CVE-2025-0072Public exploit

Kernel code execution via stale queue page freeing

Published May 2, 2025 · Updated May 12, 2025

Use-after-free in Arm Mali GPU kernel drivers allows local users to execute arbitrary code in kernel context through crafted queue operations. Rebinding a kbase_queue replaces queue->phys pages, after which closing an older mapping frees the replacement pages while a newer mapping still exposes them. A non-privileged local process with access to the Mali device can turn the dangling mapping into kernel memory access and kernel code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Arm Mali GPU kernel drivers allows local users to execute arbitrary code in kernel context through crafted queue operations. Rebinding a kbase_queue replaces queue->phys pages, after which closing an older mapping frees the replacement pages while a newer mapping still exposes them. A non-privileged local process with access to the Mali device can turn the dangling mapping into kernel memory access and kernel code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-0072
Published
May 2, 2025
Updated
May 12, 2025
Vendor
Arm
Product
Valhall GPU Kernel Driver
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 2, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 12, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=r29p0 <=r49p3 changes=[{"at":"r49p4","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=r50p0 <=r53p0 changes=[{"at":"r54p0","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Arm · Valhall GPU Kernel Driverversion=r29p0 <=r49p3 changes=[{"at":"r49p4","status":"unaffected"}]; version=r50p0 <=r53p0 changes=[{"at":"r54p0","status":"unaffected"}]
Arm · Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driverversion=r41p0 <=r49p3 changes=[{"at":"r49p4","status":"unaffected"}]; version=r50p0 <=r53p0 changes=[{"at":"r54p0","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA CoordinatorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS: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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo