Introduction
Data tampering and system outages in GPU-accelerated environments can disrupt critical workflows across industries. The improper index validation flaw in NVIDIA GPU Display Drivers, tracked as CVE-2025-23278, exposes Windows and Linux systems to local attacks that can corrupt data or trigger denial of service.
NVIDIA is a dominant force in the GPU market, with its drivers powering millions of desktops, workstations, and servers worldwide. Their software stack is foundational to gaming, scientific computing, AI, and enterprise workloads, making vulnerabilities in their drivers highly consequential for the global technology ecosystem.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-23278 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.1) in the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for both Windows and Linux. The root cause is improper validation of array indices (CWE-129) in driver code that processes user-supplied parameters. Attackers with local access and low privileges can craft specific calls to the driver, bypassing intended index checks. This enables out-of-bounds memory access within the driver's internal data structures.
The vulnerability is triggered when the driver uses unchecked or insufficiently validated indices derived from user input to access arrays or buffers. If the index falls outside the allocated memory region, the driver may overwrite or corrupt adjacent memory, leading to data tampering or system instability. The flaw does not require user interaction and can be exploited programmatically by a local attacker. Confidentiality is not impacted, but integrity and availability are at high risk.
No public code snippets or detailed exploit code are available as of this writing. The vulnerability affects both Windows and Linux driver branches, and is present in versions prior to the July 2025 security update.
Patch Information
NVIDIA addressed CVE-2025-23278 in their July 2025 security update. The patch implements stricter input validation to ensure array indices are within valid bounds, preventing out-of-bounds memory access.
Patched Versions:
- 575.64.05 (current branch)
- 570.172.08 (previous generation)
- 535.261.03 (long-term support)
To remediate, download and install the latest NVIDIA GPU Display Driver from the official NVIDIA Driver Downloads page.
Detection Methods
Detection of CVE-2025-23278 relies on version verification and vulnerability scanning:
-
Version Verification:
- Check the installed NVIDIA GPU Display Driver version. Systems running versions older than 575.64.05, 570.172.08, or 535.261.03 are vulnerable.
-
Vulnerability Scanners:
- Use tools like Nessus with Plugin ID 243282 to automatically detect vulnerable driver versions on Linux systems. These tools compare the installed driver version against a database of known vulnerabilities.
-
System Log Monitoring:
- Review system logs for unexpected crashes or anomalies in driver behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts.
-
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS):
- Configure IDS to monitor for patterns associated with exploitation of NVIDIA driver vulnerabilities.
-
Patch Management:
- Regularly apply NVIDIA security updates to minimize exposure.
For more details, see Nessus Plugin 243282.
Affected Systems and Versions
- NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows and Linux
- Vulnerable versions: All releases prior to 575.64.05 (current), 570.172.08 (previous generation), and 535.261.03 (long-term support)
- Applies to consumer, enterprise, and datacenter GPUs using these driver branches
Vendor Security History
NVIDIA has previously disclosed similar vulnerabilities in their GPU Display Drivers, including memory management and input validation flaws. The July 2025 security update addresses multiple CVEs (CVE-2025-23276 through CVE-2025-23288), reflecting ongoing security challenges in complex driver code. The company typically provides timely patches across all supported driver branches and maintains transparent advisories for customers.