CVE-2016-2558 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, cause a denial of service (crash), or gain privileges via unspecified vectors related to an untrusted pointer, 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-2016-2558 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 components, creating a potential attack surface where malicious code can exploit improper memory handling mechanisms. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that impacts the fundamental security model of the graphics driver architecture.
The technical flaw stems from improper validation of user-supplied input parameters within the kernel mode driver's Escape interface implementation. When processing certain escape commands, the driver fails to properly validate pointer references, leading to scenarios where untrusted input can result in uninitialized memory access patterns or out-of-bounds memory operations. This improper pointer handling creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory locations that should remain protected within the kernel address space, effectively bypassing the memory protection mechanisms that normally isolate user applications from kernel-level operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains, providing attackers with three distinct attack vectors that can be leveraged in combination or independently. Local users can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from kernel memory, potentially accessing credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data that should remain isolated from user-space processes. The vulnerability also enables denial of service conditions where carefully crafted escape commands can trigger kernel crashes, leading to system instability and potential denial of service scenarios. Most critically, the flaw can be exploited to achieve privilege escalation, allowing local attackers to elevate their execution context from user level to kernel level, thereby gaining complete control over the affected system.
This vulnerability aligns with several CWE classifications including CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, both of which relate to improper bounds checking in memory operations. From an adversarial perspective, the vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through kernel exploits and defense evasion via system instability. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it operates within the kernel mode driver context, making exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers who can execute code in user mode, since kernel mode access provides unrestricted system control. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how improper input validation in privileged code can lead to severe security consequences, highlighting the importance of rigorous security testing for kernel mode components. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to address this vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation increases with the presence of unpatched systems in network environments. The remediation process requires updating to NVIDIA driver versions 341.95 or later for the R340 series and 354.74 or later for the R352 series, ensuring that all systems within the organization receive the necessary security updates to prevent potential exploitation.