CVE-2017-6266 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler where improper access controls could allow unprivileged users to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6266 resides within the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver's kernel mode layer handler, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines system security and stability. This issue affects the fundamental operating system components that manage graphics processing unit operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to exploit the system's protective mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel mode driver interface where NVIDIA's graphics processing capabilities are managed at the most privileged system level, making it particularly dangerous as it operates outside of normal user-space restrictions.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves inadequate validation of access permissions within the kernel mode driver components that handle GPU display operations. When unprivileged user processes attempt to interact with the graphics driver through specific kernel interfaces, the system fails to properly enforce authorization checks that should prevent such access. This improper access control mechanism allows malicious actors to craft specific requests that trigger kernel-level operations without proper authentication or privilege escalation. The vulnerability manifests as a failure in the driver's ability to distinguish between legitimate system operations and potentially harmful user-initiated requests, creating an opportunity for denial of service attacks that can crash the graphics subsystem or entire system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system availability and stability, particularly in environments where graphics processing is critical for operations. The denial of service condition can be triggered through various user-level applications that interact with the GPU driver, potentially causing system crashes, screen freezes, or complete system lockups that require manual intervention to resolve. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can affect enterprise environments where graphics processing is essential for rendering user interfaces, virtual desktop infrastructure, or specialized applications. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability can be exploited in both local and potentially remote scenarios, depending on the system configuration and the specific implementation of the graphics driver components.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-6266 aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including privilege escalation and denial of service, while the underlying flaw maps to CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control in software systems. Organizations implementing NVIDIA GPU solutions must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where multiple users access shared systems or where graphics processing is integral to business operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel mode security controls and highlights the potential for user-space applications to compromise system stability through carefully crafted interactions with privileged system components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected NVIDIA GPU drivers through official update channels, as the vendor has released patches specifically addressing the access control issues within the kernel mode layer. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of GPU driver access or potential exploitation attempts, while also considering the implementation of additional access controls at the operating system level to limit user interaction with graphics driver interfaces. The security community recommends maintaining current driver versions and implementing proper system hardening measures that restrict unnecessary access to graphics processing components, particularly in multi-user environments where privilege separation is critical for maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized access to privileged system resources.