CVE-2023-5643 in Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2024
Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability in Arm Ltd Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver, Arm Ltd Valhall GPU Kernel Driver, Arm Ltd Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver allows a local non-privileged user to make improper GPU memory processing operations. Depending on the configuration of the Mali GPU Kernel Driver, and if the system’s memory is carefully prepared by the user, then this in turn could write to memory outside of buffer bounds.This issue affects Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver: from r41p0 through r45p0; Valhall GPU Kernel Driver: from r41p0 through r45p0; Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver: from r41p0 through r45p0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/29/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw in Arm's GPU kernel drivers that affects multiple generations of Mali GPU architectures including Bifrost, Valhall, and the 5th generation GPU architecture. The issue stems from improper memory validation within the kernel driver components responsible for GPU memory management operations. A local non-privileged user can exploit this weakness by carefully crafting memory operations that cause the driver to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787 which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in software systems. The attack vector requires local system access but does not necessitate elevated privileges, making it particularly concerning for environments where untrusted users might have access to GPU resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the GPU memory processing subsystem where buffer size validation fails to properly check memory boundaries during kernel operations. When the Mali GPU kernel driver processes memory operations, it does not adequately verify that write operations remain within allocated memory regions. This allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout through carefully prepared buffer configurations, potentially enabling arbitrary memory corruption. The vulnerability affects specific driver versions from r41p0 through r45p0 across all mentioned GPU architectures, indicating a widespread issue that spans multiple generations of Arm's GPU implementations. The memory preparation aspect suggests that attackers may need to understand the specific memory layout patterns and GPU memory allocation mechanisms to successfully exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it can potentially lead to system instability, privilege escalation, or even complete system compromise depending on the memory locations targeted. While the initial access requires local non-privileged user access, successful exploitation could allow an attacker to overwrite critical kernel memory structures, potentially enabling privilege escalation to kernel level access. The vulnerability's scope across multiple GPU generations means that a wide range of devices could be affected, including mobile devices, embedded systems, and potentially server-grade hardware utilizing Arm's Mali GPU architecture. This represents a significant concern for device manufacturers and system integrators who must consider the attack surface of GPU memory management components in their security assessments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate driver updates from Arm to address the specific buffer validation issues in the affected versions. System administrators should implement kernel memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and memory layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult. The use of kernel module signing and secure boot processes can help prevent unauthorized driver modifications that might exacerbate the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual GPU memory operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion through kernel-level modifications. Regular security assessments of GPU driver components and memory management subsystems should be conducted to identify similar issues that might exist in other proprietary GPU implementations.