CVE-2024-0147 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
NVIDIA GPU display driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability where referencing memory after it has been freed can lead to denial of service or data tampering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0147 resides within NVIDIA GPU display drivers for both Windows and Linux operating systems, representing a critical memory safety issue that can potentially compromise system integrity and availability. This flaw manifests as a use-after-free condition that occurs when the driver attempts to access memory locations that have already been deallocated, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability affects the graphics processing unit driver components responsible for managing display output and GPU resource allocation, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of NVIDIA hardware across enterprise and consumer environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the driver code, specifically in how the system handles memory deallocation and subsequent access operations. When certain display-related operations are executed, the driver allocates memory for graphics processing tasks and later frees this memory while maintaining references to it. This creates a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the execution flow to trigger the use-after-free condition, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw is categorized under CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0147 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can enable data tampering and potentially full system compromise. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability may be able to execute unauthorized code within the GPU driver context, which operates with elevated privileges and can access sensitive system resources. The denial of service aspect manifests through system crashes, display corruption, or complete GPU functionality failure, while data tampering capabilities could result in unauthorized modification of graphics processing data or system memory contents. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where GPU acceleration is heavily utilized, including workstations, servers, and gaming platforms that rely on NVIDIA's graphics processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-0147 should prioritize immediate driver updates from NVIDIA, as the company has released patches addressing this specific memory management flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly in environments where GPU resources are critical to operations. Additional defensive measures include monitoring system logs for unusual GPU driver behavior, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and maintaining regular system integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime application control measures and memory protection mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date driver firmware and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of graphics processing components within enterprise environments.