CVE-2023-31021 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in NVIDIA vGPU software for Windows and Linux that could potentially lead to a denial of service attack. Here's what you need to know about CVE-2023-31021.

Understanding CVE-2023-31021

This section provides a detailed overview of the CVE-2023-31021 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-31021?

NVIDIA vGPU software for Windows and Linux is vulnerable due to a flaw in the Virtual GPU Manager, allowing a malicious user in the guest VM to trigger a NULL-pointer dereference, leading to a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2023-31021

The primary impact of this vulnerability is a denial of service attack.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-31021

Explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-31021 below.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Virtual GPU Manager (vGPU plugin) enables a malicious user to exploit a NULL-pointer dereference, potentially resulting in denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

NVIDIA vGPU software versions prior to and including 13.8, 15.3, 16.1, and all versions before the September 2023 release are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

A malicious user within the guest VM can exploit the vulnerability in the Virtual GPU Manager to trigger the NULL-pointer dereference, causing a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the actions to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2023-31021 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their NVIDIA vGPU software to the latest version to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security practices, such as regular software updates and monitoring for potential vulnerabilities, can enhance system security.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of patches released by NVIDIA to address CVE-2023-31021 and other security vulnerabilities.