---
id: "CVE-2022-38181"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2022-38181"]
title: "The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows unprivileged users to access freed memory because GPU memory operations are\u2026"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "arm bifrost gpu kernel driver", "fixed": [], "affected": ">= r0p0, <= r38p1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "arm bifrost gpu kernel driver", "fixed": [], "affected": "= r39p0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "arm midgard gpu kernel driver", "fixed": [], "affected": ">= r4p0, <= r31p0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "arm valhall gpu kernel driver", "fixed": [], "affected": ">= r19p0, <= r38p1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "arm valhall gpu kernel driver", "fixed": [], "affected": "= r39p0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["android", "arm-mali", "embedded-linux", "exploited", "infrastructure"]
not_affected_if: ["no-mali-gpu-driver"]
published_at: "2022-10-25T19:15:11+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-38181", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38181", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows unprivileged users to access freed memory because GPU memory operations are…

Arm Mali GPU kernel driver has a use-after-free bug that lets a local non-privileged user gain root and/or read kernel information. CISA lists it as actively exploited.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:arm bifrost gpu kernel driver affected >= r0p0, <= r38p1 fixed ?
- vendor:arm bifrost gpu kernel driver affected = r39p0 fixed ?
- vendor:arm midgard gpu kernel driver affected >= r4p0, <= r31p0 fixed ?
- vendor:arm valhall gpu kernel driver affected >= r19p0, <= r38p1 fixed ?
- vendor:arm valhall gpu kernel driver affected = r39p0 fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the updates from Arm per its vendor instructions; the specific fixed driver version is unknown from the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-38181
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38181

## From the sources

The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows unprivileged users to access freed memory because GPU memory operations are mishandled. This affects Bifrost r0p0 through r38p1, and r39p0; Valhall r19p0 through r38p1, and r39p0; and Midgard r4p0 through r32p0.

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