CVE-2026-47520 in Virtual GPU Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA vGPU Virtual GPU Manager for Linux contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer where an attacker could cause an out-of-bounds read. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, denial of service, escalation of privileges, information disclosure, and data tampering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The NVIDIA vGPU Virtual GPU Manager for Linux presents a critical security flaw within its kernel mode driver layer, specifically involving an out-of-bounds read condition. This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation checks when the system processes certain input parameters or memory requests directed at the virtualized graphics processing unit resources. In complex software architectures like hypervisors and device drivers, boundary checking is paramount to ensure that data access remains within allocated memory segments. When these safeguards fail, the application may read beyond the intended buffer limits, accessing adjacent memory regions that were not designated for such operations. This type of error is a classic example of improper input validation where the software fails to verify that user-supplied or internally generated indices fall within acceptable ranges before performing memory access operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its location in kernel space, which operates with the highest level of privilege on the operating system. An attacker who can trigger this out-of-bounds read does not merely cause a simple application crash but potentially compromises the entire host system. The immediate consequence could be a denial of service if the invalid memory access causes the kernel to panic or enter an unstable state, effectively halting all virtual machine operations hosted on that GPU resource. However, the risks extend far beyond availability issues. By carefully crafting inputs to control what data is read from adjacent memory locations, an attacker may perform information disclosure attacks. This could involve leaking sensitive kernel structures, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data residing in nearby memory buffers, providing valuable intelligence for further exploitation stages.
Furthermore, this vulnerability serves as a potent primitive for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. In modern operating systems, particularly Linux, the distinction between user space and kernel space is enforced by hardware mechanisms that rely on strict adherence to memory boundaries. If an attacker can manipulate the out-of-bounds read to gain control over return addresses or function pointers located in adjacent memory regions, they may redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the system. This could allow a low-privileged user within a virtual machine to break out of their sandbox and execute commands with root-level privileges on the host OS. Such an escape scenario fundamentally undermines the isolation guarantees provided by virtualization technologies, allowing lateral movement across tenant boundaries in multi-tenant cloud environments or data centers.
From a classification perspective, this flaw aligns closely with CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where software reads past the end of a buffer. The potential for privilege escalation and code execution places it within the high-severity tier of vulnerability assessments. In terms of tactical mapping to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability facilitates techniques related to Initial Access through exploitation of remote services if exposed via network interfaces, as well as Defense Evasion by bypassing security restrictions inherent in virtualization boundaries. It also supports Lateral Movement and Privilege Escalation vectors once initial foothold is gained within a guest VM. The ability to tamper with data indirectly stems from the potential for memory corruption that can alter system state or configuration files if combined with write primitives, although the primary description highlights read-based impacts.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements. NVIDIA has likely released driver updates that address this specific boundary check failure in the kernel mode layer. System administrators should prioritize applying these patches to all hosts utilizing vGPU technology immediately upon availability. Beyond software updates, defense-in-depth measures are essential. Implementing strict network segmentation can limit an attacker's ability to reach the vulnerable service if it is exposed over a network interface. Additionally, enabling hardware-assisted virtualization features such as Intel VT-d or AMD-Vi ensures that I/O memory management units properly isolate device DMA accesses from host memory, adding another layer of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular auditing of driver code for proper bounds checking and employing static analysis tools during development can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases. Organizations should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual kernel behavior or unexpected privilege changes as part of their incident response procedures.