CVE-2016-8810 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 0x100009a where a value passed from an user to the driver is used without validation as the index to an internal array, leading to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8810 resides within NVIDIA's Windows GPU display drivers, specifically affecting the kernel mode layer component known as nvlddmkm.sys. This flaw manifests in the DxgDdiEscape handler for escape ID 0x100009a, where user-supplied data is processed without proper validation before being used as an array index. 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 professional and consumer graphics driver releases from 2016. The kernel mode layer operates with elevated privileges, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides a potential pathway for privilege escalation from user-level processes to kernel-level execution. The vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index, and represents a classic buffer overread condition that can be exploited through malformed input data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious application or user-level process submits crafted data to the GPU driver through the DxgDdiEscape interface. The driver's kernel mode component receives this data and directly uses it as an array index without performing bounds checking or validation against the actual size of the internal array structure. This allows an attacker to potentially access memory locations outside the intended array boundaries, which can result in arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The lack of input validation in the kernel mode layer creates a direct attack surface where user-controlled data can be used to manipulate internal driver structures. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, representing 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' as attackers may leverage the privilege escalation to execute additional malicious code. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that GPU drivers run with system-level privileges, making successful exploitation potentially catastrophic for system security.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8810 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it presents a genuine threat to system integrity and security posture. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can enable attackers to achieve privilege escalation from standard user accounts to SYSTEM level access, providing complete control over affected systems. The vulnerability affects NVIDIA's professional graphics cards including Quadro series and consumer graphics cards such as GeForce and NVS products, representing a broad attack surface across both enterprise and consumer environments. The denial of service aspect can be leveraged for persistent disruption of graphics services, while the privilege escalation capability allows for long-term persistence and further exploitation. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations using NVIDIA graphics solutions in mission-critical applications, as it can be exploited to compromise sensitive data processing environments. The kernel mode nature of the flaw means that exploitation can bypass many standard operating system security mechanisms, including user access control and process isolation features. Security researchers have noted that similar vulnerabilities in graphics drivers have historically been particularly challenging to detect and remediate due to the complex interaction between user mode applications and kernel mode drivers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8810 focus primarily on driver updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to NVIDIA driver versions 342.00, 369.59, or 375.63 respectively for the affected R340, R367, and R375 driver branches to address the vulnerability. The recommended approach includes implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely driver updates across all affected systems. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in kernel mode components also necessitates enhanced monitoring of system calls and driver behavior through endpoint detection and response solutions. Security teams should also consider implementing exploit prevention measures such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) to make exploitation more difficult. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable driver versions. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing defensive measures such as process injection detection and monitoring for unusual kernel mode activities. Organizations should also maintain detailed system baselines to quickly identify anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping graphics drivers updated, as these components represent essential attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries seeking to establish persistent access to target systems.