Pwning the all Google phone with a non-Google bug

In 2021, Google launched its Pixel 6 series, an "all-Google" phone except for one small component: the Arm Mali GPU, which became the focus of a significant security vulnerability, CVE-2022-38181. This vulnerability, which allowed arbitrary kernel code execution and root access on a Pixel 6 device, was initially reported to the Android security team but was later handed over to Arm, who released a patch in October 2022. The vulnerability exploited weaknesses in the GPU's memory management system, particularly involving Just-In-Time (JIT) memory. It highlighted a broader issue of delays and mismanagement in patching security vulnerabilities within the Android ecosystem, often leaving devices exposed to exploits for extended periods. The article draws attention to the ongoing challenges of timely patching and the importance of addressing security issues comprehensively to prevent them from being exploited in the wild.