CVE-2026-47545 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 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 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 classified as an out-of-bounds read, which corresponds to CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy. In this context, the driver fails to properly validate memory access boundaries when processing display-related commands or data structures sent from user-mode applications or other system components. Because kernel mode operates with the highest level of privilege on an operating system, any improper handling of memory addresses can have severe consequences for system stability and security integrity. The vulnerability arises during the execution of specific graphics rendering or display management routines where input parameters are not sufficiently sanitized before being used to calculate memory offsets.
An attacker who successfully exploits this out-of-bounds read condition can leverage it to achieve several critical outcomes, ranging from information disclosure to arbitrary code execution. By carefully crafting malicious inputs that trigger the invalid memory access, a local attacker could potentially read sensitive data located in kernel space or adjacent user-space processes that should not be accessible. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves file and directory discovery through unauthorized memory reads. Furthermore, if the out-of-bounds read allows for subsequent manipulation of control flow or heap metadata, it may facilitate arbitrary code execution under the context of the kernel process. Such an exploit would effectively bypass standard user-mode security boundaries, allowing the attacker to escalate privileges from a low-privileged user account to SYSTEM on Windows or root on Linux environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for privilege escalation and denial of service. A successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the host system, enabling data tampering, theft of credentials stored in memory, and installation of persistent malware with kernel-level persistence mechanisms. Additionally, even without achieving code execution, an attacker might trigger a crash or instability within the graphics subsystem, resulting in a denial of service condition that disrupts user productivity and potentially affects other processes sharing the GPU resources. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, which covers endpoint denial of service through resource exhaustion or system crashes induced by exploiting software vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying vendor-provided patches to update the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver to a version that includes fixes for this memory safety issue. System administrators should prioritize updating drivers on workstations and servers where high-privilege access is required, particularly in environments handling sensitive data or running critical infrastructure services. In addition to patching, implementing strict application whitelisting can reduce the attack surface by preventing unauthorized applications from interacting with the graphics driver kernel components. Monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or privilege escalation attempts via endpoint detection and response tools can also help identify potential exploitation activities before they result in full system compromise. Regular security audits and adherence to secure coding practices during driver development are essential preventive measures against such low-level memory corruption vulnerabilities.