CVE-2024-34170 in Graphics Drivers
Summary
by MITRE • 11/13/2024
Improper buffer restrictions in some Intel(R) Graphics Drivers may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2024
This vulnerability resides in Intel graphics drivers where insufficient buffer size validation creates a potential pathway for denial of service attacks. The flaw manifests when authenticated users execute specific operations that trigger improper buffer handling within the graphics driver component. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices that fail to properly enforce buffer boundaries during graphics processing operations. Security researchers have identified that this issue affects multiple versions of Intel graphics drivers across different operating systems, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments that rely on Intel GPU acceleration. The improper buffer restrictions create a condition where maliciously crafted graphics operations can cause buffer overflows or underflows that ultimately lead to system instability and service interruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the graphics driver's failure to properly validate buffer sizes before processing graphics commands or rendering operations. When a user authenticates and performs graphics-intensive tasks, the driver processes these requests without adequate boundary checking that would normally prevent memory corruption scenarios. This weakness allows an attacker with local access to manipulate buffer parameters in a way that triggers memory management failures within the graphics subsystem. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local authentication, meaning any user with valid login credentials can potentially exploit this weakness. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the graphics driver component, making it difficult to detect and mitigate through standard application-level security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can result in significant service disruption for systems utilizing Intel graphics hardware. Denial of service conditions can manifest as complete system crashes, graphics rendering failures, or application hang scenarios that require manual intervention to restore normal operations. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as users may experience complete loss of graphical interface functionality, forcing system reboots or requiring driver reinstallation. Organizations with virtualized environments or remote desktop implementations face heightened risk as this vulnerability can affect multiple concurrent users on shared graphics hardware. The local access requirement means that privilege escalation is not necessary for exploitation, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users may have legitimate access to systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate driver updates from Intel to address the buffer restriction issues. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected graphics drivers are updated promptly across enterprise environments. Additional protective measures include implementing user access controls to limit local authentication where possible, monitoring for unusual graphics processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize downtime from service interruption. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 which addresses insufficient input validation and CWE-131 which covers improper handling of buffer size parameters. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network disruption and T1068 which involves exploitation of local privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous graphics driver behavior indicative of buffer overflow attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of graphics driver versions to ensure compliance with security baselines and prevent exploitation of this denial of service vulnerability.