CVE-2017-0350

What it actually does

Improper validation of a user-supplied value in the kernel-mode handler allows the value to be used in an offset calculation, resulting in memory corruption that can cause denial of service or local privilege escalation.

Why it matters to the business

Systems with NVIDIA GPUs may experience unexpected crashes or allow local attackers to obtain elevated privileges, increasing risk of unauthorized access and operational disruption on affected workstations and servers.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker with local low-privileged access supplies a crafted value to the vulnerable kernel-mode handler in the NVIDIA driver; the missing validation causes an incorrect offset that the attacker leverages to corrupt memory and either crash the driver or escalate privileges.

How to fix it

Upgrade the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver to the most recent version that resolves the validation flaw; apply vendor-supplied updates across all affected systems and verify the installed driver version after deployment.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the installed NVIDIA driver version is newer than all vulnerable releases, review release notes for the fix, and perform local privilege-escalation testing in a controlled environment if feasible.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain local access to a system with a vulnerable NVIDIA GPU driver
2. Identify and interact with the kernel-mode display driver interface
3. Submit a malformed value that bypasses input validation
4. Trigger the flawed offset calculation in the handler
5. Exploit resulting memory corruption for denial of service or privilege escalation

How to detect it

Review system and kernel event logs for repeated NVIDIA driver crashes or unexpected privilege changes around the time of local user activity; correlate with process execution involving the display driver.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize driver updates on all systems containing NVIDIA GPUs
• Limit local user accounts to the minimum required privileges
• Monitor kernel logs and driver events for anomalous crashes or access attempts
• Include NVIDIA driver inventory in routine vulnerability scanning