CVE-2016-7388 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE
For the NVIDIA Quadro, NVS, and GeForce products, NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver R340 before 342.00, R367 before 369.59, and R375 before 375.63 contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler where a NULL pointer dereference caused by invalid user input may lead to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7388 resides within the kernel mode layer of NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Drivers, specifically affecting Quadro NVS and GeForce product lines. This flaw manifests in the nvlddmkm.sys component which operates at the kernel level, making it particularly critical for system stability and security. The affected driver versions include R340 before 342.00, R367 before 369.59, and R375 before 375.63, representing a significant portion of NVIDIA's Windows driver ecosystem during that period. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the kernel mode handler, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that could compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when invalid user input is processed by the kernel mode layer. This type of flaw falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference issues in software systems. When legitimate user processes attempt to interact with the GPU driver through malformed or malicious inputs, the kernel mode handler fails to properly validate these inputs before attempting to dereference pointers, resulting in system crashes or unexpected behavior. The vulnerability's classification as a kernel mode issue means that any exploitation attempts could potentially escalate privileges from user level to kernel level, providing attackers with elevated system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential privilege escalation capabilities that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to affected systems. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where GPU acceleration is commonly used for graphics-intensive applications and potentially for security-critical workloads. The NULL pointer dereference can cause system crashes that may be difficult to distinguish from hardware failures, potentially masking the true nature of the attack and complicating incident response efforts. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort path to system compromise, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7388 primarily focus on driver version updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to NVIDIA driver versions 342.00 or later for R340, 369.59 or later for R367, and 375.63 or later for R375 to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation controls and monitoring for unusual GPU driver behavior can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed driver versions means that organizations should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all affected systems. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and demonstrates how kernel-level flaws can be leveraged to achieve system compromise. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular patch management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future.