CVE-2016-6917 in Video Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in nvhost_job.c in the NVIDIA video driver for Android, Shield TV before OTA 3.3, Shield Table before OTA 4.4, and Shield Table TK1 before OTA 1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6917 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the NVIDIA video driver component known as nvhost_job.c, affecting multiple NVIDIA Shield devices running Android operating systems. This flaw exists in the kernel-level graphics driver implementation that manages GPU job scheduling and execution processes. The affected systems include NVIDIA Shield TV devices prior to OTA 3.3 updates, Shield Table devices before OTA 4.4, and Shield Table TK1 devices before OTA 1.5 releases, indicating a widespread impact across NVIDIA's mobile and tablet gaming platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking when processing job submission parameters, creating opportunities for malicious code execution through carefully crafted buffer inputs that exceed allocated memory boundaries.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the nvhost_job.c module where job submission data structures are processed without adequate validation of input lengths or buffer limits. When legitimate or malicious job requests are submitted to the graphics processing unit scheduler, the driver fails to properly verify that incoming data fits within predetermined buffer allocations. This oversight allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical data structures, function pointers, or return addresses within the kernel space. The vulnerability specifically targets the graphics driver's job processing pipeline, where user-space applications submit GPU workloads that are then handled by kernel components responsible for scheduling and execution management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides potential attackers with elevated privileges and system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges, allowing attackers to bypass standard security mechanisms and gain full control over affected devices. This represents a significant threat to device integrity and user data protection, particularly given that these devices are commonly used for gaming, media consumption, and potentially sensitive business applications. The vulnerability's presence in OTA update systems suggests that unpatched devices remain at risk even after initial deployment, creating extended attack windows for threat actors. Organizations using these devices for enterprise applications face particular concerns regarding data confidentiality and system availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6917 require immediate implementation of firmware updates from NVIDIA, specifically targeting the OTA versions mentioned in the vulnerability description. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected Shield devices to their latest available firmware releases, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in the nvhost_job.c module. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous job submission patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while device hardening measures should include disabling unnecessary graphics processing features when not actively needed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which classifies buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, and represents a potential entry point for ATT&CK technique T1068, involving the exploitation of system vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of embedded systems and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify similar vulnerabilities in other device drivers and operating system components.