CVE-2018-6265 in GeForce Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GeForce Experience contains a vulnerability in all versions prior to 3.16 during application installation on Windows 7 in elevated privilege mode, where a local user who initiates a browser session may obtain escalation of privileges on the browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6265 resides within NVIDIA GeForce Experience software, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.16 on Windows 7 systems operating in elevated privilege mode. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables local users to escalate their privileges through browser sessions, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability manifests during the application installation process when GeForce Experience operates with elevated privileges, establishing a pathway for privilege escalation that directly impacts system security posture.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling during the installation process of NVIDIA GeForce Experience. When the application runs in elevated mode, it creates opportunities for local attackers to manipulate the installation environment and subsequently exploit the privilege escalation mechanism. This flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through insecure application installation procedures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the browser session context to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, bypassing standard security controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected systems, potentially enabling them to execute arbitrary code, modify system files, or access sensitive data. The attack vector specifically targets users who initiate browser sessions while GeForce Experience is running with elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users perform regular browser activities. This vulnerability affects the broader Windows 7 ecosystem and represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where legacy systems remain operational, as it undermines the fundamental security model of privilege separation and user access controls.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework, specifically under privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage software installation processes to gain elevated access. The vulnerability demonstrates how legitimate software installation processes can be exploited to create persistent access vectors, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems to address this vulnerability, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains open for all versions prior to 3.16. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of NVIDIA's patched version 3.16 or later, alongside regular security assessments to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in other system components.