CVE-2026-45196 in Graphics DDK
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2026
Kernel software installed and running inside a Host VM may post improper commands to the GPU Firmware to trigger a GPU register access which can lead to privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within virtualized environments where kernel software interacts with graphics processing units through firmware interfaces. The issue stems from improper command generation and execution within the hypervisor's kernel space, specifically when managing GPU resources for virtual machines. When a malicious actor exploits this weakness, they can manipulate the kernel to send malformed or unauthorized commands to the GPU firmware, potentially bypassing standard access controls and privilege boundaries.
The technical implementation involves the kernel software's failure to properly validate or sanitize commands before transmitting them to GPU firmware components. This improper command handling creates an attack surface where malicious inputs can trigger unintended GPU register access patterns that should normally be restricted to privileged system processes. The vulnerability leverages the inherent complexity of GPU firmware interfaces and the trust relationships between host kernel components and hardware peripherals, particularly in virtualized environments where multiple VMs share underlying physical resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this flaw allows attackers to escalate privileges from regular user-level processes to system-level access within the virtualized environment. The exploitation can enable unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise of the host machine or other virtual machines running on the same infrastructure. This type of vulnerability directly violates principles of least privilege and mandatory access controls that are fundamental to secure multi-tenant cloud and virtualization environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) categories, as it involves improper handling of memory operations during command generation and transmission to GPU firmware interfaces. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1134 (Access Token Manipulation) within the adversary tactics framework, representing a sophisticated attack vector that requires deep understanding of both virtualization internals and graphics hardware architecture.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and command sanitization within kernel software responsible for GPU firmware communication. System administrators must ensure regular updates and patches are applied to hypervisor components and kernel modules, while also implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection for unusual GPU register access patterns. Additional security controls include restricting GPU access permissions, employing hardware-based security features such as Intel VT-d or AMD-Vi for device isolation, and implementing proper privilege separation between host kernel components and virtual machine guests. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their virtualization environments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in firmware interfaces and driver software components.