CVE-2026-47590 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability where an unprivileged user may cause a use-after-free condition by issuing a sequence of driver commands. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, denial of service, and information disclosure.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux contains a critical security flaw classified as a use-after-free vulnerability. This type of defect arises when software continues to use a pointer after it has been freed, typically leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by attackers. In this specific instance, the vulnerability is triggered within the driver's command processing logic, where an unprivileged user on the operating system can issue a carefully crafted sequence of commands to the GPU hardware interface. The core technical flaw lies in the improper management of memory resources associated with these driver commands. When the driver processes certain sequences, it may release or deallocate a memory block while retaining references to that same block for subsequent operations. This discrepancy between the lifecycle of the allocated resource and its usage creates an opportunity for exploitation if the timing and content of the command sequence are precisely controlled by an attacker.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which defines use-after-free conditions as a class of software vulnerabilities resulting from improper memory management. The attack vector requires local access to the system with unprivileged user credentials, meaning that any standard user account on the affected Windows or Linux systems can potentially trigger the flaw. By sending specific ioctl calls or API requests to the NVIDIA display driver, an attacker can manipulate the internal state of the kernel-mode component responsible for handling GPU commands. The lack of proper validation checks regarding the validity and lifecycle status of memory buffers allows the driver to proceed with operations on freed memory regions. This scenario is particularly dangerous because it bypasses standard user-level security boundaries, effectively allowing a low-privilege process to interact directly with high-privilege kernel components in an unsafe manner.
The operational impact of successfully exploiting this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. A successful exploit can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the operating system's kernel or privileged driver processes. This capability allows attackers to escalate privileges from a standard user account to that of SYSTEM on Windows or root on Linux, granting them full control over the compromised machine. Beyond privilege escalation, the vulnerability poses significant risks for denial of service conditions. Since use-after-free errors often result in memory corruption, they can cause system crashes, kernel panics, or driver failures, rendering the GPU and potentially the entire workstation unusable until a reboot occurs. Furthermore, information disclosure is another critical risk vector; corrupted memory states may allow an attacker to read sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, potentially exposing cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential information stored in system memory during normal operations.
In terms of threat modeling and industry standards, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion through kernel exploitation. Attackers leveraging such flaws often employ them as part of a broader attack chain to maintain persistence or move laterally within a network after initial access is gained via less privileged vectors. The ability to execute code in kernel space effectively neutralizes many user-space security controls, making detection and mitigation challenging without proper system hardening measures. Organizations relying on NVIDIA GPUs for compute-intensive tasks must recognize that the display driver component represents an expanded attack surface even when dedicated GPU computing features are not actively being used by applications.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required to update the affected NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers to versions where the memory management logic has been corrected and proper validation checks have been implemented for all command sequences received from user space. System administrators should enforce strict patching policies that prioritize driver updates alongside operating system security patches. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting or restricting which users can load kernel drivers may provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Monitoring systems for unusual patterns in ioctl calls or GPU command submissions could also aid in detecting attempted exploits before they result in successful compromise. Given the severity of potential outcomes including full system takeover and data exfiltration, treating this vulnerability with high priority is essential for maintaining the integrity and availability of environments utilizing NVIDIA hardware.