CVE-2023-25522 in DGX A100
Summary
by MITRE • 07/04/2023
NVIDIA DGX A100/A800 contains a vulnerability in SBIOS where an attacker may cause improper input validation by providing configuration information in an unexpected format. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-25522 affects NVIDIA DGX A100 and A800 systems through a flaw in the System BIOS (SBIOS) component that handles configuration data processing. This represents a critical weakness in the firmware layer that governs the low-level hardware operations of these high-performance computing platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the SBIOS firmware, specifically when processing configuration information that is provided in unexpected or malformed formats. The affected systems are designed for enterprise-grade artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads, making them prime targets for adversaries seeking to disrupt critical computational infrastructure. The SBIOS serves as the foundational firmware layer that initializes and manages hardware components during system boot, making it a crucial attack surface for compromising system integrity and availability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker provides configuration data that deviates from the expected format or structure that the SBIOS anticipates. This improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject malformed data that can cause the firmware to behave unpredictably. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which specifically addresses "Improper Input Validation," a fundamental security weakness that manifests when systems fail to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing. The attack vector likely involves manipulating configuration parameters through the system management interfaces or firmware update mechanisms, where the SBIOS does not adequately verify the integrity and format of incoming data. The lack of robust input sanitization creates multiple potential attack paths, as the firmware may not properly handle edge cases or unexpected data patterns during configuration processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass information disclosure and data tampering capabilities that can severely compromise system integrity. A successful exploitation could result in complete system downtime, rendering critical AI and machine learning workloads unavailable to organizations relying on these platforms. The information disclosure aspect poses particular risk as attackers might extract sensitive configuration details, system identifiers, or other confidential data that could be leveraged for further attacks. Data tampering capabilities could allow adversaries to modify critical system parameters or configuration settings, potentially leading to unauthorized access, altered computational results, or compromised research data integrity. These systems are typically deployed in secure environments where maintaining data confidentiality and system availability is paramount, making the potential impact of such vulnerabilities particularly severe for organizations in sectors like financial services, healthcare, and scientific research.
Organizations utilizing NVIDIA DGX A100 and A800 systems should prioritize immediate remediation through official firmware updates provided by NVIDIA, as these patches will address the specific input validation flaws within the SBIOS component. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of firmware updates in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility and prevent unintended operational disruptions. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring mechanisms around firmware update processes to prevent unauthorized modifications or exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and enhanced logging of system management interface activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust firmware security practices and proper input validation at all levels of system architecture, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1542 which addresses "Pre-OS Boot" attack methods. Regular security assessments and firmware integrity monitoring should be implemented to maintain defense-in-depth posture against similar vulnerabilities in the system's firmware layer.