CVE-2020-5978 : Security Advisory and Response

NVIDIA GeForce Experience, all versions prior to 3.20.5.70, contains a vulnerability that may lead to denial of service or escalation of privileges.

Understanding CVE-2020-5978

NVIDIA GeForce Experience Software vulnerability

What is CVE-2020-5978?

This CVE refers to a vulnerability in NVIDIA GeForce Experience Software where a folder is created by nvcontainer.exe under normal user login with LOCAL_SYSTEM privileges, potentially leading to denial of service or privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5978

The vulnerability can result in denial of service attacks or unauthorized privilege escalation on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5978

Details of the vulnerability

Vulnerability Description

NVIDIA GeForce Experience Software, versions prior to 3.20.5.70, allows the creation of a folder by nvcontainer.exe with elevated privileges, posing a security risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: NVIDIA GeForce Experience Software
Vendor: NVIDIA
Affected Versions: All versions prior to 3.20.5.70

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs when a folder is created by nvcontainer.exe during normal user login with LOCAL_SYSTEM privileges, potentially exploited for denial of service or privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against CVE-2020-5978

Immediate Steps to Take

Update NVIDIA GeForce Experience Software to version 3.20.5.70 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any unusual folder creation activities by nvcontainer.exe.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access and prevent unauthorized actions.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by NVIDIA to address CVE-2020-5978 and enhance system security.