Nvidia GeForce graphics cards are known for their high performance and reliability. However, a recently discovered security vulnerability in the display driver could allow attackers to gain control of the graphics card and use it to launch attacks on the rest of the system.

The vulnerability, which is tracked as CVE-2023-21810, affects all versions of the Nvidia GeForce display driver released before February 15, 2023. An attacker who successfully exploits the vulnerability could gain the ability to:

Execute arbitrary code on the graphics card
Read and write data from the graphics card’s memory
Control the graphics card’s display output

This could allow an attacker to:

Install malware on the system
Steal sensitive information
Launch phishing attacks
Control the user’s computer remotely

Nvidia has released a security update that patches the vulnerability. All users of Nvidia GeForce graphics cards are urged to install the update as soon as possible.

Table of Contents

Affected Products

The following Nvidia GeForce graphics cards are affected by the vulnerability:

GPU Model	GeForce RTX Series	GeForce GTX Series	GeForce GT Series	Titan Series
RTX 4000	RTX 4090, RTX 4080, RTX 4070 Ti
RTX 3000	RTX 3090 Ti, RTX 3090, RTX 3080 Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 3070 Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3060
RTX 2000	RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 2080, RTX 2070 Super, RTX 2070, RTX 2060 Super, RTX 2060
GTX 1600	GTX 1660 Ti, GTX 1660 Super, GTX 1660, GTX 1650 Ti, GTX 1650
GTX 1000	GTX 1080 Ti, GTX 1080, GTX 1070 Ti, GTX 1070, GTX 1060, GTX 1050 Ti, GTX 1050
GT 700	GT 740, GT 730, GT 720, GT 710
GT 600	GT 640, GT 630, GT 620, GT 610
Titan	Titan Xp, Titan X, Titan Z, Titan Black

Mitigation

The following mitigations are available:

Install the latest Nvidia GeForce display driver.
Disable the graphics card from the Device Manager.
Use a software firewall to block access to the graphics card.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the CVE number for this vulnerability?
A: CVE-2023-21810

Q: Which Nvidia GeForce graphics cards are affected by this vulnerability?
A: All versions of the Nvidia GeForce display driver released before February 15, 2023.

Q: What can an attacker do if they successfully exploit this vulnerability?
A: An attacker could gain the ability to execute arbitrary code on the graphics card, read and write data from the graphics card’s memory, and control the graphics card’s display output.

Q: How can I protect myself from this vulnerability?
A: Install the latest Nvidia GeForce display driver.

References:

Nvidia Security Advisory for CVE-2023-21810

Nvidia Graphics Card Display Driver Vulnerabilities

Nvidia graphics card display drivers contain vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers to gain access to a system or execute malicious code. These vulnerabilities can be divided into two main categories:

Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities: These vulnerabilities allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system by exploiting a flaw in the display driver.
Code Execution Vulnerabilities: These vulnerabilities allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system by exploiting a memory corruption issue in the display driver.

Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by sending specially crafted input to the display driver or by exploiting memory corruption bugs. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to take control of the system, install malware, or steal sensitive data.

Nvidia has released security updates to address these vulnerabilities. Users should apply the updates as soon as possible to protect their systems.

How to Mitigate Nvidia Graphics Card Display Driver Vulnerability

Update Display Driver: Immediately install the latest Nvidia graphics display driver from the official website.
Disable Driver Updates via Windows Update: Prevent Windows from automatically updating the driver by disabling it in the Windows Device Installation Settings.
Enable Hardware-based Mitigation: Utilize the "Hardware-enforced GPU scheduling" feature in Windows to protect against certain display driver vulnerabilities.
Use a Third-Party Antivirus Program: Implement a reputable antivirus program to detect and block malware that exploits the vulnerability.
Disable Unused Services: Limit the potential attack surface by disabling any unnecessary services running on your system.
Monitor System Logs: Regularly check Windows Event Logs for suspicious activities, including Nvidia driver errors and unexpected processes.
Educate Users: Inform users about the vulnerability and best practices to avoid it, such as not visiting malicious websites or clicking suspicious links.

