CVE-2017-0346 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-0346 was published on May 9, 2017, and affects all versions of the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver. The vulnerability in the kernel mode layer allows for denial of service or potential escalation of privileges.

Understanding CVE-2017-0346

This CVE identifies a flaw in the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver that can lead to denial of service or privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2017-0346?

The vulnerability lies in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DxgkDdiEscape in all versions of the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver. The issue arises from the lack of validation for the size of an input buffer.

The Impact of CVE-2017-0346

The vulnerability can be exploited to cause denial of service or potentially escalate privileges on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-0346

The technical aspects of this CVE are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the kernel mode layer of the NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver allows attackers to exploit the lack of input buffer size validation, leading to denial of service or potential privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GPU Display Driver
Vendor: Nvidia Corporation
Versions: All versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted input to the affected driver, triggering the denial of service or privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-0346, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor vendor security advisories for patches and updates
Implement the recommended security configurations
Consider temporary workarounds provided by the vendor

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the GPU Display Driver to the latest version
Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Nvidia promptly
Follow best practices for secure driver installation and configuration