CVE-2022-28181 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 05/18/2022
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer, where an unprivileged regular user on the network can cause an out-of-bounds write through a specially crafted shader, which may lead to code execution, denial of service, escalation of privileges, information disclosure, and data tampering. The scope of the impact may extend to other components.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28181 resides within the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver kernel mode layer across both Windows and Linux operating systems, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental integrity of graphics processing operations. This issue manifests through an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when processing specially crafted shaders, which are small programs that execute on graphics hardware to render visual elements. The vulnerability's exploitation potential stems from its ability to affect unprivileged regular users who can remotely trigger the flaw, making it particularly concerning for networked environments where multiple users may have access to systems running affected NVIDIA drivers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates at the kernel level where graphics driver components interact directly with hardware resources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures beyond their intended boundaries. When a specially crafted shader is processed by the affected driver, it triggers an out-of-bounds write operation that can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical driver data structures or executing arbitrary code within kernel space. This flaw specifically impacts the kernel mode layer of the NVIDIA driver, which operates with elevated privileges and direct hardware access, making the potential consequences of exploitation particularly severe. The vulnerability's classification as a kernel-mode issue places it within the purview of CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which specifically addresses memory corruption vulnerabilities that occur when data is written beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28181 extends far beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can potentially enable full system compromise through privilege escalation attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard operating system security mechanisms and gaining complete control over affected systems. The scope of potential damage includes unauthorized code execution, where malicious payloads can be injected and executed directly within kernel space, making detection and mitigation extremely challenging. Additionally, the vulnerability may facilitate information disclosure attacks that could expose sensitive data stored in memory, while also enabling data tampering operations that could corrupt system files or user data. The cross-platform nature of this vulnerability affects both Windows and Linux environments, suggesting that attackers can target diverse computing infrastructures with a single exploit vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28181 should prioritize immediate driver updates from NVIDIA, as the vendor has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations must implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be exposed to network-based attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual shader processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation makes it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments, where attackers could leverage it to gain administrative access to systems. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization and exploit prevention mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Given the vulnerability's classification and potential for severe impact, organizations should treat CVE-2022-28181 as a critical priority for remediation, potentially implementing temporary workarounds or system isolation measures until comprehensive patch deployment is complete. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the kernel mode execution environment where attackers can manipulate system behavior through memory corruption exploits.