Microsoft Vulnerability Research Advisory MSVR11-016

Vulnerability in NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Could Allow Elevation of Privilege

Published: December 20, 2011

Version: 1.0

Overview

Executive Summary

Microsoft is providing notification of the discovery and remediation of a vulnerability affecting the NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D driver. Microsoft discovered and disclosed the vulnerability under coordinated vulnerability disclosure to the affected vendor, NVIDIA. NVIDIA has remediated the vulnerability in their software.

A vulnerability exists when the NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D driver does not correctly validate and sanitize specific commands to a named pipe. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run commands in the security context of the Local System and take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full administrative rights.

Microsoft Vulnerability Research reported this issue to and coordinated with NVIDIA to ensure remediation of this issue. The vulnerability has been assigned the entry CVE-2011-4784, in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list. For more information about updates from NVIDIA, please see the NVIDIA driver download page.

Mitigating Factors

  • An attacker must have valid logon credentials and be able to log on locally to exploit this vulnerability.
  • This vulnerability cannot be exploited automatically through email or through a website.

Advisory Details

Purpose and Recommendation

Purpose of Advisory: To notify users of a vulnerability and its remediation.

Advisory Status: Advisory published.

Recommendation: Review the Suggested Actions section and configure as appropriate.

Issue References

For more information about this issue, see the following references:

Reference Identification
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures CVE-2011-4784

Affected and Non-Affected Software

This advisory discusses the following software:

Affected Software
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver 7.17.12.7536 and earlier versions
Non-Affected Software
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver 7.17.12.7565 and later versions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scope of this advisory?
This advisory is part of a coordinated release with affected vendors to inform customers of a security issue that may affect their systems.

Is this a security vulnerability that requires Microsoft to issue a security update?
No. This vulnerability has been fixed via an update from the affected third-party vendors. The update remediates the software listed in the table, Affected Software.

What is the scope of the vulnerability?
This is an elevation of privilege vulnerability that could allow an attacker, who already has a valid user account, to execute commands in the security context of the Local System.

What causes the vulnerability?
The vulnerability exists when the NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D driver does not correctly validate and sanitize specific commands to a named pipe.

What might an attacker use this vulnerability to do?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system in the security context of the Local System. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full adminstrative rights.

How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability?
An attacker who is logged-on locally to the target system could exploit this vulnerability by sending specific commands to a named pipe.

Suggested Actions

Download and use the latest version of NVIDIA drivers.

Other Information

Acknowledgments

Microsoft thanks the following:

Disclaimer

The information provided in this advisory is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.

Revisions

  • V1.0 (December 20, 2011): Advisory published.

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