CVE-2019-5702 in GeForce Experience
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA GeForce Experience, all versions prior to 3.20.2, contains a vulnerability when GameStream is enabled in which an attacker with local system access can corrupt a system file, which may lead to denial of service or escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5702 affects NVIDIA GeForce Experience software versions prior to 3.20.2 and represents a critical security flaw that emerges when the GameStream feature is actively enabled. This issue stems from improper handling of system file operations within the GeForce Experience application, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors who have already gained local system access. The vulnerability resides in the software's ability to manage and modify system files during the GameStream streaming process, which is designed to allow users to stream their gaming sessions from a powerful gaming PC to other devices.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input validation and file system access controls within the GeForce Experience application. When GameStream functionality is enabled, the application attempts to modify system files that should normally be protected from unauthorized modification. Attackers with local system privileges can exploit this weakness by manipulating the file corruption process to either cause system instability through denial of service conditions or potentially escalate their privileges to system-level access. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages existing local access to create more severe security consequences, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it provides a pathway for attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected systems. Once an attacker has local system access, they can leverage the file corruption mechanism to either crash the system or potentially execute malicious code with higher privileges. The GameStream feature specifically introduces additional complexity because it requires the application to maintain persistent connections and modify system resources during streaming operations, increasing the attack surface. This vulnerability affects users who have enabled GameStream functionality, making it particularly relevant in gaming environments where multiple users might have local access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5702 focus primarily on updating to NVIDIA GeForce Experience version 3.20.2 or later, which includes patches addressing the file corruption vulnerability. Organizations should also implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local system access, as the vulnerability requires local privileges to exploit effectively. Security teams should disable GameStream functionality when it is not actively needed, reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation. Regular system monitoring and endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect unusual file modification patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and user access controls should be implemented to minimize the potential impact of local privilege escalation attacks, as the vulnerability can enable attackers to gain system-level control over affected systems.