CVE-2025-23258 in DOCA with collectx-dpeserver
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
NVIDIA DOCA contains a vulnerability in the collectx-dpeserver Debian package for arm64 that could allow an attacker with low privileges to escalate privileges. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23258 resides within the NVIDIA DOCA software suite, specifically affecting the collectx-dpeserver Debian package designed for arm64 architecture systems. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the system's privilege management mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests in the way the package handles certain operational contexts during execution, creating potential pathways for unauthorized privilege elevation. The affected environment typically includes systems running NVIDIA DOCA software in arm64 configurations, which are commonly deployed in data center and edge computing scenarios where network infrastructure management is critical.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the collectx-dpeserver component, which operates with elevated permissions during normal execution cycles. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate the program's execution flow to gain access to higher privilege levels than initially intended. The flaw likely involves insufficient validation of user inputs or improper access control checks that allow malicious actors to leverage existing processes to escalate their privileges. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management issues, and potentially CWE-782, which addresses exposed service vulnerabilities in network services. The ARM64 architecture specific nature of the flaw suggests that the vulnerability may be related to how privilege levels are managed across different processor instruction sets or system call interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire network infrastructure management systems. When exploited successfully, attackers could gain unauthorized access to critical system functions, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, or complete service disruption. The low privilege requirement for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires minimal initial access to pose significant threats. Systems utilizing NVIDIA DOCA for network infrastructure management, particularly those in sensitive environments such as financial institutions, government agencies, or critical infrastructure sectors, face heightened risk from this vulnerability. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where the collectx-dpeserver process runs with elevated privileges to perform essential monitoring and management functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23258 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest NVIDIA DOCA releases that contain fixes for this privilege escalation vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of the collectx-dpeserver process to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit potential lateral movement once an attacker has gained initial access. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of the collectx-dpeserver package and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. System hardening practices including disabling unnecessary services, implementing proper user access controls, and maintaining regular security updates should be enforced. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation category, specifically addressing techniques such as privilege escalation through service misconfiguration or exploitation of software vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral analytics and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts before they succeed in escalating privileges.