CVE-2022-28183 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 can cause an out-of-bounds read, which may lead to denial of service and information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28183 resides within the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver kernel mode layer across both Windows and Linux operating systems. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that affects the underlying graphics driver infrastructure responsible for managing GPU operations at the kernel level. The vulnerability specifically manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when processing certain driver operations, creating a potential attack surface for malicious actors who seek to exploit the graphics subsystem. The affected kernel mode components are integral to GPU functionality and handle sensitive operations including memory management, graphics rendering, and hardware resource allocation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an unprivileged regular user account attempts to interact with the graphics driver through legitimate kernel interfaces. The out-of-bounds read condition arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the driver's kernel mode code, allowing a user-level process to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This flaw operates at the kernel level where privilege distinctions become irrelevant, meaning that even standard user accounts can trigger the vulnerability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an "Improper Validation of Array Index" and specifically relates to improper bounds checking in kernel mode driver code. The attack vector leverages legitimate driver interfaces while exploiting memory access patterns that should have been properly validated before execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28183 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to include potential information disclosure vulnerabilities. When an out-of-bounds read occurs, the system may expose sensitive kernel memory contents to the attacking user process, potentially revealing confidential information such as cryptographic keys, system memory layouts, or other privileged data. The denial of service aspect manifests as system instability or complete system crashes, particularly when the out-of-bounds read accesses critical kernel structures or memory locations. This vulnerability affects systems with NVIDIA GPUs running affected driver versions, potentially compromising desktop environments, server systems, and virtualized environments where GPU acceleration is utilized. The impact is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where regular users might attempt to exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to system resources or cause service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28183 should prioritize immediate driver updates from NVIDIA, which address the underlying kernel mode implementation issues through proper bounds checking and input validation. System administrators should implement restrictive user access controls and monitor for unusual GPU driver activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, though in this case the vulnerability enables denial of service and information disclosure without necessarily requiring privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel address space layout randomization and other memory protection mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Regular system monitoring and vulnerability assessment procedures should include checking for affected NVIDIA driver versions and ensuring timely patch deployment across all systems utilizing NVIDIA GPU hardware.