CVE-2019-5674 in GeForce Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GeForce Experience before 3.18 contains a vulnerability when ShadowPlay or GameStream is enabled. When an attacker has access to the system and creates a hard link, the software does not check for hard link attacks. This behavior may lead to code execution, denial of service, or escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5674 resides within NVIDIA GeForce Experience software version 3.18 and earlier, specifically when ShadowPlay or GameStream functionalities are enabled. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the software's file handling processes. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker with system access attempts to create hard links to sensitive files, exploiting a lack of proper hard link detection and validation.
The technical flaw occurs in the software's handling of file operations where NVIDIA GeForce Experience fails to implement adequate checks for hard link attacks during the ShadowPlay and GameStream processes. This absence of hard link validation creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate file system references to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-59, which specifically addresses improper handling of hard links, making it a direct implementation of this well-known weakness in file system security practices.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents multiple attack vectors that could severely compromise system integrity. The potential consequences include unauthorized code execution, which allows attackers to run malicious software with elevated privileges, denial of service conditions that can disrupt normal system operations, and privilege escalation opportunities that enable attackers to gain higher-level system access. These impacts are particularly severe in gaming environments where GeForce Experience typically runs with elevated permissions to manage hardware acceleration and recording functionalities.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is expanded by the nature of ShadowPlay and GameStream features which require extensive system integration and file system access. These components often operate with high privileges to capture and stream gameplay, creating opportunities for exploitation when hard link attacks are not properly validated. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities, and T1106, covering execution through system calls that may be improperly validated in the affected software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5674 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 3.18 or later where the hard link validation has been implemented. System administrators should also implement restrictive file system permissions and monitor for suspicious hard link creation activities. Additional protective measures include disabling ShadowPlay and GameStream features when not actively needed, implementing file integrity monitoring solutions, and ensuring that only authorized users have access to systems running affected software versions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper file system validation in security-critical applications and demonstrates the necessity of comprehensive input validation even in trusted software environments.