CVE-2026-47533 in GPU Display Driver
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 improper validation of an array index. 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 characterized by an improper validation of an array index, a classic memory safety issue that occurs when software fails to verify that an input value falls within the acceptable bounds of a data structure before using it as an offset or pointer. In kernel mode, where drivers operate with high-level system privileges and direct access to hardware resources, such boundary checks are critical for maintaining system integrity. The absence of rigorous validation allows an attacker who can trigger this code path to manipulate memory addresses in ways that were not intended by the driver developers, potentially leading to out-of-bounds reads or writes depending on how the invalid index is utilized within the execution flow.
From a technical perspective, improper array index validation often leads to buffer overflows or arbitrary read/write primitives when exploited successfully. If an attacker can control the value of the array index through crafted input data sent to the display driver, they may be able to write malicious code into kernel memory structures or overwrite critical function pointers. This capability fundamentally breaks the isolation boundaries that protect the operating system from user-space applications and lower-privilege processes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because GPU drivers are frequently loaded at boot time and run with SYSTEM-level privileges on Windows or root-equivalent privileges on Linux, making them a high-value target for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of exploiting this flaw is severe and multifaceted. A successful exploit could result in arbitrary code execution within the kernel space, allowing an attacker to gain full control over the affected system. This can lead to a complete denial of service if the exploitation causes a kernel panic or system crash by corrupting essential memory regions. Furthermore, the vulnerability facilitates escalation of privileges from a standard user account to that of the system administrator, effectively compromising the entire host environment. Information disclosure is also a significant risk, as out-of-bounds reads may allow an attacker to leak sensitive data stored in adjacent memory locations, including cryptographic keys or other process information. Additionally, data tampering becomes possible if the vulnerability allows for unauthorized modifications to kernel structures that govern system behavior or security policies.
In terms of industry classification standards, this type of flaw is commonly associated with CWE-129 Improper Validation of Array Index and often falls under broader categories such as CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write or CWE-788 Out-of-bounds Read depending on the specific exploitation mechanism. From a tactical standpoint, attacks leveraging kernel driver vulnerabilities are frequently mapped to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Privilege Escalation via Kernel Exploitation and Defense Evasion through Driver Loading. These classifications highlight the severity of bypassing user-mode protections by compromising core system components like display drivers which have deep integration with the operating system's hardware abstraction layer.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying vendor-provided security patches that update the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver to a version where proper bounds checking has been implemented in the kernel mode code. System administrators should ensure that automatic driver updates are enabled or manually verify that the latest stable release is installed across all affected endpoints. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, restricting user access to hardware devices and limiting the execution of untrusted applications can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, enabling advanced security features such as Kernel Patch Protection on Windows or using Linux kernel hardening options like KASLR and stack protectors may provide some level of mitigation against exploitation attempts by making it more difficult for attackers to reliably target specific memory locations within the driver code.