Valhall GPU Kernel Driver: Use After Free
CVE-2025-0073 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Valhall GPU Kernel Driver from Arm, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version r54p0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Valhall GPU Kernel Driver to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Valhall GPU Kernel Driver to r54p0 or a later version.
- Update Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver to r54p0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on developer.arm.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm | Valhall GPU Kernel Driver | r53p0 up to, but not including, r54p0 | r54p0 |
| Arm | Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver | r53p0 up to, but not including, r54p0 | r54p0 |
| Arm | 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver | r53p0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
Use After Free vulnerability in Arm Ltd Valhall GPU Kernel Driver, Arm Ltd Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver allows a local non-privileged user process to perform improper GPU memory processing operations to gain access to already freed memory.This issue affects Valhall GPU Kernel Driver: from r53p0 before r54p0; Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver: from r53p0 before r54p0.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Valhall GPU Kernel Driver
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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