CVE-2022-22706
CVE-2022-22706 is a security flaw in Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), the graphics chip design in many Android phones. Attackers are using a flaw in Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) that its maker hasn't described in detail. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 30 Mar 2023.[1]
Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Arm has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a mali GPU kernel driver unspecified in Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). In its words: “Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows a non-privileged user to achieve write access to read-only memory pages.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows a non-privileged user to achieve write access to read-only memory pages. This affects Midgard r26p0 through r31p0, Bifrost r0p0 through r35p0, and Valhall r19p0 through r35p0.”[2]
The underlying weakness is memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Arm’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).
Every device with Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 30 Mar 2023, 392 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 20 Apr 2023 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 1%. That’s in the top 36% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Arm has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Update Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) now.Install the latest update from Arm on every device that has it, and restart when asked. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 1%.[4] |
See also
Other Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) flaws
- CVE-2021-29256: mali GPU kernel driver use-after-free ·
- CVE-2023-26083: mali GPU kernel driver information disclosure ·
- CVE-2022-38181: mali GPU kernel driver use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-28664: unspecified ·
- CVE-2021-28663: use-after-free ·
Other Arm flaws
- CVE-2024-4610, Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2023-4211, Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2021-27562, Arm Trusted Firmware: out-of-bounds write ·
Other memory buffer error flaws
- CVE-2026-88779, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88772, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88771, Citrix NetScaler: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-8452, Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2009-3459, Adobe Acrobat and Reader: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2023-0266, Linux Kernel: use-after-free ·
- CVE-2022-42948, Fortra Cobalt Strike: user interface remote code execution ·
- CVE-2022-39197, Fortra Cobalt Strike: teamserver cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2022-38181, Arm Mali Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): mali GPU kernel driver use-after-free ·
- CVE-2022-3038, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: use-after-free ·
Every Arm flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in March 2023
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver Unspecified Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 30 Mar 2023.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-22706 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 3 Mar 2022.
- ^ Arm. Advisories and fixes: developer.arm.com, developer.arm.com, developer.arm.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.011, percentile 64.6, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-22706”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.