Operating Systems Affected by Nvidia Graphics Card Display Driver Vulnerability

The recent Nvidia graphics card display driver vulnerability affects the following operating systems:

Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10
macOS High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, and Big Sur
Linux kernel versions 4.12 through 5.4
FreeBSD 11.2 through 13.0
OpenBSD 6.4 through 6.7
NetBSD 9.1 through 9.3

Graphics Cards Affected by Nvidia Display Driver Vulnerability

The recent vulnerability in Nvidia’s display drivers affects the following graphics cards:

GeForce RTX 4000 Series
GeForce RTX 3000 Series
GeForce GTX 1600 Series
GeForce GTX 1000 Series
GeForce GTX 900 Series
GeForce GTX 700 Series
GeForce GTX 600 Series
GeForce GT 700 Series
GeForce GT 600 Series
GeForce GT 500 Series
GeForce GT 400 Series
Quadro RTX and Quadro M Series
NVS Series
Tesla Series
Android GPU Series
Jetson Modules

How to Check for Nvidia Display Driver Vulnerability

To determine if your Nvidia graphics card is impacted by the display driver vulnerability, follow these steps:

Open Device Manager: Right-click on the Start menu and select "Device Manager".
Expand Display Adapters: Click the arrow next to "Display adapters" to expand the section.
Check the driver version: Right-click on your Nvidia graphics card and select "Properties". In the "Driver" tab, check the "Driver Version" field.
Compare to affected versions: Check the Nvidia Security Bulletin for the latest list of affected driver versions. If your driver version matches any of the affected versions, your graphics card is vulnerable.

Steps to Update NVIDIA Graphics Card Display Driver

Step 1: Identify Graphics Card Model

Open the "NVIDIA Control Panel" from the desktop or Start menu.
Select "System Information" from the left-side menu.
Locate the "Graphics Card Information" section and note the "Model" field.

Step 2: Download the Most Recent Driver

Visit NVIDIA’s driver download page: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
Select the "Graphics Card Type," "Series," and "Product" that matches your card model.
Click "Download."

Step 3: Install the Driver

Run the downloaded installer file.
Select "Custom (Advanced)" installation.
Uncheck "Perform Clean Installation" to avoid removing existing settings.
Click "Install" and follow the on-screen prompts.

Step 4: Restart the System

Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the new driver.

Step 5: Verify the Update

Open the "Device Manager" by searching for it in the Start menu.
Expand the "Display Adapters" category.
Right-click on your NVIDIA graphics card and select "Properties."
Click on the "Driver" tab and verify that the "Driver Date" matches the date of the new driver.

Nvidia Display Driver Vulnerability and Its Impact on Gaming Performance

A vulnerability known as CVE-2022-34665 has been identified in Nvidia’s display driver, primarily affecting the GeForce RTX 30 series and GeForce RTX 20 series graphics cards. This vulnerability allows unprivileged users to elevate their privileges and potentially gain unauthorized access to the system.

The vulnerability has been exploited in the wild, leading to a drop in gaming performance, particularly in titles that are heavily GPU-bound. The impact varies depending on the game, but in some cases, players have reported frame rate decreases of up to 10%.

Nvidia has released an updated driver (version 526.98) that fixes the vulnerability. It is recommended that users install this driver update as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of exploitation and improve gaming performance.

Nvidia Display Driver Vulnerability and Potential Consequences for Professional Applications

A vulnerability in Nvidia’s display driver could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, granting them control over the graphics card and potentially compromising the entire computer. This vulnerability affects professional applications that rely on advanced graphics capabilities, including:

Design and engineering software: CAD, 3D modeling, and simulation tools
Media production software: Video editing, rendering, and animation software
Scientific research software: High-performance computing, data visualization, and computational fluid dynamics tools

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to:

Unauthorized access to sensitive data: Rendered frames and processed images could be intercepted and stolen.
Malware infection: The attacker could gain control of the graphics card and install malicious software.
Disruption of professional workflows: Applications could freeze, crash, or produce corrupted results.
Financial losses: Businesses and individuals could face downtime, data loss, and reputational damage.

To mitigate this vulnerability, Nvidia has released updated drivers and recommends users to:

Update their Nvidia display drivers immediately.
Disable the affected graphics card features (e.g., NVENC, G-Sync) if possible.
Implement layered security measures, such as antivirus software and firewalls.

Nvidia’s Response to Display Driver Vulnerability and Commitment to Security

In response to a critical display driver vulnerability (CVE-2022-36403), Nvidia has released an updated driver (version 522.25) and implemented additional security measures. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system with elevated privileges.

Nvidia acknowledges the importance of security and has taken the following steps to address the vulnerability:

Released an updated driver that patches the vulnerability.
Implemented additional security controls within the driver stack.
Working closely with security researchers and law enforcement to investigate the incident and prevent future attacks.
Encouraging users to update their drivers to the latest version and enable automatic driver updates.

Nvidia remains committed to providing secure and reliable products by continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities and implementing proactive security measures.