CVE-2023-0198 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-0198, a vulnerability found in NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux.

Understanding CVE-2023-0198

CVE-2023-0198 is a vulnerability that exists in the kernel mode layer of NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux. It stems from improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer, which can result in denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering.

What is CVE-2023-0198?

The vulnerability in NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux is due to improper restrictions on memory buffer operations, which could allow malicious actors to trigger denial of service attacks, gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, or manipulate data within the system.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0198

The impact of CVE-2023-0198 includes denial of service, where the affected system may become unresponsive, information disclosure, which could lead to unauthorized access to confidential data, and data tampering, potentially altering critical information within the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0198

The vulnerability affects the following NVIDIA products:

vGPU software (guest driver - Linux)
vGPU software (Virtual GPU Manager - Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM)
NVIDIA Cloud Gaming (guest driver - Linux)
NVIDIA Cloud Gaming (Virtual GPU Manager - Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM)

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper restrictions on memory buffer operations in the kernel mode layer of the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Linux, making it susceptible to denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions prior to and including 15.1, 13.6, 11.11, and all versions before the February 2023 release of the affected products are vulnerable to CVE-2023-0198.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the affected system, triggering the improper memory buffer operations and potentially executing denial of service, information disclosure, or data tampering attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-0198, users and administrators can take the following steps to mitigate the risk and prevent exploitation of the vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement the latest security patches provided by NVIDIA for the affected products.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate an attempted exploit of the vulnerability.
Restrict access to vulnerable systems to trusted entities only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate potential risks within the system.
Educate users and administrators on best practices for secure system configurations and data protection.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest patches and releases from NVIDIA to eliminate the vulnerability and enhance the overall security posture of the systems.