Introduction
Memory corruption in kernel mode drivers can disrupt everything from gaming rigs to enterprise AI clusters. CVE-2025-23277 is a high-severity vulnerability in NVIDIA Display Drivers for Windows and Linux, enabling attackers to access memory outside permitted boundaries in the kernel mode driver. This flaw impacts a wide range of NVIDIA GPU products and virtual GPU (vGPU) environments, with potential consequences including denial of service, data tampering, and information disclosure.
NVIDIA is the dominant player in the GPU market, powering consumer desktops, professional workstations, and cloud data centers worldwide. Their display drivers are foundational to graphics performance and security across Windows and Linux platforms. Vulnerabilities in these drivers can have cascading effects on system integrity and data confidentiality.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-23277 is rooted in improper bounds checking within the kernel mode component of the NVIDIA Display Driver. When processing certain requests, the driver fails to validate memory access boundaries, allowing operations that read or write outside the allocated memory region. This out-of-bounds access can be triggered by crafted input or operation sequences that exploit the lack of adequate validation.
The vulnerability affects the core display driver routines responsible for graphics operations and direct hardware interaction. Because the flaw resides in kernel mode, successful exploitation can bypass many user-mode security controls, potentially leading to system-wide impact. Attackers could leverage this to cause denial of service (system crashes), manipulate data, or extract sensitive information from protected memory regions. The specific exploitation method depends on the attacker's access and the system's configuration.
No public code snippets or exploit samples are available for this vulnerability. The issue is tracked under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control).
Patch Information
NVIDIA has released critical security updates to address CVE-2025-23277 and related vulnerabilities. Apply the following updates based on your platform and driver branch:
Windows GPU Display Driver:
- R575 Branch: Update to version 577.00
- R570 Branch: Update to version 573.48
- R535 Branch: Update to version 539.41
Linux GPU Display Driver:
- R575 Branch: Update to version 575.64.05
- R570 Branch: Update to version 570.172.08
- R535 Branch: Update to version 535.261.03
vGPU Software:
- Windows Guest Driver:
- vGPU 18.4: Update to version 573.48
- vGPU 16.11: Update to version 539.41
- Linux Guest Driver:
- vGPU 18.4: Update to version 570.172.08
- vGPU 16.11: Update to version 535.261.03
- Virtual GPU Manager:
- Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM, Ubuntu:
- vGPU 18.4: Update to version 570.172.07
- vGPU 16.11: Update to version 535.261.04
- Azure Stack HCI:
- vGPU 18.4: Update to version 573.55
- Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM, Ubuntu:
Updates are available from the NVIDIA Driver Downloads page and the NVIDIA Licensing Portal for vGPU software. See securityonline.info for patch details.
Detection Methods
Detection of vulnerable NVIDIA Virtual GPU Manager installations can be performed using Nessus vulnerability scanner:
Nessus Plugin 243281: NVIDIA Virtual GPU Manager Multiple Vulnerabilities (July 2025)
- This plugin checks the installed version of NVIDIA Virtual GPU Manager against known vulnerable versions. If a match is found, the system is flagged as potentially vulnerable.
- The detection is based on version comparison, not active exploitation.
How to Use:
- Update Nessus plugins to the latest version.
- Configure a scan policy that includes Plugin ID 243281.
- Review scan results for flagged systems and follow remediation guidance.
Regular scanning is recommended to maintain security posture as new vulnerabilities and updates are released. See Tenable Plugin 243281 for more information.
Affected Systems and Versions
Windows GPU Display Driver:
- R575 branch prior to 577.00
- R570 branch prior to 573.48
- R535 branch prior to 539.41
Linux GPU Display Driver:
- R575 branch prior to 575.64.05
- R570 branch prior to 570.172.08
- R535 branch prior to 535.261.03
vGPU Software:
- Windows Guest Driver:
- vGPU 18.4 prior to 573.48
- vGPU 16.11 prior to 539.41
- Linux Guest Driver:
- vGPU 18.4 prior to 570.172.08
- vGPU 16.11 prior to 535.261.03
- Virtual GPU Manager:
- Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM, Ubuntu:
- vGPU 18.4 prior to 570.172.07
- vGPU 16.11 prior to 535.261.04
- Azure Stack HCI:
- vGPU 18.4 prior to 573.55
- Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Red Hat Enterprise Linux KVM, Ubuntu:
All configurations using affected versions are vulnerable. Both standalone and virtualized deployments are impacted.
Vendor Security History
NVIDIA has previously addressed multiple kernel mode driver vulnerabilities in coordinated security advisories. The company typically releases patches for all supported branches and platforms simultaneously, reflecting a mature and responsive security process. Past advisories have included fixes for privilege escalation, denial of service, and information disclosure vulnerabilities in both consumer and enterprise product lines.