CVE-2022-34665 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2022
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer, where a local user with basic capabilities can cause a null-pointer dereference, which may lead to denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34665 resides within the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver ecosystem affecting both Windows and Linux operating systems through the kernel mode layer implementation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that manifests when a local user with minimal privileges executes malicious code that triggers a null-pointer dereference condition. The kernel mode layer serves as the foundational component responsible for managing hardware interactions and system-level operations, making any vulnerability within this domain particularly concerning for overall system stability and security posture.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves a local attacker exploiting a programming error that occurs during kernel-level operations when processing certain display driver requests. When the driver encounters a null pointer reference during normal operation, the system attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in an immediate system crash or hang. This type of error typically occurs when the driver code fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases during memory management operations, creating a scenario where legitimate system operations can be disrupted through controlled input manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service condition that can affect system availability and user productivity. The null-pointer dereference causes the graphics subsystem to become unresponsive, potentially leading to complete system lockups or requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations. In enterprise environments where GPU acceleration is critical for rendering applications, virtual desktop infrastructure, or high-performance computing workloads, such a vulnerability can result in substantial downtime and service disruption. The local nature of the attack means that even users with basic system access can potentially cause system instability, making this particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege escalation might not be immediately apparent.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. This weakness allows attackers to cause system instability through memory access violations that can be exploited to disrupt normal system operations. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks and system resource hijacking. While the attack vector is local rather than network-based, the potential for causing system-wide disruption through kernel-level manipulation makes this a significant concern for system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining operational continuity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-34665 should focus on immediate driver updates from NVIDIA to address the underlying kernel mode layer implementation flaw. System administrators should prioritize patching across all affected systems, particularly those running critical workloads that depend on GPU acceleration. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual kernel-level memory access patterns or system stability issues can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of local privilege escalation scenarios, while regular system integrity checks can help detect unauthorized modifications to driver components. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially malicious code that could trigger the vulnerability through crafted input parameters.