p0, and Midgard r4p0 through r30p0.

How severe is CVE-2021-28663?

CVE-2021-28663 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-28663 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2021-28663 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2021-11-03, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-28663?

CVE-2021-28663 primarily affects Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-28663?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.

Does CVE-2021-28663 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2021-28663 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2021-15327. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2021-11-03).

When was CVE-2021-28663 published?

CVE-2021-28663 was published on 2021-05-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates
• https://developer.arm.com/support/arm-security-updates/mali-gpu-kernel-driver
• https://github.com/lntrx/CVE-2021-28663
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-28663

Affected products (3)

• cpe:2.3:a:arm:bifrost_gpu_kernel_driver:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:arm:midgard_gpu_kernel_driver:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:arm:valhall_gpu_kernel_driver:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver

• CVE-2022-28349 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver has a use-after-free: Midgard r28p0 through r29p0 before r30p0, Bifrost r17p0 through r23p0…
• CVE-2022-28348 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver (Midgard r4p0 through r31p0, Bifrost r0p0 through r36p0 before r37p0, and Valhall r19p0…
• CVE-2022-46395 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in the Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver. A non-privileged user can make improper GPU processing…
• CVE-2022-46891 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in the Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver. There is a use-after-free. A non-privileged user can make…
• CVE-2022-38181 — High (CVSS 8.8): The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows unprivileged users to access freed memory because GPU memory operations are…
• CVE-2021-29256 — High (CVSS 8.8): . The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows an unprivileged user to achieve access to freed memory, leading to information…

All CVEs affecting Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver →

Other CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2026-13782 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.47 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the…
• CVE-2026-4725 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Graphics: Canvas2D component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 149…
• CVE-2026-4688 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Disability Access APIs component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox…
• CVE-2025-24085 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3,…
• CVE-2024-43102 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Concurrent removals of certain anonymous shared memory mappings by using the UMTX_SHM_DESTROY sub-request of…
• CVE-2021-32495 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Radare2 has a use-after-free vulnerability in pyc parser's get_none_object function. Attacker can read freed memory…

Browse all CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities →