CVE-2017-0355 in Windows GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contain a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler for DxgkDdiEscape where it may access paged memory while holding a spinlock, leading to a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0355 resides within the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver kernel mode layer, specifically within the DxgkDdiEscape handler function. This flaw represents a critical concurrency issue that manifests when the driver processes escape commands through the DirectX graphics kernel interface. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where the driver accesses paged memory locations while simultaneously holding spinlock protections, creating a dangerous race condition that can lead to system instability. The affected component operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it directly interfaces with the operating system's core graphics subsystem and hardware abstraction layer.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the DxgkDdiEscape function which handles escape commands passed from user-mode applications to the graphics kernel. When processing these commands, the driver enters a critical section protected by a spinlock mechanism to ensure exclusive access to shared resources. However, during this protected execution, the function attempts to access memory that may be paged out to disk, violating the fundamental principle that spinlocks should only be held for minimal periods while accessing non-paged memory. This violation occurs because the driver's memory management logic fails to properly distinguish between paged and non-paged memory access requirements during kernel execution. The flaw is categorized under CWE-367, which specifically addresses Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerabilities, though this instance manifests as a spinlock memory access violation rather than traditional TOCTOU patterns.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0355 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise system stability and availability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the graphics driver to crash, resulting in blue screen of death (BSOD) errors and complete system hangs. This affects all versions of the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver, meaning that any system running affected drivers is vulnerable regardless of the specific model or generation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level and can be triggered by user-mode applications through DirectX calls, making exploitation relatively straightforward for malicious actors. The impact affects enterprise environments where graphics-intensive applications are common, potentially leading to widespread service disruption across multiple systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Windows Command Shell and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, though the primary impact remains denial of service rather than privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0355 primarily focus on immediate driver updates and system hardening measures. NVIDIA released patches addressing this vulnerability in subsequent driver versions, making driver updates the most effective immediate solution. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the latest driver updates from NVIDIA. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect abnormal memory access patterns or spinlock usage can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can reduce the attack surface by limiting which applications can trigger the vulnerable escape command handlers. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary graphics features and implementing strict access controls for graphics-intensive applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel mode programming practices, particularly around memory management and synchronization primitives, making it a valuable case study for security teams developing secure driver development guidelines and conducting security code reviews.