CVE-2017-0353 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler for DxgDdiEscape where due to improper locking on certain conditions may lead to a denial of service
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0353 affects all versions of NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers and represents a critical flaw in the kernel mode layer handler for DxgDdiEscape functionality. This issue resides within the Windows display driver model architecture where NVIDIA's implementation fails to properly manage concurrent access to shared resources during escape command processing. The vulnerability manifests when multiple threads or processes attempt to access the DxgDdiEscape handler simultaneously, creating a race condition scenario that can result in system instability and denial of service conditions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate synchronization mechanisms within the kernel mode driver component responsible for handling DirectX escape commands. When the DxgDdiEscape function processes certain escape codes, the driver fails to implement proper locking mechanisms to prevent concurrent access to shared data structures or memory regions. This improper locking behavior creates a scenario where multiple execution contexts can simultaneously modify or access the same kernel memory locations, leading to potential memory corruption or system crashes. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) implementation within NVIDIA's GPU drivers, where the lack of adequate mutex or spinlock protection allows for race conditions to occur during critical sections of code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise system stability and availability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the graphics driver to crash or become unresponsive, resulting in complete system hangs or blue screen errors that require manual intervention to resolve. This affects systems running various Windows operating systems including windows 7, windows 8, windows 10, and their server counterparts where NVIDIA graphics drivers are installed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where graphics-intensive applications or remote desktop services may be running simultaneously, as it can lead to cascading failures affecting multiple users or critical business operations. Additionally, the denial of service condition can persist until the system is rebooted, creating significant downtime and operational disruption.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization," and represents a classic race condition scenario in kernel mode code. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.003 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell" and T1490 for "Inhibit System Recovery" as it can be exploited to cause system instability and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability also maps to T1547.001 for "Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder" as it may be leveraged to maintain persistence by corrupting system services or graphics driver components. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest NVIDIA driver updates, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for unusual system behavior or crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary graphics features or services that may trigger the vulnerable code paths, and maintain regular system backups to ensure rapid recovery in case of exploitation.