CVE-2016-8809 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 for DxgDdiEscape ID 0x70001b2 where the size of an input buffer is not validated, leading to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8809 resides within the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver kernel mode layer component known as nvlddmkm.sys. This flaw specifically affects NVIDIA Quadro, NVS, and GeForce product lines across multiple driver versions including R340 before 342.00, R367 before 369.59, and R375 before 375.63. The vulnerability manifests in the DxgDdiEscape handler for escape ID 0x70001b2 where insufficient validation occurs on input buffer sizes. This represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate the driver's behavior. The kernel mode layer operates with the highest privilege levels in the Windows operating system, making any vulnerability in this component particularly dangerous from a security perspective. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. The specific escape ID 0x70001b2 corresponds to a DirectX graphics driver interface call that allows user-mode applications to communicate with the kernel-mode driver, creating an attack surface where unvalidated input can lead to system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. When a malicious actor sends a specially crafted input buffer to the DxgDdiEscape handler, the lack of size validation can cause memory corruption that may result in system crashes or more severe consequences. The vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation stems from the fact that kernel-mode components operate with complete system access, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with unrestricted control over the affected system. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and specifically targets the kernel-mode execution environment where critical system functions are processed. The denial of service aspect occurs when the buffer overflow causes the graphics driver to crash or become unresponsive, potentially leading to complete system instability. The vulnerability's presence in multiple driver versions indicates a persistent flaw in the implementation of buffer validation mechanisms within the graphics driver's kernel interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8809 focus primarily on updating to patched driver versions where NVIDIA has addressed the buffer validation issue in the nvlddmkm.sys component. System administrators should prioritize applying the appropriate driver updates for their specific NVIDIA product line, ensuring that all affected versions are patched. The vulnerability can be addressed through standard patch management procedures, but organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Monitoring for unusual system behavior or graphics driver crashes may help detect exploitation attempts, though the vulnerability's nature makes detection challenging. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel-mode exploit protection and address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability's classification as a kernel-mode buffer overflow makes it particularly susceptible to advanced exploitation techniques, so organizations should ensure their security monitoring solutions are capable of detecting anomalous kernel-mode activity. Regular security assessments of graphics driver components and kernel interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components. The remediation process should also include verification that the updated drivers are properly installed and functioning correctly, as incomplete patching could leave systems vulnerable to exploitation.