CVE-2017-0312 in Windows GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DxgkDdiEscapeID 0x100008b where user provided input is used as the limit for a loop may lead to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0312 represents a critical flaw within NVIDIA's Windows GPU display drivers that affects all versions of the software. This issue resides in the kernel mode layer component known as nvlddmkm.sys which serves as the foundational interface between the graphics hardware and the operating system's kernel. The vulnerability specifically targets the DxgkDdiEscapeID 0x100008b handler, which is part of the DirectX graphics kernel driver interface responsible for handling escape commands that allow user-mode applications to communicate directly with the kernel-mode graphics driver. This particular escape command handler processes user-provided input data that is subsequently used as a loop limit parameter, creating a potential security risk that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the kernel-mode driver component. When user applications submit data through the DxgkDdiEscapeID 0x100008b interface, the driver fails to adequately validate or sanitize the input before using it as the upper boundary for a loop iteration. This lack of proper input validation creates conditions where malicious input could cause the loop to execute an excessive number of iterations or potentially lead to integer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability manifests as a classic buffer manipulation issue where untrusted input directly influences loop control parameters, making it susceptible to both denial of service attacks and privilege escalation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, which are fundamental security concepts outlined in various security frameworks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0312 extends beyond simple system instability, presenting significant security risks to affected systems. A successful exploitation of this vulnerability could result in either a denial of service condition where the graphics driver crashes or becomes unresponsive, effectively rendering the system's graphics capabilities unusable. More critically, the flaw could potentially enable privilege escalation attacks where malicious code could leverage the vulnerable kernel-mode handler to elevate its execution privileges from user-level to kernel-level access. This would provide attackers with complete control over the affected system, allowing them to bypass standard operating system security mechanisms and potentially access sensitive data or modify system configurations. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects all versions of NVIDIA Windows GPU drivers, meaning that organizations with legacy systems remain at risk even after security updates have been released.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0312 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest NVIDIA driver updates that address the kernel-mode vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of graphics driver behavior and establish baseline operational states to detect anomalous loop execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including privilege escalation through kernel exploits and defense evasion by potentially corrupting system driver components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting to restrict execution of potentially malicious graphics-related applications and network segmentation to limit the attack surface. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would be classified under security standards that require proper input validation and kernel-mode code security practices, making it a critical concern for organizations subject to regulatory requirements such as pci dss, iso 27001, or soc 2. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust kernel-mode security practices and proper input validation as outlined in common weakness enumeration categories related to improper input validation and buffer overflows.