CVE-2026-47591 in GeForce
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer where an unprivileged user could bypass read-only memory protection due to incorrect authorization, enabling write access to memory marked read-only. 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 Linux, specifically affecting the subsystem responsible for managing memory access controls during display operations. This flaw stems from a fundamental logic error in the authorization mechanisms that govern how user-space applications interact with protected hardware resources. In a properly secured system architecture, memory regions designated as read-only by the kernel or driver must remain immutable to unprivileged processes to prevent unauthorized modifications that could compromise system integrity. However, due to insufficient validation checks within this specific layer of the driver stack, an attacker who has gained access to the local machine without administrative privileges can exploit a gap in these authorization routines. This allows them to circumvent standard read-only protections and gain write capabilities over memory segments that should be strictly immutable.
From a technical perspective, this issue represents a classic failure in privilege separation and boundary enforcement between user space and kernel space. The vulnerability enables an unprivileged local actor to manipulate data structures or code pointers within the protected memory regions of the graphics driver. By writing arbitrary data into these read-only areas, the attacker can alter critical control flow mechanisms or inject malicious payloads directly into the execution context of the privileged process running the display server. This bypasses standard security mitigations such as non-executable stack and heap protections because the attack vector targets a region that is already mapped with write permissions in certain contexts but lacks proper runtime validation to prevent unauthorized modification by lower-privilege entities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, encompassing multiple critical threat vectors including privilege escalation, arbitrary code execution, denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering. If successfully exploited, an attacker could escalate their privileges from a standard user account to that of the root or system administrator by hijacking the kernel-mode driver's execution flow. This would grant them full control over the underlying operating system, allowing for the installation of persistent backdoors, modification of security policies, and access to all data stored on the device. Furthermore, the ability to write to arbitrary memory locations can lead to denial of service conditions if critical system structures are corrupted, causing the display server or entire kernel to crash. Additionally, sensitive information residing in protected memory regions could be exfiltrated, leading to significant confidentiality breaches for enterprise environments relying on these systems for secure computing tasks.
In terms of industry standard classifications, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management and CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, as it involves unauthorized modification of protected memory regions due to flawed access control logic. From an offensive security perspective, such exploitation techniques are consistent with MITRE ATT&CK tactics related to Defense Evasion through process injection or hooking, and Privilege Escalation via local exploits targeting kernel vulnerabilities. The ability to bypass read-only protections is a precursor for more advanced attacks that aim to establish persistence or move laterally within a network by compromising the host system's integrity at its lowest level of trust.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and rigorous access control enforcement. Organizations should apply vendor-provided security updates as soon as they become available, ensuring that the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver is updated to versions where this authorization logic has been corrected. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to operational constraints, strict network segmentation can limit exposure by preventing untrusted users from accessing systems running vulnerable drivers. Additionally implementing least-privilege principles for user accounts reduces the attack surface, as only authorized personnel should have local shell access to machines equipped with these graphics components. Regular auditing of system logs and monitoring for anomalous kernel-level activity can also aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts before significant damage occurs.