CVE-2025-13952: Imaginationtech DDK UAF Vulnerability

CVE-2025-13952 Overview

CVE-2025-13952 is a critical use-after-free vulnerability affecting the Imagination Technologies GPU shader compiler library. When a web page containing specially crafted GPU shader code is loaded from the Internet, it triggers a write use-after-free crash in the GPU compiler process. The malicious shader code executes a code path in the compiler that retains a stale pointer referencing a freed memory object, leading to memory corruption.

On platforms where the GPU compiler process runs with elevated system privileges, successful exploitation could enable further attacks on the device, potentially leading to full system compromise.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to trigger memory corruption via malicious web content. On systems where the GPU compiler runs with system privileges, this could lead to privilege escalation and complete device compromise.

Affected Products

• Imagination Technologies DDK (Driver Development Kit)
• GPU drivers based on Imagination Technologies DDK
• Devices using PowerVR GPU with affected DDK versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-24 - CVE-2025-13952 published to NVD
• 2026-01-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13952

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free), a memory corruption vulnerability that occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been deallocated. In the context of CVE-2025-13952, the GPU shader compiler fails to properly manage memory object lifetimes during shader compilation.

When processing web-delivered shader code, the compiler holds a reference to a memory object that has already been freed. Subsequent write operations through this dangling pointer corrupt heap memory, which can be leveraged by attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution. The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability, combined with no required privileges or user interaction, makes it particularly dangerous.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in improper memory lifecycle management within the GPU shader compiler library. During the compilation of certain shader code patterns, the compiler retains a pointer to a memory object beyond its valid lifetime. When the object is freed but the pointer is not nullified, subsequent compiler operations write to the freed memory location, triggering the use-after-free condition.

This type of vulnerability typically arises from complex object ownership semantics where multiple components share references to the same memory without proper reference counting or ownership tracking.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious web page. An attacker can craft a web page containing specially designed GPU shader code that, when processed by the vulnerable compiler, triggers the memory corruption condition.

The attack flow proceeds as follows: a victim navigates to a malicious website, the browser loads and processes WebGL or similar GPU content, the malicious shader code is passed to the GPU compiler process, and the compiler's vulnerability is triggered during shader compilation. If the compiler process has system privileges, the attacker may gain elevated access to the system.

For technical details regarding specific exploitation techniques, refer to the Imagination Technologies GPU Driver Vulnerabilities Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13952

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected GPU compiler process crashes or restarts
• Browser crashes when visiting specific websites with WebGL content
• Anomalous memory access patterns in GPU driver logs
• Unusual system behavior following web browsing sessions involving GPU-accelerated content

Detection Strategies

• Monitor GPU compiler process stability and crash reports for use-after-free signatures
• Implement memory protection mechanisms such as guard pages and heap hardening
• Deploy endpoint detection rules targeting unusual GPU driver behavior
• Enable crash dump analysis for GPU-related process failures

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for GPU driver components to capture shader compilation failures
• Monitor for repeated GPU compiler process restarts which may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement network-level monitoring for suspicious WebGL payloads in web traffic
• Configure SentinelOne to alert on GPU process anomalies and memory corruption indicators

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13952

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Imagination Technologies DDK to the latest patched version immediately
• Review and apply any vendor-provided security updates for GPU drivers
• Consider disabling WebGL in browsers on critical systems until patches are applied
• Monitor the Imagination Technologies Security Advisory for updated guidance

Patch Information

Imagination Technologies has published a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Affected organizations should obtain patched DDK versions through their normal driver update channels. System manufacturers and OEMs integrating PowerVR GPUs should coordinate with Imagination Technologies to receive and deploy the security update.

For detailed patch information and affected version ranges, consult the Imagination Technologies GPU Driver Vulnerabilities page.

Workarounds

• Disable WebGL support in web browsers to prevent malicious shader code from reaching the GPU compiler
• Implement strict Content Security Policy headers to limit WebGL content sources
• Use browser sandboxing and process isolation features to limit the impact of compiler exploitation
• Apply operating system-level exploit mitigations such as ASLR and DEP/NX to reduce exploitability

# Example: Disable WebGL in Chromium-based browsers via policy
# Create or edit the browser policy file
mkdir -p /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed
echo '{"WebGLAllowed": false}' > /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/disable_webgl.json