Source: psirt@nvidia.com
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer, where an unprivileged regular user can cause the use of an out-of-range pointer offset, which may lead to data tampering, data loss, information disclosure, or denial of service.
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux is vulnerable to a critical flaw allowing an unprivileged user to manipulate memory, potentially leading to data tampering, data loss, information disclosure, or denial of service. This vulnerability arises from an out-of-bounds pointer offset within the kernel mode layer, enabling attackers to read or write to arbitrary memory locations within the driver's context, thereby compromising system integrity.
Step 1: Trigger Preparation: An unprivileged user prepares a specially crafted input to be passed to the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver. This input is designed to manipulate the memory access operations within the driver's kernel mode layer.
Step 2: Input Delivery: The crafted input is submitted to the driver, typically through a system call or other interface exposed by the driver.
Step 3: Offset Calculation: The driver processes the input and calculates an offset to be used when accessing memory. Due to the vulnerability, this offset calculation is flawed and doesn't properly validate the resulting offset.
Step 4: Out-of-Bounds Access: The driver uses the calculated, invalid offset to access memory. This results in an out-of-bounds read or write operation, accessing memory outside of the intended region.
Step 5: Exploitation: Depending on the nature of the out-of-bounds access, the attacker can achieve various goals, including information disclosure (reading sensitive kernel memory), data tampering (overwriting critical data structures), data loss, or denial of service (crashing the system).
The vulnerability stems from a flaw in the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver's kernel mode layer. Specifically, the driver fails to properly validate the offset used when accessing memory. This leads to an out-of-bounds read/write condition. The root cause is likely an integer overflow or insufficient bounds checking on a pointer offset calculation. An attacker can craft a malicious input that, when processed by the driver, results in an offset that points outside the allocated memory region. This allows for arbitrary memory access, enabling the attacker to overwrite sensitive data, leak kernel memory contents, or trigger a system crash (denial of service). The lack of proper input validation is the core of the issue, allowing a regular user to influence memory access within the kernel space.
While no specific APT groups are definitively linked to active exploitation of this specific CVE, the nature of the vulnerability (kernel-level memory corruption) makes it attractive to sophisticated attackers. This vulnerability could be leveraged by various threat actors, including those seeking to establish persistence, escalate privileges, or conduct espionage. CISA KEV status: Not listed.
Monitor system logs for unusual driver activity, especially related to memory allocation or access.
Analyze kernel crash dumps for signs of memory corruption or out-of-bounds access within the NVIDIA driver.
Implement host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to monitor for suspicious file modifications or process behavior related to the NVIDIA driver.
Network traffic analysis may reveal unusual communication patterns related to GPU operations, although this is less likely to be a direct indicator.
Monitor for unexpected system crashes or hangs, particularly those that occur during GPU-intensive tasks.
Update the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability. This is the primary and most effective mitigation.
Implement a robust patch management process to ensure timely application of security updates.
Restrict access to the NVIDIA driver's interfaces where possible, limiting the attack surface.
Consider using kernel hardening techniques, such as address space layout randomization (ASLR) and kernel address space protection (KASLR), to make exploitation more difficult.
Regularly audit system configurations to ensure proper security settings are in place.
Implement a defense-in-depth strategy that includes multiple layers of security controls.