CVE-2016-3161 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
For the NVIDIA Quadro, NVS, GeForce products, GFE GameStream and NVTray Plugin unquoted service path vulnerabilities are examples of the unquoted service path vulnerability in Windows. A successful exploit of a vulnerable service installation can enable malicious code to execute on the system at the system/user privilege level. The CVE-2016-3161 ID is for the GameStream unquoted service path.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-3161 represents a critical unquoted service path flaw affecting NVIDIA graphics driver products including Quadro, NVS, and GeForce series. This vulnerability specifically impacts the GameStream component within NVIDIA GeForce Experience (GFE) software, creating a privilege escalation pathway that can be exploited by malicious actors. The issue stems from improper service installation practices where the service path contains spaces but lacks proper quotation marks, allowing attackers to place malicious executables in strategic locations along the path. This flaw falls under the CWE-16 category of Improper Handling of Special Characters in Path Names, which is a well-documented weakness in software security design. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables arbitrary code execution at the system level, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Windows service installation process fails to properly quote service paths containing spaces, creating a directory traversal opportunity for privilege escalation. In the case of NVIDIA GameStream, the service path likely contains spaces in directory names such as "Program Files" or "NVIDIA Corporation" without proper quotation, allowing an attacker to place a malicious executable in a directory that gets searched before the legitimate service executable. This type of vulnerability is classified as a Windows Service Path Vulnerability under the ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to the privilege escalation techniques that exploit weak service path configurations. The vulnerability can be exploited by placing a malicious binary in the parent directory of the service path, which Windows will execute when the service starts, effectively bypassing standard security controls and executing code with the privileges of the service account.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3161 is significant across enterprise and consumer environments, as it affects widely deployed NVIDIA graphics drivers and gaming software. Systems running affected NVIDIA products become vulnerable to privilege escalation attacks that can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users may have elevated privileges, as it can be exploited to establish persistent access without requiring additional attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install rootkits, keyloggers, or other malicious software that operates with system-level privileges, potentially compromising entire networks through lateral movement. The impact extends beyond individual machines to affect enterprise security posture, as this type of vulnerability can be used to establish initial access points for more sophisticated attacks within network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3161 require immediate action from system administrators and security teams to address the unquoted service path configuration. The primary remediation involves updating to the latest NVIDIA GeForce Experience software version where the service path has been properly quoted, or manually correcting the service installation paths to ensure all paths containing spaces are properly quoted. Organizations should implement service path validation as part of their security baseline configurations, using tools like PowerShell scripts or configuration management systems to identify and correct vulnerable services across their infrastructure. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles for service accounts and regular security audits of installed services can prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious service execution patterns can provide early detection of exploitation attempts, while regular patch management processes should ensure timely deployment of vendor security updates to address such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in the wild.