CVE-2026-47538 in Firmware
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the firmware 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 NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for both Windows and Linux operating systems, specifically affecting the firmware component that manages hardware interactions. This flaw is characterized as an out-of-bounds write condition, which represents a critical memory safety violation where software writes data to a memory location beyond the intended boundaries of allocated buffers or arrays. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient validation of input parameters or improper handling of array indices during low-level driver operations. The presence of this defect in firmware suggests that the error occurs at a privileged level of execution, potentially bypassing higher-level operating system security controls and directly impacting hardware state management.
From a technical perspective, an out-of-bounds write allows an attacker to corrupt adjacent memory structures or overwrite critical control data within the driver's runtime environment. This corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution if the overwritten memory contains function pointers or return addresses that are subsequently dereferenced by the system. Alternatively, it may result in a denial of service by crashing the graphics subsystem or causing kernel-level panics due to invalid memory access patterns. The severity is amplified because GPU drivers operate with high privileges and have direct access to hardware resources, making them attractive targets for privilege escalation attacks where an unprivileged user gains administrative rights through driver exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is multifaceted and severe. A successful exploit could enable remote or local attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, effectively taking full control over the host machine. This capability facilitates denial of service conditions by destabilizing the graphics stack, leading to system crashes or unresponsive displays. Furthermore, the ability to write outside allocated bounds permits information disclosure, allowing attackers to read sensitive data from adjacent memory regions, such as cryptographic keys or user credentials. Data tampering is also a significant risk, as attackers can modify critical configuration settings or application states stored in GPU-related memory structures, compromising system integrity and reliability.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which classifies errors where data is written to a location outside the bounds of the intended buffer. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this flaw supports techniques associated with MITRE ATT&CK T1055: Process Injection and T1211: Exploitation for Defense Evasion, as attackers often leverage driver vulnerabilities to inject malicious code into legitimate processes or bypass endpoint detection mechanisms by operating at a lower privilege level. The exploitation of such firmware-level flaws is consistent with advanced persistent threat (APT) strategies that aim to establish deep persistence within enterprise environments.
Mitigation efforts should prioritize the immediate application of vendor-provided patches and updates for NVIDIA GPU drivers on all affected Windows and Linux systems. System administrators must enforce strict update policies to ensure that driver versions are current, thereby closing the window of opportunity for exploitation. Additionally, implementing defense-in-depth strategies such as enabling hardware-enforced stack protection features like Control Flow Guard (CFG) or Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR) can mitigate the impact by making code execution more difficult even if a memory corruption occurs. Restricting driver installation privileges to authorized personnel only and monitoring for unusual kernel-level activity using endpoint detection and response tools further reduces the risk of successful exploitation in production environments.