CVE-2026-47599 in GPU Display Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux contains a vulnerability in the open-source kernel module where an unprivileged local user could cause improper preservation of memory access permissions during DMA mapping. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux contains a critical security flaw within its open-source kernel module that compromises the integrity of memory access permissions during Direct Memory Access mapping operations. This vulnerability arises from an improper preservation mechanism when handling DMA mappings, which are essential for allowing peripheral devices like GPUs to read from and write to system memory without continuous CPU intervention. In a properly secured environment, these mappings must strictly adhere to predefined permission boundaries established by the operating system kernel to ensure that only authorized processes can access specific regions of physical or virtual memory. However, due to this implementation error, an unprivileged local user is able to manipulate the state of these permissions in ways that bypass standard security controls. The root cause lies in the failure to correctly maintain or validate the access rights associated with DMA buffers after they have been mapped into the kernel address space, creating a window where memory protection mechanisms are effectively disabled for specific regions involved in GPU operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted because it resides within the Linux kernel, which operates at the highest level of privilege on most systems. An attacker who gains local access to an affected system can exploit this flaw to escalate privileges from a standard user account to root or other high-privilege states. By manipulating DMA mappings, the attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions, effectively taking full control of the host machine. Beyond privilege escalation, the vulnerability allows for denial of service conditions where the stability of the operating system is compromised by corrupting memory structures that are critical to system operation. Furthermore, because DMA bypasses normal CPU cache coherency and security checks when misconfigured, an attacker can read sensitive data from other processes or kernel space, leading to significant information disclosure vulnerabilities. This includes the potential theft of cryptographic keys, user credentials, or proprietary application data stored in memory regions that were improperly exposed through flawed DMA mappings.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, as it involves unauthorized modification or access to protected system resources due to inadequate validation of memory permissions. In terms of tactical behavior, exploitation techniques would likely fall under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1055 Process Injection or T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, specifically leveraging kernel-level vulnerabilities to bypass user-space restrictions. The ability to tamper with data also relates to CWE-347 Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature if the DMA operations involve integrity-checked buffers, although the primary concern here is the unauthorized access and modification capabilities granted by the flawed permission preservation logic.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for managing NVIDIA GPU infrastructure on Linux systems. The most effective remediation is to apply vendor-provided patches that update the open-source kernel module to a version where the DMA mapping permissions are correctly preserved and validated according to strict security policies. Until such updates can be deployed, organizations should consider restricting local user access to systems running vulnerable versions of the driver, particularly in multi-tenant environments or shared computing clusters. Implementing mandatory access control frameworks like SELinux or AppArmor with strict profiles for GPU-related processes can provide an additional layer of defense by limiting what actions unprivileged users can perform even if they attempt to exploit this kernel flaw. Additionally, monitoring system logs for unusual DMA activity patterns or unexpected privilege changes may help in detecting attempted exploitation activities before significant damage occurs. Regular auditing of driver versions and prompt application of security updates remain the primary defenses against such low-level kernel vulnerabilities that threaten the foundational integrity of the operating environment.