CVE-2026-47559 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 a user could access memory belonging to another user's process. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, and information disclosure.
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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 improper access control mechanism that allows a local user to read or write memory regions allocated to other processes. In modern computing environments, particularly those involving graphics processing units, the separation between user-space applications and kernel-space drivers is critical for maintaining system integrity. When this boundary is compromised due to insufficient validation of process identifiers or memory permissions during GPU command execution, it creates a pathway for unauthorized data access. This type of vulnerability typically stems from race conditions, missing checks on buffer ownership, or flawed logic in how the driver handles context switches between different user sessions.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write if memory corruption occurs during the exploitation process. The core issue involves the kernel-mode driver failing to properly isolate memory spaces associated with distinct user processes. When a malicious actor triggers this vulnerability, they can bypass standard operating system security models that rely on privilege separation. By accessing memory belonging to another user's process, an attacker gains insight into sensitive data structures, cryptographic keys, or authentication tokens stored in the victim's address space. This capability fundamentally undermines the trust model of the operating system, as kernel-mode drivers are expected to enforce strict isolation boundaries between unprivileged users and privileged resources.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. A successful exploit can lead directly to privilege escalation, allowing a low-privilege user to execute code with higher privileges, potentially gaining administrative control over the system. Furthermore, it enables information disclosure where confidential data from other processes becomes accessible. The attacker may also tamper with data by modifying memory contents of targeted applications, leading to potential corruption or manipulation of critical business logic. Additionally, denial of service is a significant risk if the exploit causes instability in the graphics driver or crashes the kernel, resulting in system reboots or unavailability of graphical services. These impacts collectively degrade the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential dumping. Specifically, it facilitates lateral movement within a multi-user environment by allowing an attacker to harvest credentials or session tokens from other processes running on the same machine. This is particularly dangerous in shared computing environments such as workstations used by multiple employees or servers hosting virtualized desktop infrastructure where isolation between users is paramount for security compliance.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying vendor-provided patches that address the underlying logic errors in the kernel-mode driver code. Organizations should prioritize updating NVIDIA GPU drivers to versions that include fixes for this specific issue. In addition to patching, implementing strict application whitelisting and restricting user permissions can reduce the attack surface by limiting which users have access to install or execute software that interacts with the graphics subsystem. Monitoring system logs for unusual kernel-mode activity or unexpected memory accesses may also aid in detecting attempted exploitation of this vulnerability before significant damage occurs. Regular security audits and adherence to least privilege principles are essential defenses against such low-level driver vulnerabilities.