CVE-2015-8328 in GPU Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the NVAPI support layer in the NVIDIA GPU graphics driver R340 before 341.92, R352 before 354.35, and R358 before 358.87 on Windows allows local users to obtain sensitive information, cause a denial of service (crash), or possibly gain privileges via unknown vectors. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT from CVE-2015-7869 per ADT2 and ADT3 due to different vulnerability types and affected versions.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8328 represents a critical security flaw within NVIDIA's GPU graphics driver infrastructure, specifically affecting the NVAPI support layer that facilitates communication between applications and graphics hardware. This issue impacts multiple driver versions including R340 before 341.92, R352 before 354.35, and R358 before 358.87 on Windows platforms, creating a widespread attack surface that affects numerous systems utilizing NVIDIA graphics processors. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanisms remain partially obscured, though the impact encompasses multiple security concerns that collectively represent a significant threat to system integrity.
The technical flaw resides in the NVAPI support layer which serves as a crucial interface between GPU drivers and applications, enabling features such as graphics performance tuning, display configuration, and hardware monitoring. This support layer handles sensitive data processing and system interaction functions that require elevated privileges to operate correctly. The vulnerability allows local attackers to exploit weaknesses in how the driver processes certain API calls or manages system resources, potentially leading to information disclosure, system instability, or privilege escalation. The attack vectors remain unspecified but likely involve manipulation of driver interfaces or exploitation of improper input validation within the NVAPI subsystem.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple attack scenarios that can severely compromise system security and stability. Local users can exploit the flaw to obtain sensitive information that may include system configuration details, memory contents, or other confidential data stored within the GPU memory space. The potential for denial of service represents a significant operational risk, as system crashes or GPU driver failures can result in complete system instability or forced reboots that disrupt business operations. The privilege escalation aspect presents the most severe risk, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated system privileges and potentially achieve complete system compromise, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where privileged access is heavily guarded.
The vulnerability's relationship to established security frameworks demonstrates its alignment with several critical weakness categories including CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-254 (Security Features) as identified through standard vulnerability classification systems. The attack patterns associated with this flaw align with ATT&CK techniques such as privilege escalation and defense evasion, where attackers may leverage driver-level vulnerabilities to maintain persistent access while avoiding detection mechanisms. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple driver versions across different release branches indicates a fundamental flaw in the NVAPI implementation that was not adequately addressed through the affected version ranges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8328 primarily focus on immediate driver updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched versions of NVIDIA drivers, specifically targeting versions 341.92, 354.35, and 358.87 respectively, to eliminate the vulnerability exposure. System administrators should implement additional security controls including restricted user permissions, driver signature enforcement, and monitoring for unusual GPU driver behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while comprehensive system monitoring should track for unauthorized driver modifications or unusual system crashes that could indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected driver versions and implementation of automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems.