CVE-2026-47521 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The NVIDIA vGPU Virtual GPU Manager for Linux presents a critical security risk due to a flaw located within its kernel mode driver layer. This specific component is responsible for managing virtualized graphics processing units in server environments, facilitating the sharing of GPU resources among multiple virtual machines or containers. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition, which occurs when the software accesses memory locations that are outside the intended buffer boundaries. In the context of kernel-mode operations, such memory safety violations are particularly severe because they bypass user-space protections and operate with high-level system privileges. An attacker who can trigger this flaw may be able to read arbitrary data from the kernel's virtual address space, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in memory that should remain isolated from unprivileged processes or guest operating systems.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is multifaceted and severe. Beyond simple information disclosure, where an attacker might extract cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data residing in kernel memory, the flaw can lead to more destructive outcomes depending on how it is leveraged. If combined with other techniques such as heap spraying or specific timing attacks, the out-of-bounds read could potentially be used to infer memory layouts and facilitate further exploitation steps that result in arbitrary code execution. This would allow an attacker to gain full control over the host system running the NVIDIA vGPU software. Furthermore, even without achieving code execution, a successful exploit can cause a denial of service by triggering kernel panics or crashes through invalid memory access patterns, thereby disrupting critical workloads and services hosted on the affected infrastructure.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read errors as accessing data outside the bounds of an allocated buffer without writing to it. This type of flaw is often categorized under CWE-787 in broader contexts where memory corruption leads to undefined behavior that can be exploited for control flow hijacking or privilege escalation. In terms of adversary tactics, this vulnerability supports techniques associated with ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically command and script interpreters if code execution is achieved, as well as T1083 for file and directory discovery if information disclosure leads to further reconnaissance. The ability to escalate privileges from a guest virtual machine or container to the host kernel level represents a significant breach of isolation boundaries, which are fundamental to secure multi-tenant environments.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural hardening. The primary defense is to apply the vendor-provided security patches that address this specific memory safety issue within the NVIDIA vGPU Virtual GPU Manager for Linux. Organizations should prioritize updating their host systems running affected versions of the software as soon as verified updates are available. Additionally, implementing strict access controls on kernel interfaces and ensuring that only authorized users can interact with the virtualization management tools reduces the attack surface. Deploying runtime security solutions such as eBPF-based monitoring or intrusion detection systems capable of detecting anomalous memory access patterns in real-time can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular auditing of driver versions and maintaining a rigorous patch management lifecycle are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in production environments.