CVE-2026-47576 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows contains a vulnerability in the kernel module through which an attacker might initiate an out-of-bounds read. Successful exploitation of this issue could lead to denial of service and information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the NVIDIA Graphics Processing Unit display driver for Microsoft Windows, specifically affecting its kernel-mode components. This vulnerability is classified as a memory safety error where improper bounds checking allows an attacker to read data from outside the intended buffer boundaries. In modern operating systems like Windows, drivers operate with high privileges in Ring 0, granting them direct access to hardware and critical system structures. When a driver fails to validate input parameters or array indices correctly before accessing memory locations, it creates a pathway for out-of-bounds reads. This specific type of flaw is commonly associated with CWE-125, which defines an out-of-bounds read as reading data beyond the end or beginning of a buffer. The presence of such a defect indicates that the driver code did not adequately enforce limits on memory access operations during rendering or display processing tasks.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is twofold, primarily leading to denial of service and potential information disclosure. An attacker who can trigger the vulnerable function in kernel mode may cause the system to crash by accessing invalid memory addresses that are protected by the operating system's memory management unit. This results in a blue screen of death or an automatic restart, effectively denying legitimate users access to their computing resources. Furthermore, if the out-of-bounds read accesses sensitive data structures such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other process-specific information residing adjacent to the target buffer, it could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential system state. This aligns with CWE-200, which covers exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The ability to leak kernel memory is particularly dangerous because it can provide attackers with the necessary context to bypass security mitigations like Kernel Patch Protection or Data Execution Prevention in subsequent attack phases.
From a tactical perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to techniques observed in advanced persistent threats and exploit development frameworks. Specifically, out-of-bounds reads are often utilized as part of information gathering stages within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, such as T1082 System Information Discovery or more specifically memory scraping techniques like those found under T1057 Process Memory Stealing if applied to other processes via kernel access. Attackers may leverage this flaw to stabilize their exploit chain by first leaking pointers and security cookies before attempting arbitrary code execution. The existence of such a bug in a widely deployed driver highlights the risks inherent in complex software ecosystems where third-party components interact deeply with the operating system core. It underscores the importance of rigorous static analysis, fuzzing, and formal verification methods during the development lifecycle to prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities from reaching production environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability rely heavily on timely patch management by end-users and organizations running NVIDIA hardware on Windows systems. Administrators should ensure that all GPU drivers are updated to versions where the bounds checking logic has been corrected in the kernel module. Beyond immediate remediation, defense-in-depth measures such as enabling Kernel DMA Protection and Memory Integrity through Windows Defender System Guard can help mitigate the impact of successful exploitation by restricting unauthorized driver loading and protecting critical system memory from being read or modified by compromised drivers. Additionally, organizations should implement strict application control policies to prevent untrusted code from executing in kernel mode, thereby reducing the attack surface available for triggering such vulnerabilities. Continuous monitoring for anomalous behavior related to high-privilege process activity can also aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts before significant damage occurs.