CVE-2017-6270 in Windows GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler for DxgkDdiCreateAllocation where untrusted user input is used as a divisor without validation during a calculation which may lead to a potential divide by zero and denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6270 resides within the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver, specifically within the kernel mode layer handler known as DxgkDdiCreateAllocation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the driver's kernel component. The vulnerability manifests when untrusted user input is utilized as a divisor in arithmetic calculations without proper validation checks, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt system operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability places the driver in a precarious position where user-supplied data directly influences mathematical operations within the kernel space. When the DxgkDdiCreateAllocation handler processes allocation requests, it accepts parameters that may contain maliciously crafted values intended to manipulate the divisor operand. The absence of validation checks means that if a zero value is passed as the divisor, the arithmetic operation will fail catastrophically. This divide by zero condition triggers an exception that can cause the graphics driver to crash or become unresponsive, effectively leading to a denial of service scenario that impacts the entire system's graphical capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system stability and availability. The denial of service condition affects not only the graphics rendering capabilities but can also potentially impact the overall system performance by causing the kernel mode driver to become unresponsive. Attackers can exploit this weakness through various means including crafted graphics commands, malicious applications, or even through compromised user accounts that can submit malformed allocation requests. The kernel mode execution context means that successful exploitation can lead to system instability, requiring manual intervention or system reboot to restore normal operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-369, which specifically addresses the divide by zero condition in software systems, and represents a classic example of improper input validation within kernel mode components. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness falls under the category of privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, potentially allowing adversaries to disrupt system availability or gain elevated privileges through driver manipulation. The kernel mode nature of the flaw means that exploitation can bypass typical user mode security controls, making it particularly dangerous for system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6270 primarily focus on applying the latest NVIDIA driver updates that contain patches addressing the validation gap in the DxgkDdiCreateAllocation handler. System administrators should ensure that all Windows systems running NVIDIA graphics drivers receive immediate security updates from NVIDIA. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting to restrict execution of potentially malicious graphics applications, monitoring for unusual graphics driver activity, and maintaining robust system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors and maintain regular backup procedures to ensure quick recovery from any service disruption caused by this vulnerability. The patching approach directly addresses the root cause by implementing proper input validation mechanisms that prevent zero values from being processed as divisors in arithmetic operations within the kernel mode driver components.