CVE-2022-34667 in CUDA Toolkit SDK
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2022
NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit SDK contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in cuobjdump, where an unprivileged remote attacker could exploit this buffer overflow condition by persuading a local user to download a specially crafted corrupted file and execute cuobjdump against it locally, which may lead to a limited denial of service and some loss of data integrity for the local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34667 resides within the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit SDK and specifically affects the cuobjdump utility. This tool serves as a command-line interface for examining CUDA object files and is commonly used by developers and system administrators working with GPU computing applications. The flaw manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow that occurs when cuobjdump processes specially crafted input files, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries seeking to compromise local systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the cuobjdump utility's parsing routines. When processing malformed or corrupted CUDA object files, the application fails to properly bounds-check buffer allocations, allowing an attacker to overflow stack memory regions. This condition typically occurs during the parsing of object file headers or metadata sections where the utility assumes certain data structures will conform to expected sizes. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that memory corruption can occur in adjacent stack variables, potentially leading to unpredictable program behavior and execution flow manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems utilizing NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit components, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted files from external sources. The attack requires social engineering to convince a local user to execute cuobjdump against a maliciously crafted file, but once triggered, the consequences can include limited denial of service conditions and potential data integrity issues. The local execution requirement means that network-based exploitation is not directly possible, but the attack vector remains concerning as it can be initiated through various means of file delivery, including email attachments, web downloads, or removable media.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow classification, which represents a fundamental weakness in memory management practices within software applications. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage software exploitation to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The limited denial of service aspect suggests that while complete system compromise may not be achievable, the local user's environment can be disrupted through memory corruption that affects program execution flow and potentially leads to application crashes or data corruption. Organizations implementing NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit solutions must consider this vulnerability in their security posture, particularly in environments where multiple users have access to development tools and may encounter untrusted content.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit versions, implementing strict file validation procedures for any CUDA object files processed by cuobjdump, and employing principle of least privilege controls to limit local user execution capabilities. System administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual cuobjdump execution patterns and implementing network-based controls to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious files. Regular security assessments of GPU computing environments and comprehensive vulnerability scanning should include verification of cuobjdump utility integrity to ensure that no unauthorized modifications have occurred that could exacerbate the vulnerability conditions.