CVE-2022-42534

Local privilege escalation via invalid memory reclaim

Published Dec 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 17, 2025

Improper input validation in Arm Trusted Firmware-A allows local users to escalate privileges through a crafted memory-reclaim request. The trusty_ffa_mem_reclaim function in shared-mem-smcall.c accepts improperly validated input before reclaiming Trusty FF-A shared memory. Exploitation requires local low-privileged execution on an affected Pixel device, needs no user interaction, and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Arm Trusted Firmware-A allows local users to escalate privileges through a crafted memory-reclaim request. The trusty_ffa_mem_reclaim function in shared-mem-smcall.c accepts improperly validated input before reclaiming Trusty FF-A shared memory. Exploitation requires local low-privileged execution on an affected Pixel device, needs no user interaction, and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-42534
Published
Dec 16, 2022
Updated
Apr 17, 2025
Vendor
Arm
Product
Trusted Firmware-A
Classifications
CWE-20, 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?

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  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-20Improper Input Validation
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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