CVE-2017-0310 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of NVIDIA GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler where improper access controls allowing unprivileged user to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0310 resides within the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver kernel mode layer handler, representing a critical access control flaw that affects all versions of the driver software. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the kernel component responsible for managing GPU operations and display functions. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions during kernel mode operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized user manipulation of privileged system resources. The issue particularly impacts the kernel mode driver interface where user-space applications can potentially exploit improper access controls to disrupt normal system operations.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves leveraging the kernel mode handler to perform unauthorized operations that should typically be restricted to privileged system processes. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific inputs or operations that bypass normal access control checks within the display driver kernel component. The improper access controls allow unprivileged user processes to manipulate kernel memory structures or system resources that should remain protected from user-level interference. This flaw operates at the kernel level where the driver interfaces with core operating system functions, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially escalate to full system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables a denial of service condition where an unprivileged user can disrupt GPU functionality and potentially cause system instability. The vulnerability allows attackers to cause system crashes, display driver failures, or complete system hangs that prevent normal GPU operations. In enterprise environments, this could result in significant operational disruption as graphics-intensive applications and services become unavailable. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the kernel mode exploitation can potentially corrupt system memory or cause hardware-level issues that require system reboot to resolve. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of operating systems where kernel mode protection is supposed to isolate privileged operations from user processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0310 should prioritize immediate driver updates from NVIDIA to address the kernel mode access control flaw. System administrators should implement strict user privilege controls and monitor for unauthorized access attempts to GPU resources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a specific implementation weakness in the kernel mode driver architecture. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of kernel mode operations to detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques where adversaries exploit system-level flaws to gain unauthorized access to protected resources. Regular security assessments of graphics driver components and kernel mode interfaces should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses. Network segmentation and user access controls can help minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities by limiting the attack surface available to unprivileged users.