CVE-2017-0345 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DxgDdiEscape where user provided input used as an array size is not correctly validated allows out of bound access in kernel memory and may lead to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0345 represents a critical kernel-mode memory corruption issue within NVIDIA's Windows GPU display drivers, specifically affecting the nvlddmkm.sys component. This flaw exists within the DxgDdiEscape handler mechanism, which serves as a communication interface between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver components. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-provided input that is subsequently used as an array size parameter, creating a dangerous condition where malicious input can manipulate memory allocation and access patterns. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as "Improper Validation of Array Index" and represents a classic example of buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited in kernel space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-mode applications submit crafted escape codes through the DxgDdiEscape interface, which are then processed by the kernel-mode driver without proper bounds checking. When the driver processes these inputs as array sizes, it fails to validate whether the specified dimensions are within acceptable limits, potentially leading to memory accesses beyond allocated boundaries. This condition creates opportunities for both denial of service attacks where the system becomes unstable or crashes, and privilege escalation scenarios where malicious code could potentially gain elevated system privileges. The kernel-mode nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, as the driver operates with the highest privilege level available to user-space applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0345 extends beyond simple system instability to encompass potential full system compromise through privilege escalation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code at kernel level, effectively bypassing standard operating system security mechanisms and gaining complete control over affected systems. The vulnerability affects all versions of NVIDIA Windows GPU drivers, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple systems may be running different driver versions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) with potential for lateral movement and persistence once escalated privileges are obtained.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate driver updates from NVIDIA, as the company has released patches addressing the specific validation issues in the DxgDdiEscape handler. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems, particularly those running in high-security environments or critical infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially malicious applications that might exploit this vulnerability, monitoring for unusual GPU driver activity, and employing kernel-mode protection mechanisms such as Windows Kernel Mode Code Signing and Control Flow Guard. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors and establish robust incident response procedures to detect and respond to exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode components and serves as a reminder of the significant risks associated with driver-level security flaws in operating system architectures.