CVE-2023-4295 is a vulnerability in the Arm Ltd Valhall GPU Kernel Driver, specifically version r29p0, characterized by an integer overflow or wraparound (CWE-190) that leads to improper GPU memory handling. This flaw allows a local, non-privileged user to perform GPU memory operations that access memory regions that have already been freed, effectively a use-after-free condition (CWE-416). Exploiting this vulnerability can enable an attacker to read or write arbitrary memory, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data leakage, or system instability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require local access with limited privileges. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high severity, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and low attack complexity. Although no public exploits are known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to devices using the affected GPU driver, commonly found in embedded systems, mobile devices, and potentially some IoT devices. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to access controls and monitoring. The vulnerability's root cause is an integer overflow in the kernel driver code that mishandles memory size calculations, leading to wraparound and subsequent use-after-free conditions. This type of flaw is critical in kernel-level drivers as it can undermine system security boundaries.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-4295 is considerable, especially those relying on Arm-based hardware with Valhall GPU drivers in their infrastructure, embedded systems, or mobile devices. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges from a low-privileged local user to kernel-level access, leading to full system compromise. This threatens the confidentiality of sensitive data, integrity of system operations, and availability of critical services. Industries such as telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, and defense, which often use embedded Arm devices, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within networks if attackers gain initial footholds on affected devices. Given the high severity and kernel-level impact, organizations could face data breaches, operational disruptions, and compliance violations under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The absence of known exploits provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains high due to the ease of local exploitation and the critical nature of the flaw.

1. Monitor vendor communications closely for patches or updated driver releases addressing CVE-2023-4295 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Restrict local user access to systems running the affected Valhall GPU driver to trusted personnel only, minimizing the attack surface. 3. Employ strict access control policies and use least privilege principles to limit the ability of local users to execute GPU-related operations. 4. Implement kernel-level integrity monitoring and anomaly detection to identify suspicious GPU memory operations indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. For embedded or mobile devices, coordinate with hardware and OS vendors to ensure firmware and driver updates are deployed securely and timely. 6. Conduct thorough security audits of systems using Arm Valhall GPUs to identify and isolate vulnerable devices. 7. Consider network segmentation to contain potential compromises originating from affected devices. 8. Educate system administrators and security teams about the specific risks of GPU driver vulnerabilities and the importance of local access controls.