CVE-2023-42725 in SC9863A
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In gpu driver, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service with System execution privileges needed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42725 resides within graphics processing unit driver components where a critical out-of-bounds read condition exists due to insufficient input validation. This flaw manifests when the gpu driver fails to perform proper bounds checking on memory access operations, creating a scenario where malicious input can cause the driver to read data beyond allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability specifically impacts the driver's handling of graphics processing tasks and memory management functions, potentially affecting systems with gpu hardware that rely on this particular driver implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local system access with execution privileges, as the flaw occurs within the kernel-level gpu driver components where system-level operations are processed. The missing bounds check allows for memory corruption that can result in system instability and denial of service conditions. When the driver processes malformed graphics data or executes specific gpu operations, the absence of proper validation leads to unauthorized memory access patterns that can trigger system crashes or lockups. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-129 which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices and bounds checking failures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system availability and stability, particularly in environments where gpu intensive applications are prevalent. The local execution requirement means that an attacker must already have system access or be able to execute code with sufficient privileges to leverage this flaw effectively. However, the potential for denial of service impacts system reliability and can affect legitimate users who depend on gpu functionality for graphics rendering, computational tasks, or gaming applications. The vulnerability can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where gpu resources are heavily utilized for virtualization, scientific computing, or graphic intensive workloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42725 should focus on immediate driver updates from the gpu vendor, which typically include bounds checking mechanisms and memory access validation routines. System administrators should implement least privilege principles to limit local execution privileges and monitor for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual memory access patterns or gpu driver behavior that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated gpu driver versions that may be susceptible to this class of out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack surface can be reduced by ensuring that only necessary gpu drivers are installed and that systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches from manufacturers.