CVE-2018-6266 in GeForce Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GeForce Experience contains a vulnerability in all versions prior to 3.16 on Windows where a local user may obtain third party integration parameters, which may lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6266 affects NVIDIA GeForce Experience software versions prior to 3.16 on Windows operating systems, representing a significant information disclosure risk that impacts users of graphics driver software. This flaw exists within the third-party integration parameters handling mechanism of the GeForce Experience application, which is designed to facilitate seamless integration with various gaming and streaming platforms. The vulnerability stems from improper access controls and insufficient parameter validation within the application's architecture, creating an exploitable condition that allows local users to extract sensitive integration credentials and configuration data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authentication checks and authorization mechanisms when accessing third-party integration parameters stored within the GeForce Experience application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass normal access restrictions and retrieve confidential information that should remain protected. The flaw operates at the application level rather than the kernel level, making it accessible through local system access rather than requiring network-based exploitation. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6266 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the retrieved third-party integration parameters could potentially enable attackers to gain access to gaming platform accounts, streaming service credentials, or other sensitive user data. The vulnerability affects all versions of GeForce Experience prior to 3.16, indicating that a substantial user base was exposed to this risk for an extended period. The local nature of the attack means that an adversary must already have access to the target system, but this access could be gained through various initial compromise vectors such as phishing attacks, malware infections, or physical access to the device. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001, which covers data staging through local data staging methods, and represents a significant concern for users who rely on GeForce Experience for gaming and streaming activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on updating to NVIDIA GeForce Experience version 3.16 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper access control conditions. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the update promptly. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping their graphics driver software up to date, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor application flaws can create significant security risks. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around the time of system updates or when new third-party integrations are configured. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper access control implementation in application design and serves as a reminder that even well-established software vendors can introduce security flaws that require immediate attention and remediation.