---
id: "CVE-2021-28663"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2021-28663"]
title: "Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Use-After-Free Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.0
epss: 0.12084
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["android", "arm-mali", "embedded", "exploited", "infrastructure", "linux"]
not_affected_if: ["driver-patched", "no-mali-gpu"]
published_at: "2021-05-10T15:15:07+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-28663", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-28663", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28663", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Use-After-Free Vulnerability

The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver has a use-after-free bug that lets a local, non-privileged user manipulate GPU memory. Successful exploitation gives root privileges and can leak information.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the vendor updates for the Arm Mali GPU kernel driver per Arm's instructions; the specific fixed driver version is unknown from these sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-28663
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-28663
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28663

## From the sources

Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) kernel driver contains a use-after-free vulnerability that may allow a non-privileged user to make improper operations on GPU memory to gain root privilege, and/or disclose information.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_