CVE-2022-41757 is a high-severity vulnerability found in the Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver affecting certain versions of the Valhall GPU architecture, specifically from r29p0 through r38p1 before r38p2, and r39p0 before r40p0. The vulnerability allows a non-privileged user to exploit improper GPU processing operations to gain write access to memory regions that should be read-only or to access memory that has already been freed. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-123, which refers to a 'Write-what-where' condition, enabling an attacker to write arbitrary data to arbitrary locations in memory. The flaw arises from insufficient validation or control in the GPU kernel driver's handling of memory operations, which can lead to memory corruption. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to escalate privileges, execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions, or cause system instability and crashes. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring low privileges, no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the potential impact is significant given the kernel-level access and the widespread use of Arm Mali GPUs in mobile devices, embedded systems, and increasingly in edge computing devices. The vulnerability affects the GPU driver component, which is critical for graphics processing and computational tasks on affected devices. Patch information is not provided in the source data, indicating that affected organizations should monitor vendor advisories closely for updates.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41757 can be substantial, especially for those relying on devices or embedded systems using Arm Mali GPUs. This includes sectors such as telecommunications, automotive, industrial control systems, and consumer electronics manufacturers. The ability for a non-privileged user to gain write access to protected memory or freed memory can lead to privilege escalation, allowing attackers to bypass security controls, execute arbitrary code, or cause denial of service conditions. This could compromise sensitive data confidentiality, integrity of system operations, and availability of critical services. In environments where Arm Mali GPUs are integrated into edge devices or IoT infrastructure, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement within networks or persistent footholds. The high CVSS score reflects the ease of exploitation and the broad impact on core security properties. European organizations with supply chains or products incorporating affected GPUs must consider the risk to their operational technology and consumer devices, as well as potential regulatory implications under GDPR if personal data is compromised due to exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2022-41757, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Identify all devices and systems using affected versions of the Arm Mali GPU driver, focusing on embedded systems, mobile devices, and edge computing platforms. 2) Monitor Arm and device vendor security advisories for patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 3) Implement strict access controls and user privilege management to limit non-privileged user access to systems with vulnerable GPU drivers. 4) Employ runtime protection mechanisms such as kernel integrity monitoring and exploit mitigation technologies (e.g., kernel address space layout randomization, memory protection extensions) to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. 5) Conduct thorough security assessments and penetration testing on systems with affected GPUs to detect potential exploitation attempts. 6) For critical infrastructure, consider network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices and reduce attack surface exposure. 7) Maintain up-to-date incident detection and response capabilities to quickly identify and remediate any exploitation attempts. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on inventory management, vendor coordination, and layered defense tailored to the GPU driver vulnerability context.