CVE-2024-0109 in CUDA Toolkit
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2024
NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit contains a vulnerability in command `cuobjdump` where a user may cause a crash by passing in a malformed ELF file. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may cause an out of bounds read in the unprivileged process memory which could lead to a limited denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0109 resides within the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit's cuobjdump command, representing a critical security weakness that can be exploited through improper handling of malformed ELF files. This issue specifically affects the command line utility used for examining CUDA object files and their contents, making it a potential target for attackers seeking to disrupt system operations or gain unauthorized access to memory regions. The flaw manifests when the cuobjdump utility processes specially crafted ELF files that do not conform to expected binary formats, leading to unpredictable behavior in the application's memory management routines.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the cuobjdump utility's ELF parsing functionality, which fails to properly sanitize or reject malformed binary structures before attempting to process them. This weakness creates an out-of-bounds memory read condition where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated boundaries of the processed file data. Such behavior typically occurs when the utility's internal parsers do not adequately check array indices or buffer limits during the parsing of ELF headers and sections, particularly when encountering unexpected or corrupted data structures. The vulnerability operates at the level of unprivileged processes, meaning that exploitation does not require elevated system permissions, yet still poses significant risks to system stability and information confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the out-of-bounds memory read could potentially expose sensitive data from the process memory space or provide attackers with information useful for further exploitation attempts. While the immediate effect may appear as a crash or hang in the cuobjdump utility, the underlying memory access violation could inadvertently leak information about the application's internal state or memory layout, creating opportunities for more sophisticated attacks. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a common class of memory safety issues that can lead to information disclosure or system instability. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used development tool like the CUDA Toolkit means that any system administrator or developer who utilizes cuobjdump for examining CUDA object files could be at risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-0109 should focus on immediate patching of the affected NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit versions while implementing defensive measures to prevent malformed input from reaching the vulnerable utility. System administrators should ensure that all development environments utilizing CUDA Toolkit components are updated with the latest security patches provided by NVIDIA. Additionally, organizations should implement input validation controls and sandboxing mechanisms when processing potentially malicious ELF files, particularly in automated build or analysis pipelines. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, which covers Obfuscated Files or Information, as attackers may craft malicious ELF files specifically designed to exploit such parsing vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of development toolchains and implementation of secure coding practices in command line utilities can help prevent similar issues from arising in the future, emphasizing the importance of proper bounds checking and input sanitization in all binary processing components.