NVIDIA Drivers: Privilege escalation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 201206-19 / nvidia-drivers
Release Date	June 23, 2012
Latest Revision	June 23, 2012: 1
Impact	high
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers	< 295.40	>= 295.40	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #411617

Synopsis

A vulnerability in NVIDIA drivers may allow a local attacker to gain escalated privileges.

2. Impact Information

Background

The NVIDIA drivers provide X11 and GLX support for NVIDIA graphic boards.

Description

A vulnerability has been found in the way NVIDIA drivers handle read/write access to GPU device nodes, allowing access to arbitrary system memory locations.

NOTE: Exposure to this vulnerability is reduced in Gentoo due to 660 permissions being used on the GPU device nodes by default.

Impact

A local attacker could gain escalated privileges.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All NVIDIA driver users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

  # emerge --sync
  # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose
  ">=x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers-295.40"

4. References

CVE-2012-0946

Page updated June 23, 2012

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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