CVE-2017-6254 in Windows GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DxgkDdiEscape where a pointer passed from an user to the driver is used without validation which may lead to denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6254 resides within the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver component, specifically affecting the kernel mode layer through the nvlddmkm.sys module. This flaw manifests in the DxgkDdiEscape handler where user-mode pointers are processed without proper validation, creating a critical security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization within the display driver's kernel-mode interface, which operates at the highest privilege level on Windows systems. The vulnerability affects NVIDIA graphics drivers running on Windows operating systems and represents a significant concern for system security.
The technical flaw in CVE-2017-6254 constitutes a classic case of improper input validation within kernel-mode code, specifically categorized under CWE-707 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation." The DxgkDdiEscape function receives user-supplied pointers that are subsequently dereferenced without sufficient validation checks, creating potential for arbitrary code execution or system instability. When a malicious user-space application passes malformed pointer data to this kernel-mode handler, the driver fails to validate the pointer's integrity or memory boundaries, potentially leading to memory corruption. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and represents a common attack vector for kernel-level exploits.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6254 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks that could allow attackers to execute code with kernel-level privileges. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain complete control over the affected system, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it operates within the graphics driver's kernel-mode component, which typically runs with the highest system privileges. This means that successful exploitation could result in persistent system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors that persist across reboots. The impact affects all Windows versions that utilize NVIDIA graphics drivers and could be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where GPU acceleration is commonly used.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6254 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the latest NVIDIA driver updates that contain patches for this vulnerability, as the vendor has released fixed versions that address the improper pointer validation issue. System administrators should also implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that user accounts have minimal necessary permissions and that graphics driver components operate with restricted privileges when possible. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activity and implementing kernel-mode exploit detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary graphics driver functionality and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent malicious code from interacting with the vulnerable driver components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-mode security and proper input validation practices, aligning with security frameworks that emphasize the need for robust privilege separation and input sanitization in system-level components.