CVE-2024-0127 in vGPU
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2024
NVIDIA vGPU software contains a vulnerability in the GPU kernel driver of the vGPU Manager for all supported hypervisors, where a user of the guest OS can cause an improper input validation by compromising the guest OS kernel. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, and information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0127 represents a critical security flaw within NVIDIA's vGPU software ecosystem, specifically targeting the GPU kernel driver component of the vGPU Manager. This vulnerability affects all supported hypervisors and demonstrates the complex security landscape that emerges when virtualization technologies interact with hardware-accelerated graphics processing. The issue resides in the improper input validation mechanisms within the kernel driver, which serves as a crucial bridge between virtualized graphics workloads and the underlying physical GPU hardware. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple functional failures, as it creates a pathway for malicious actors to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of virtualized environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user operating within a guest operating system successfully compromises the guest OS kernel, thereby gaining the ability to manipulate input validation controls within the vGPU Manager's kernel driver. This represents a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the inherent trust relationships between virtualized components and their underlying hardware interfaces. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass expected input sanitization checks that should prevent malicious data from being processed by the kernel driver. This improper validation creates opportunities for code execution within the privileged kernel space, enabling attackers to escalate their privileges beyond the confines of the guest operating system and potentially gain access to the host system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0127 is severe and multifaceted, encompassing several critical security domains including privilege escalation, data integrity compromise, and system availability disruption. Successful exploitation could result in attackers achieving code execution at the kernel level, which provides them with unprecedented control over the virtualized environment. This elevated privilege access enables malicious actors to manipulate system memory, modify critical kernel data structures, and potentially exfiltrate sensitive information from other virtual machines sharing the same physical host. The vulnerability also presents significant risks for denial of service scenarios where attackers could destabilize the entire virtualization infrastructure, causing widespread service interruptions across multiple virtualized workloads. Additionally, the information disclosure capabilities allow attackers to access confidential data that should remain isolated within individual virtual environments.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness that enables various attack vectors including buffer overflows, injection attacks, and privilege escalation exploits. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and potentially T1566, which addresses 'Phishing for Information'. Organizations utilizing NVIDIA vGPU solutions must recognize that this vulnerability represents a significant risk to their virtualized infrastructure security posture, particularly in environments where multiple tenants share the same physical hardware resources. The attack surface is particularly concerning in cloud computing environments, containerized deployments, and enterprise virtualization scenarios where security isolation between virtual machines is paramount. The vulnerability's potential for escalation and lateral movement within virtualized environments makes it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely heavily on virtualization technologies for their computing infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-0127 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from NVIDIA, as the vulnerability exists within the kernel driver component that requires system-level updates to address properly. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of virtualized environments should include specific checks for vGPU driver integrity and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege controls within guest operating systems can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while maintaining comprehensive logging and monitoring capabilities to detect anomalous behavior in the kernel driver components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all virtualization infrastructure components and highlights the need for continuous security assessments of complex virtualized environments.