CVE-2016-8816 in GPU Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DxgDdiEscape where a value passed from a user to the driver is used without validation as the index to an array, leading to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8816 represents a critical flaw within NVIDIA's Windows GPU Display Driver ecosystem, specifically affecting the kernel mode layer component known as nvlddmkm.sys. This weakness manifests within the DxgDdiEscape handler, which serves as a communication interface between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver components. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize data received from user-space processes before utilizing it as an array index. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, which is a fundamental weakness that enables various attack vectors including buffer overflows and privilege escalation exploits.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious user-space application submits a crafted parameter to the DxgDdiEscape function through the Windows Display Driver Model interface. The driver processes this input without adequate bounds checking or validation, allowing an attacker to specify an arbitrary index value that can exceed the legitimate array boundaries. When the kernel-mode driver attempts to access the array using this unvalidated index, it either accesses invalid memory locations causing system instability or potentially writes to privileged memory regions, depending on the specific implementation details of the affected array structure. This flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially enable privilege escalation from user-mode to kernel-mode execution context, representing a direct violation of Windows kernel security models.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8816 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential privilege escalation scenarios that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. In a practical attack scenario, an adversary could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to system resources, modify critical system files, or establish persistent backdoors within the operating system. The vulnerability affects all versions of NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Drivers, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of NVIDIA graphics hardware in enterprise and consumer environments. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation techniques, and T1059 which encompasses execution through Windows system processes, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability to manipulate the graphics driver subsystem for malicious purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8816 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from NVIDIA, as the vendor released updated drivers specifically addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive driver update policies that ensure all systems receive security patches promptly, particularly in environments where graphics processing is critical. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized graphics-related applications, monitoring for suspicious DxgDdiEscape function calls through system logging, and maintaining regular security assessments of graphics driver configurations. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices can further reduce the attack surface by limiting potential exploitation paths. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-mode input validation and proper bounds checking, as outlined in security standards that emphasize the need for robust validation mechanisms in privileged execution contexts to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in graphics and display driver subsystems.