CVE-2025-23302 in HGX
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
NVIDIA HGX and DGX contain a vulnerability where a misconfiguration of the LS10 could enable an attacker to set an unsafe debug access level. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23302 affects NVIDIA HGX and DGX systems, which are high-performance computing platforms designed for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. These systems utilize specialized hardware configurations including the LS10 component that manages various system functions and security controls. The misconfiguration issue specifically targets the debug access level settings within the LS10 subsystem, creating a potential security exposure that could be exploited by malicious actors.
This technical flaw represents a critical misconfiguration in the system's security architecture where the debug access level has been improperly set, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system components. The LS10 component serves as a crucial interface for system diagnostics and debugging operations, and when configured incorrectly, it can provide pathways for attackers to manipulate system behavior. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls during system initialization or configuration processes, where default security settings may have been overridden or improperly applied.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system availability concerns, as the potential for denial of service represents a significant threat to mission-critical AI and machine learning workloads that depend on these platforms. When an attacker successfully exploits the unsafe debug access level configuration, they can potentially disrupt system operations through various means including system crashes, resource exhaustion, or unauthorized access to system resources. This could result in extended downtime for critical computational tasks, data processing interruptions, and compromised system integrity that affects the entire AI infrastructure stack.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and represents a classic case of insecure configuration management that violates fundamental security principles. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers could leverage the debug access level to gain elevated system privileges or bypass security controls. Organizations utilizing NVIDIA HGX and DGX platforms should immediately implement configuration reviews and security audits to identify and correct any unsafe debug access level settings, while also establishing proper access control policies and monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include comprehensive system configuration management protocols, regular security assessments, and implementation of automated tools to detect and remediate misconfigurations. System administrators must ensure that debug access levels are properly restricted and that default security settings are maintained unless explicitly required for legitimate diagnostic purposes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure-by-design principles in high-performance computing environments where security controls must be integrated throughout the system lifecycle rather than treated as afterthoughts. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, access control lists, and continuous monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of protection against potential exploitation of this configuration weakness.