CVE-2016-8811 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 0x7000170 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 • 04/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8811 represents a critical security flaw within NVIDIA's Windows GPU display drivers affecting multiple product lines including Quadro, NVS, and GeForce series. This weakness exists in the kernel mode layer component known as nvlddmkm.sys and specifically targets the DxgDdiEscape handler for escape ID 0x7000170. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the size of buffer parameters passed to the affected driver component. Such insufficient validation creates a dangerous condition where malicious actors can manipulate buffer sizes to exploit the driver's handling routines. The vulnerability manifests in a manner that can result in either system denial of service or potentially enable privilege escalation attacks, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where GPU acceleration is extensively utilized. The affected driver versions span multiple release branches, with specific patches required for R340 before 342.00, R367 before 369.59, and R375 before 375.63 versions, indicating this flaw has persisted across several driver iterations and represents a significant gap in NVIDIA's security validation processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters within the DxgDdiEscape interface, specifically targeting the escape ID 0x7000170 handler in the kernel mode layer. This represents a classic buffer overflow condition where the driver fails to validate the size of user-supplied input data before processing it. The lack of proper bounds checking in the nvlddmkm.sys component creates an execution path where malformed buffer sizes can cause memory corruption or system instability. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input buffers, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack surface is particularly significant because the kernel mode driver operates with elevated privileges, meaning successful exploitation could potentially allow attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to kernel level access. This privilege escalation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of legitimate credentials and privileges to gain elevated access, and T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8811 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios into more severe privilege escalation threats that could compromise entire computing environments. Systems utilizing affected NVIDIA drivers become vulnerable to attacks that could lead to complete system compromise, particularly in environments where GPU acceleration is used for graphics rendering, video processing, or parallel computing tasks. The vulnerability affects not just individual workstations but also enterprise systems where multiple users interact with GPU-accelerated applications, creating potential for widespread compromise. Organizations running these affected drivers face risks including unauthorized access to sensitive data, system instability, and potential lateral movement within networks where GPU resources are shared. The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple driver versions indicates that NVIDIA's security review processes may have missed critical validation checks during development, particularly in kernel mode components where input validation is paramount for system stability and security. The exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors including malicious software installation, web-based attacks, or even physical access scenarios where attackers can directly interact with the affected system components. Organizations should prioritize patching these drivers as soon as possible, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a relatively straightforward path to system compromise through kernel-level privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8811 focus primarily on immediate driver updates and implementation of additional security controls. The most effective immediate solution involves updating affected NVIDIA drivers to versions that include proper buffer validation mechanisms for the DxgDdiEscape handler. System administrators should verify that all affected systems have been patched and confirm that the updated drivers properly validate input buffer sizes. Additional protective measures include implementing kernel mode driver isolation techniques, monitoring for suspicious driver activity, and establishing network segmentation to limit potential attack paths. Security teams should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with kernel-level exploits. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current driver versions and implementing robust patch management procedures, particularly for graphics drivers that operate at kernel level and have elevated system privileges. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected NVIDIA driver versions and prioritize remediation based on risk exposure. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-40 and ISO 27001, which emphasize the importance of timely patch management and vulnerability remediation. The incident underscores the critical need for vendors to implement comprehensive input validation across all kernel mode components and for organizations to maintain continuous monitoring of their system security posture.