CVE-2026-47523 in GeForce
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer where an attacker could cause an out-of-bounds write. 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 identified vulnerability resides within the kernel-mode components of the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for both Windows and Linux operating systems. This specific flaw is categorized as an out-of-bounds write, which corresponds to CWE-787 in the Common Weakness Enumeration standard. In this context, the driver fails to properly validate memory access boundaries when handling display-related operations or hardware command buffers submitted by user-space applications. Because kernel-mode drivers operate with high privileges and direct access to system resources, any improper memory manipulation can have severe consequences for system stability and security integrity. The root cause typically involves a lack of rigorous bounds checking on array indices or buffer lengths before writing data to allocated memory regions, allowing an attacker to write beyond the intended allocation limits.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is significant due to its location in kernel space. A successful exploitation allows an unprivileged user-space process to corrupt adjacent memory structures within the driver or even overwrite critical system data outside the driver's own memory footprint. This can lead to arbitrary code execution, as the attacker may be able to manipulate function pointers or return addresses on the stack or heap. Furthermore, the vulnerability facilitates privilege escalation from a standard user account to SYSTEM or root level, effectively granting full control over the compromised host. Denial of service is also a likely outcome if the out-of-bounds write corrupts essential kernel data structures, causing system crashes or blue screens. Additionally, information disclosure may occur if sensitive memory contents are leaked through improper reads triggered by the same faulty logic, and data tampering can affect other processes sharing the GPU resources.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion. Attackers could leverage this flaw to bypass security controls that rely on user-level isolation, such as sandboxing or containerization boundaries, by escalating privileges within the host operating system. The ability to execute arbitrary code in kernel mode also enables persistence mechanisms that are difficult for endpoint detection solutions to identify, as they operate below the level of standard application monitoring. This makes timely patching and mitigation critical for maintaining a secure computing environment, particularly in multi-tenant or shared GPU environments where untrusted workloads may interact with the display driver.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying vendor-provided patches that address the memory validation logic within the kernel-mode driver. Organizations should ensure that NVIDIA drivers are updated to versions that include fixes for this specific out-of-bounds write issue. In addition to patching, implementing strict application whitelisting and restricting user permissions can reduce the attack surface by limiting which processes have access to GPU hardware interfaces. Monitoring for anomalous behavior in kernel-mode activity or unusual memory allocation patterns may also aid in detecting exploitation attempts before they result in full system compromise. Regular security assessments and adherence to secure coding practices during driver development are essential preventive measures against similar vulnerabilities in future releases.