CVE-2017-0349 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 DxgkDdiEscape where a pointer passed from a user to the driver is not correctly validated before it is dereferenced for a write operation, may lead to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0349 represents a critical security flaw within NVIDIA's Windows GPU display drivers that affects all versions of the software. This issue resides within the kernel mode layer of the graphics driver, specifically within the nvlddmkm.sys component which handles graphics kernel mode functions. The vulnerability manifests in the DxgkDdiEscape handler where user-mode applications can pass pointers to kernel-mode code without proper validation. This pointer validation failure creates a dangerous condition where malicious input can be directly dereferenced for write operations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an attacker can cause the system to read memory beyond the intended boundaries. The flaw specifically involves improper pointer validation in kernel-mode driver code, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks. When user-mode applications submit crafted escape codes through the DxgkDdiEscape interface, the kernel-mode handler fails to validate that the pointer points to valid memory regions before attempting write operations. This validation gap can be exploited to overwrite critical kernel memory locations, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the dangers of insufficient kernel-mode security checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0349 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass serious privilege escalation capabilities. An attacker with local user access could potentially leverage this vulnerability to elevate their privileges from standard user level to kernel-level execution, effectively compromising the entire system. The denial of service aspect means that legitimate system operations could be disrupted through controlled pointer dereferencing, potentially causing system crashes or rendering graphics functionality unusable. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a pathway to establish persistent system compromise, as kernel-level access enables complete system control. The vulnerability's presence in all versions of the NVIDIA Windows GPU drivers means that any system running affected drivers is potentially at risk, regardless of the specific driver version installed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0349 should focus on immediate driver updates from NVIDIA, as the company has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected systems to the latest NVIDIA GPU drivers, particularly those containing kernel-mode security fixes. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, though these measures do not prevent the vulnerability itself. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation category, specifically targeting kernel-mode execution and system-level access. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Additionally, monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior or system crashes could help detect potential exploitation attempts, though such detection methods may not be reliable given the sophisticated nature of kernel-mode attacks.