CVE-2015-7869 in GPU Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the kernel mode driver for the NVIDIA GPU graphics driver R340 before 341.92, R352 before 354.35, and R358 before 358.87 on Windows and R304 before 304.131, R340 before 340.96, R352 before 352.63, and R358 before 358.16 on Linux allow local users to obtain sensitive information, cause a denial of service (crash), or possibly gain privileges via unknown vectors, which trigger uninitialized or out of bounds memory access. NOTE: this identifier has been SPLIT per ADT2 and ADT3 due to different vulnerability type and affected versions. See CVE-2015-8328 for the vulnerability in the NVAPI support layer in NVIDIA drivers for Windows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-7869 represents a critical class of integer overflow flaws affecting NVIDIA GPU kernel mode drivers across multiple driver versions and operating systems. These vulnerabilities specifically impact the R340, R352, and R358 driver series on both Windows and Linux platforms, creating a significant attack surface for local privilege escalation and system instability. The integer overflows occur within the kernel mode driver components responsible for GPU graphics processing, where improper input validation leads to arithmetic overflow conditions that can result in unpredictable memory access patterns. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 341.92, 354.35, 358.87 for Windows and 304.131, 340.96, 352.63, 358.16 for Linux, indicating a widespread issue affecting multiple driver generations and release cycles.
The technical exploitation of these integer overflows manifests through uninitialized or out-of-bounds memory access conditions that can be triggered by local users with minimal privileges. When integer overflow occurs in kernel mode driver code, it typically results in corrupted memory pointers or buffer boundaries that can be manipulated to access sensitive kernel memory regions. This vulnerability type falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and can be classified as a memory corruption vulnerability that enables privilege escalation attacks. The exploitation mechanisms leverage the fact that kernel mode drivers operate with elevated privileges and direct hardware access, making any memory corruption issues potentially catastrophic for system security and stability.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7869 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential privilege escalation and information disclosure capabilities. Local attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code within kernel space, potentially gaining root or administrator privileges on affected systems. The memory access violations can also lead to system crashes and kernel panics, creating reliable denial of service conditions that disrupt normal system operations. Additionally, the uninitialized memory access patterns may inadvertently expose sensitive kernel data to user-space processes, creating information disclosure vulnerabilities that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in multiple driver versions across different platforms makes it particularly dangerous as it affects both enterprise and consumer systems using NVIDIA graphics hardware.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7869 require immediate driver updates to the patched versions specified in the vendor advisories. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and verify that the updated drivers properly address the integer overflow conditions in kernel mode components. System administrators should implement monitoring for unusual kernel memory access patterns and potential privilege escalation attempts on systems running affected NVIDIA drivers. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, indicates that traditional endpoint protection measures may not be sufficient to prevent exploitation. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security audits should verify that all NVIDIA graphics drivers are updated to secure versions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of kernel mode driver security and the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address both application and system-level security components.