CVE-2019-5701 in GeForce Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GeForce Experience, all versions prior to 3.20.1, contains a vulnerability when GameStream is enabled in which an attacker with local system access can load the Intel graphics driver DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), which may lead to denial of service, information disclosure, or escalation of privileges through code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5701 resides within NVIDIA GeForce Experience software, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.20.1 and represents a critical security flaw that exploits the GameStream functionality. This vulnerability manifests when the GameStream feature is enabled, creating a pathway for malicious actors who possess local system access to manipulate the software's execution environment. The flaw stems from improper validation of dynamic link library (DLL) paths and signatures during the loading process, which constitutes a classic binary planting or DLL preloading attack vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to properly validate the source and integrity of dynamically loaded modules when GameStream is active. When the system attempts to load Intel graphics driver DLLs, the GeForce Experience application does not perform adequate path validation or digital signature verification, allowing an attacker to place malicious DLL files in locations where the legitimate graphics drivers would normally be loaded. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-426, which describes the weakness of allowing untrusted code to be loaded without proper validation, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent such insecure loading mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains, potentially enabling attackers to achieve denial of service conditions that could disrupt gaming sessions or system functionality. More critically, the vulnerability opens pathways for information disclosure, allowing adversaries to access sensitive system data that might otherwise remain protected. The most severe consequence involves privilege escalation capabilities, where an attacker could execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system. This escalation of privileges through DLL preloading attacks is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5701 require immediate software updates to version 3.20.1 or later, which addresses the insecure DLL loading mechanisms through proper path validation and signature verification. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including application whitelisting to restrict which DLLs can be loaded, regular security audits of system configurations, and monitoring for unusual DLL loading patterns. System administrators should disable GameStream functionality when not actively needed, as this reduces the attack surface available to potential exploiters. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing proper input validation mechanisms, particularly in applications that handle graphics processing and system-level operations where the consequences of security flaws can be severe and far-reaching.