CVE-2018-6259 in GeForce Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GeForce Experience all versions prior to 3.14.1 contains a potential vulnerability when GameStream is enabled, an attacker has system access, and certain system features are enabled, where limited information disclosure may be possible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6259 resides within NVIDIA GeForce Experience software versions prior to 3.14.1 and specifically manifests when GameStream functionality is enabled. This issue represents a potential information disclosure vulnerability that could be exploited under specific conditions where an attacker already possesses system access. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the GameStream component, which is designed to stream gaming sessions from one device to another. When GameStream is active, the software creates a communication channel that inadvertently exposes system information to unauthorized parties. This flaw falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can be categorized as CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the GameStream protocol handling mechanisms of GeForce Experience. When the streaming feature is enabled, the software maintains various system state information and configuration parameters that are not properly secured or sanitized before being transmitted or made accessible. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when an attacker has already gained system-level access, typically through pre-existing compromise or privilege escalation. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries leverage system access to enumerate and extract sensitive data. The specific conditions required for exploitation include the presence of GameStream functionality, active system access, and certain system features that must be enabled for the vulnerability to manifest.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with insights into system configurations, network topology, and user environment details. The compromised information could include system identifiers, configuration parameters, and potentially user session data that could be leveraged for further exploitation. This vulnerability represents a significant concern for users who employ GameStream for remote gaming sessions, as it could expose sensitive information about their gaming setup and network configuration. The risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where gaming systems may be connected to corporate networks, potentially providing attackers with footholds for lateral movement or additional reconnaissance activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6259 primarily focus on updating to NVIDIA GeForce Experience version 3.14.1 or later, which contains patches specifically designed to address the information disclosure vulnerability. System administrators should ensure that all GeForce Experience installations are updated to the latest versions and that GameStream functionality is disabled when not actively required. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in networked applications, particularly those handling sensitive system information. Security teams should consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring for systems running NVIDIA GeForce Experience, especially in environments where gaming and professional workloads intersect. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing gaming setups or network configurations.