CVE-2017-6272 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer handler where a value passed from a user to the driver is not correctly validated and used as the index to an array which may lead to a denial of service or possible escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6272 resides within the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver's kernel mode layer handler, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's privilege management mechanisms. This issue manifests when user-space applications interact with kernel-space components through improper input validation procedures. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of array indexing operations where unvalidated user-provided values are directly employed as array indices without adequate bounds checking or sanitization measures. The flaw exists in the driver's kernel mode component, which operates with elevated privileges and is responsible for managing GPU hardware resources and processing graphics-related requests from user applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a classic buffer overread or out-of-bounds array access condition that falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing insufficient input validation. When a user application submits data to the kernel mode driver handler, this data is expected to be properly validated before being used for array indexing operations. However, the driver fails to validate the submitted value against the acceptable array bounds, allowing malicious or malformed input to potentially reference memory locations outside the intended array boundaries. This condition creates a scenario where the kernel mode handler could access arbitrary memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior that may result in system crashes or unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard user-mode security controls and access sensitive system resources directly.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6272 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks that could allow attackers to gain elevated system privileges. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could theoretically execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively compromising the entire system's security posture. The vulnerability affects all versions of NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers that implement the affected kernel mode layer handler, creating a widespread exposure across numerous systems and applications that rely on NVIDIA graphics processing. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code with elevated privileges through kernel-level vulnerabilities. The potential for denial of service represents a significant operational risk, as system availability could be compromised through controlled exploitation of the array indexing flaw, potentially affecting graphics-intensive applications and entire desktop environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6272 require immediate patching of affected NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers to address the kernel mode validation flaw. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest NVIDIA driver versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability, as the patch typically implements proper input validation and array bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel address space layout randomization and other exploit mitigations to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activity and implementing proper access controls for graphics-related applications can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-mode code and the necessity of rigorous security testing for system-level components that handle user-provided data. Organizations should also review their patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify systems running affected driver versions.