CVE-2016-2557 in GPU Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
The Escape interface in the Kernel Mode Driver layer in the NVIDIA GPU graphics driver R340 before 341.95 and R352 before 354.74 on Windows allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory, cause a denial of service (crash), or possibly gain privileges via unspecified vectors, which trigger uninitialized or out-of-bounds memory access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2557 resides within the kernel mode driver layer of NVIDIA GPU graphics drivers, specifically affecting versions prior to 341.95 in the R340 series and 354.74 in the R352 series on Windows operating systems. This issue manifests through the Escape interface, which serves as a communication channel between user-mode applications and kernel-mode driver components. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables local attackers to exploit memory access patterns that should remain protected within the kernel space. The vulnerability's impact extends across multiple security domains including information disclosure, system availability, and privilege escalation capabilities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of input parameters within the kernel mode driver's Escape interface implementation. When user applications invoke the Escape function with malformed or unexpected parameters, the driver fails to properly initialize memory buffers or validate array bounds before accessing kernel memory locations. This leads to uninitialized memory reads or out-of-bounds memory access conditions that can be exploited by local users. The vulnerability specifically affects the kernel mode driver layer where memory management operations occur, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the highest privilege level within the graphics subsystem. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-125, Uninitialized Memory Read, and CWE-129, Improper Validation of Array Index, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that can lead to information disclosure and system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2557 presents significant risks to system security and stability. Local attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from kernel memory spaces, potentially revealing cryptographic keys, credential data, or other confidential system information. The vulnerability can also cause system crashes or denial of service conditions, disrupting normal operations and potentially providing attackers with a means to escalate privileges within the system. The exploitation requires local access to the system, but once achieved, the attacker can operate with elevated privileges that bypass normal user access controls. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning in multi-user environments or systems where local access might be compromised, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources and potentially establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2557 focus primarily on updating to patched driver versions that address the memory validation issues within the Escape interface. NVIDIA released driver versions 341.95 and 354.74 to resolve this vulnerability, which include proper input validation and memory initialization routines. System administrators should prioritize applying these updates across all affected systems, particularly those running Windows environments with NVIDIA graphics hardware. Additional protective measures include implementing least privilege access controls, monitoring for unusual memory access patterns, and ensuring proper system hardening practices. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1005, Data from Local System, demonstrating how kernel-level flaws can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources and sensitive information. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization and exploit protection features to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts.