# CVE-2023-5643: Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows improper GPU memory processing operations

> A local attacker can exploit an out-of-bounds write in the Mali GPU kernel driver to corrupt memory, potentially leading to code execution or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 15 May 2025
- **Also known as:** A-308188986, ASB-A-308188986, GHSA-3pwh-6jh8-p592

## What is CVE-2023-5643?

CVE-2023-5643 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Arm Valhall Gpu Kernel Driver, published on 5 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability in Arm Ltd Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver, Arm Ltd Valhall GPU Kernel Driver, Arm Ltd Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver allows a local non-privileged user to make improper GPU memory processing operations. Depending on the configuration of the Mali GPU Kernel Driver, and if the system’s memory is carefully prepared by the user, then this in turn could write to memory outside of buffer bounds.This issue affects Bifrost GPU Kernel Driver: from r41p0 through r45p0; Valhall GPU Kernel Driver: from r41p0 through r45p0; Arm 5th Gen GPU Architecture Kernel Driver: from r41p0 through r45p0.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-5643?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Arm 5th Gen Gpu Architecture Kernel Driver, Arm Bifrost Gpu Kernel Driver, Arm Valhall Gpu Kernel Driver.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-5643?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-5643 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-5643 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Arm Valhall Gpu Kernel Driver

- [CVE-2023-4211](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4211/): Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver Use-After-Free (medium 5.5, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-26083](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-26083/): Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver Information Disclosure (low 3.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-6143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6143/): Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows improper GPU memory processing operations (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2025-0073](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0073/): Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows improper GPU memory processing operations (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2025-0819](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0819/): Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows access to already freed memory (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-5643 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-5643 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Arm Valhall Gpu Kernel Driver, published on 5 Feb 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-5643 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Arm Valhall Gpu Kernel Driver. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5643/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5643/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-5643
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5643
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-5643

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5643/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.