CVE-2017-0321 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of NVIDIA GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler where a NULL pointer dereference caused by invalid user input 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-2017-0321 represents a critical flaw within NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers that affects all versions of the software. This issue resides within the kernel mode layer handler component, which serves as a crucial interface between user-space applications and the kernel-level graphics processing operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user input parameters that are processed within the kernel mode driver context, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the kernel mode layer handler receives malformed or invalid user input. This type of flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities. When the driver encounters unexpected input data during kernel mode processing, it attempts to access a memory location that has not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in system instability. The exploitation of this condition can potentially lead to system crashes, denial of service scenarios, and in more severe cases, privilege escalation opportunities that could allow attackers to gain elevated system privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems utilizing NVIDIA graphics hardware, particularly in enterprise environments where stability and security are paramount. The denial of service aspect can disrupt critical operations by causing graphics rendering failures, system freezes, or complete system crashes that affect user productivity and business continuity. The privilege escalation potential, while potentially more difficult to exploit successfully, represents a severe threat to system security as it could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard security controls and access restrictions. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to advanced persistent threat actors who seek to establish persistent access to target systems.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-0321 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and defense evasion. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish a foothold within systems by causing denial of service conditions that might be used as a cover for more sophisticated attacks, or by directly escalating privileges to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The kernel mode nature of the vulnerability places it within the ATT&CK technique category of "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" where attackers target weaknesses in system-level components to gain elevated permissions. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive patch management processes to address this vulnerability promptly, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains open for all affected versions of the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patch deployment through NVIDIA's official security updates and driver releases. System administrators should prioritize updating to the latest NVIDIA GPU Display Driver versions that contain fixes for this specific NULL pointer dereference issue. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit potential attack surfaces, while monitoring for unusual system behavior or denial of service patterns can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation practices in kernel mode drivers, emphasizing the need for robust sanitization of all user-provided data before processing within privileged execution contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious kernel-level activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.