CVE-2022-42531

Local privilege escalation via permissive firmware mapping

Published Dec 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 17, 2025

Permissive memory allocation in Arm Trusted Firmware-A on affected Pixel devices allows local users to escalate privileges without interaction. The mmu_map_for_fw function in gs_ldfw_load.c maps firmware memory with permissions broad enough to bypass the intended mitigation. Local users need no additional execution privileges to reach the flaw, and the published record identifies no narrower consequence.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Permissive memory allocation in Arm Trusted Firmware-A on affected Pixel devices allows local users to escalate privileges without interaction. The mmu_map_for_fw function in gs_ldfw_load.c maps firmware memory with permissions broad enough to bypass the intended mitigation. Local users need no additional execution privileges to reach the flaw, and the published record identifies no narrower consequence.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-42531
Published
Dec 16, 2022
Updated
Apr 17, 2025
Vendor
Arm
Product
Trusted Firmware-A
Classifications
CWE-770, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 17, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Android kernel

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Arm · Trusted Firmware-Aversion=Android kernel

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-770Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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